Nitro TM and overall badass Knut Eliassen recently offered to interview Bryan Fox and Austin Smith for us about their new movie project "PATHOLOGY - a movie about snowboarding and humans". We thankfully took the offer which allowed us to get drunk during the weekend while having a legend interview two other legends on our behalf. Thanks so much Knut!! Knut has been homies with these two funny comerades for quite a while, making him a top candidate to put Bryan and Austin through the mill. This is one for the books and we had a couple of good laughs while reading it! Keep an eye out for the Pathology feature in the new mag, issue 15.3. Enjoy..

Knut: Pathology Project, What does that mean and why did you choose it for your second snowboard movie?
Fox: I've always thought that our obsessions with these toys (snowboards) is like a disease, like some people get it and others don't. But in some ways it's a disease that you cultivate yourself, you make the disease grow. The more time and love you invest the more it spreads. It's super random but "Pathology" is the study of disease.
Austin: I’m guessing Bryan answered that, I never loved the name. I thought it sounded too serious but maybe it is good because our movie is such a joke it balances it out.  

Obviously Bryan chose the name - what is the dynamic between the two of you? How did you guys become such good friends? Who is the left brain and who is the right brain?
Fox: I'm the brains and Austin is the talent. Hahah, the dynamic is good, we work well together. We both have our rolls, I'm super bossy and he is super chill, Yin and Yang.
Austin: We met 10 years ago working at High Cascade Snowboard Camp, he had filmed one of my favorite parts for “Some Kinda Life” and I looked up to him big time then.  He helped me out a lot “making it’ in snowboarding, introducing me to people and keeping me pointed in the right direction.  He is kinda the big brother and I’m the reckless little brother.

Has anyone ever called the two of you the most powerful couple in snowboarding? no homo….
Fox: No, but that's adorable. Caley (my GF) often makes fun of me about texting with Austin more than I text with her.
Austin: I think you might be the first.  

Sorry, that was kind of offensive of me to assume that someone has called you that before, but you guys are like two peas in a pod and it is awesome! I think a lot of people in and out of snowboarding wish they had a partner in crime like you guys have. Who did what when producing and making the Pathology Project?
Fox:  Liam filmed and edited the deal. Austin and I helped film and edit a bit, wrangle sponsors, did a little creative direction. Everyone in the flick was helpful and involved, except Curtis, he was useless.
Austin: The majority of my time during the past 10 years has been with Bryan; we travel together for snowboarding, go on vacations together, go to weddings as each others dates, started Drink Water together, made this movie together and somehow we don’t hate each other yet…  We both do a lot but we are like Yin and Yang if there is something he hates doing I am already doing it and when I need some flyers to send out he has already made them.

Who was the stand out snowboarder/person for each of you last season while filming for Pathology Project?
Fox: Tim and Rube. Tim slayed Japan, fun to watch him in that enviroment. And rube is old as fuck and still sending it, totally has the disease. He is a snowboarder. So committed to it and willing to sacrifice the bullshit comforts most people long for.
Austin: The whole crew were already friends so we had already spent a lot of time snowboarding together so there were no major surprises.  
 
What was the main goal with Pathology Project? It seems like you guys basically just set out to have a good year with your friends.
Fox: Basically, snowboard videos have definitely turned into a way for agents to make their athlete (snowboarder) into some sort of superstar. They all want it to be the next Subjekt, but it's never going to happen again and it ends up losing what i always loved from videos, the bronado. we just wanted it to feel like you got hit by a bronado.....
Austin: To make a movie where every shot makes you want to go snowboarding.  The slowmo, wildlife and scenic shots are cool but they don’t make me want to snowboard.  So that was our editing process - shot by shot - does this make you want to snowboard with your friends?  Yes, it goes in the movie, no, it goes in the trash.

Recently you guys had the opportunity to be the Quest editors of Snowboarder Magazine. Nobody has done that since Jeremy Jones and JP Walker - pretty big shoes to fill. How was that experience? Being in the office, finding content, dealing with people, living in SoCal, etc….?
Fox: It was amazing, so fun, lots of my favorite pros have done it. We took it really serious and put a lot of effort into it. The crew there is amazing, they let us do whatever we wanted.
Austin: Are we supposed to talk about editing a different magazine in an interview for another magazine? [Editors note: good point, Austin!]. It ruled, it was awesome to see and execute the work that is put in to each of these issues.  It also gave me the opportunity to be on the other side of this fence.  I have done quite a few interviews but I really enjoyed interviewing other people.  


You guys are used to working like that with your Drink Water movement though, right? While we are on the subject, how is that going? What are your guys objectives and plans for the near future and than long term?
Fox: hoping to let kids know that the poison doesn't make you snowboard better.
Austin: Plans are for suckers.  But hopefully Drink Water can have a  positive impact on snowboarding and balance out the other nonsense that is going on.

I saw the Rick McCrank video, that was sick! Looks like it received a lot of good traction as well. Are you guys planning on going more skate than snow or does that even matter to you?
Fox: Yeah, Rick's a great guy, was super cool to do a little deal with him. We're hoping for more traction in skateboarding but we aren't going to rush into or anything. Just let stuff happen.
Austin: To me it doesn’t really matter - we aren’t searching out the next kid to sponsor but if someone we respect wants to be a part of this thing and support it we are more than willing to have them be involved.

How can people who are backing Drink Water, who live outside the US or just in Rural America help contribute and support you guys?
Fox: Get the gear, rock it, i don't know, just by being a thoughtful consumer and promoter of goods. Make an effort to support brands you believe in.
Austin: People always ask me “how can I do more?” and I don’t really have an answer. We aren’t looking for some crazy rapid growth, I like people discovering Drink Water on their own, instead of it being forced upon them through excessive advertising.

Obviously I would tell all the kids to go out and buy your Nitro Quiver Series boards, but I literally get paid to say that, so instead I will ask you guys about how your season was riding your Nitro Quiver boards series. What was your favorite trick or run you did last season and which board were you riding when you did it?

Fox: Everyday in Japan, couple feet each night. I rode the 59 quiver, easy breezy.
Austin: I think I get paid to say that as well.  Go buy our boards!  Favorite run would probably be from one night in Japan riding the Quiver pow board.  We found this run on the backside of the mtn that you could loop from the chair.  There were no lights back there but the moon was out and snow was insanely deep and we found all these perfect jumps, it was literally like a scene out of a video game. 

Bryan, I saw you had done some nose and tail modifications to your boards last winter. What made you want to do that? I remember you telling me something about flat tails are sick because they make the boards less tippy when you lean them up against the lodge to go get lunch. Austin why didn´t you do any board tip and tail mods?
Fox: Hahah, yeah, i just cut off the tail.
Austin: Seems a little too trendy for me and I like the way my boards are as is.

Have you guys ever thought about doing a Drink Water x Poler Collab wood cup? Just asking
Fox: No
Austin: You and your Norwegian wood cup idea.  The only reason I want to make some wood cups is so we can give one to your dad, he is such a boss.

When is the Pathology movie coming out and where can kids see it online?
Fox: wedrinkwater.com
Austin: It is out already.  You can watch it on our website www.wedrinkwater.com 
[Editors note: of course you can find it live on methodmag.com! ]

Right now at this very moment who is your absolute favorite person to watch snowboard?
Fox: Terje
Austin: Anything park or rail related is Danimals.  Backcountry jumping with tricks and such is Iikka Backstrom.  Just riding a snowboard down the hill is Curtis Ciszek.

 Last question, Where are you and what were you doing before starting this interview?
Fox: I am sitting nude. I just woke up and remembered I needed to respond to these questions.
Austin: I’m at my brothers house, his wife is making dinner and then we are going to go to the Circus Center to go juggle and do other circusy things for his birthday. Ya my family is a bit strange.