For many, Think Thank’s Patchwork Patterns was an eye-opening introduction to the eccentric wonder known as Gus Engle, though his prior part in “Cue the Birds” certainly deserved equal attention. With an unorthodox and accessible approach to boarding, this Alaskan van/music/peace lover has carved out his own niche over the last decade, most recently appearing in Videograss’ new movie MAYDAY!. With rumors of a whole new van endeavor in the works for this winter we snagged ol’ Gus for a little Q&A.

What happened to those fancy pants?
Gus: I've kept some of the pants. A couple pairs made it into a small museum in the Alaskan village where I'm from. I gave another pair to a man who had chained himself to an ancient sequoia to prevent it from being cut down. Some were sent down the Rhine, some down the Thames in burning boats in various types of Viking burial rituals. Some were burned here in Quebec from where I write you now, in the surrounding forest during various pagan rituals and so on and so forth…

Gus in Think Thank: Patchwork Patterns. This part was an epiphany to most of us.

We once heard that you started riding all these creative and small spots no one else was riding before because you felt your homies’ spots were too big? Any truth to that?
Gus:It came about through environment and my influences at that moment. I moved in with the Burtners in Seattle the fall before we filmed Patchwork Patterns and by the time we started filming we had filled books and books with ideas of new tricks we wanted to try. Burtner has so much positive energy it becomes contagious and after spending any amount of time with him you start to see the world as a very beautiful place and believe anything is possible.

Do people ever tell you to ride “real spots” or shit like that?
Gus: Sometimes they do, but most snowboarders seem to be really nice and open-minded people in my experience.

You are an AK native. To us AK seems like a place for dropouts, escapists and hippies. Can you confirm that? And now that we said it: You in AK—a perfect match?
Gus: The world is a beautiful place but it can't compete with the imagination! So once you've escaped civilization the next logical step is to attempt to escape reality. I feel like a lot of Alaskans fall into that particular category of escapism, me more than most. Also I've never gone to college and I'm listening to Cat Stevens while writing this so…confirmed.

What about street spots in AK?
Gus: They are generally unusual and small, or maybe that's just what I’ve always sought out, but there is certainly not an over abundance of street rails.

Are you still playing with The Bright Hollow?
Gus: Yes, I've moved out into Québécois farm country and purchased a Victorian couch and I've been doing almost nothing but writing songs. I'm splitting my time between two projects - neither one is really a band - just me in my room making music. One is named Summer Weaponry, and the other I'll be releasing under my name.

Got any new albums or tours in the works?
Gus: I have a six song EP for Summer Weaponry (www.summerweaponry.bandcamp.com) and I'm nearly finished recording an EP for my other project.

Do you think snowboarding needs something like SKATEROCK?
Gus: That would be great. Mine would be hilariously subdued.

On the subject of life on the road, will you be travelling in that big red van for the new Magic Hour Moves film "End Search"? What's the deal behind that film?
Gus: I plan to be! I just read Big Sur by Kerouac and he always makes me want to get moving. I'm planning on flying out to Seattle and meeting up with them (Chris Larson, Garrett Swenson, Scott Holland, Brendon Hupp and assorted DWD family) there. They are driving down from Alaska in January on a road to Seattle that skirts the Arctic Circle and is over 2000 miles long. I did it once in my van and I'm not quick to do it again in January. But they are hardy, brave young lads and will be just fine. They are planning to make it all the way out to New York and back (filming the whole thing with VXs) Brendon Hupp (@huppastank) is the producer/director. They have a Kickstarter: www.kickstarter.com/projects/516705189/end-search with more info.

Is snowboarding in general being overrepresented by athletes and business students?
Gus: Yes, I suppose so. It seems we have lost some of that magic we knew in the ‘90s. The culture often leaves you wanting these days.

Have you ever been in a fight?
Gus: A few. I've turned to a life of pacifism now.

What crew were you traveling around with this year filming for VG’s MAYDAY!?
Gus: I stayed with Jonas (Michilot) for a month or two and with Jake OE for quite a spell as well. I was pretty much in Minneapolis all winter so I saw just about everyone come and go.

Are you going to be filming with VG this season as well?
Gus: If I can I would like to, but I think I will mostly be in the van with Hupp. I am also considering making a short Pozi Pozi movie on the side.

Feel like claiming the ender in next year’s VG movie?
Gus: Jake OE! He's like a golden god.

Whatever happened to the Gus Bus?
Gus: It pains me to say I sold it a couple months back. End of an era

Last question: Is there ever going to be a boy who swims faster than a shark?
Gus: That’s me: shark boy.