Iker Fernandez is a name you have no doubt heard many a time over the last decade if you've been paying any sort of attention. This Spaniard has bucked all the stereotypes and shown that there is plenty of talent in Iberia, knocking out banger parts in seminal movies such as Subjekt Haakonsen and Transcendence. The strong, silent type, Iker doesn't say much but when he does he makes every word count. Here's what the Basque Bomber had to tell us about the last ten years in his life and the wide, wild world of shred.
All photos by Andoni Epelde
Iker checks the snow pack real quick with this Andrecht
Coming at you correct with a kicked out method, note the lack of cheese wedge
Where were you and what were you doing in 2000?
I was snowboarding, doing contests, filming Transcendence for Absinthe and traveling the world... In the past 10 years I have been doing pretty much the same thing, just snowboarding. I went to the Olympics in Salt Lake City and Torino, and to many other contests. Filmed parts for Vivid, Saturation, Volcom, Purple Yeahh, Yeahh Love... Just doing what I love to do, basically.
Cab 5
Iker plants so many hands that he could make a hand forest
Worst bail in 10 years?
Fell into a rock garden in Riskgransen trying to do a line. Overshot a windlip in AK. Those are the ones I remember most.
Anyone that is still famous now that should have been left at the millenium door?
No idea, I don't care about that type of thing...
Blower burn-out on the side of this mean slope
What music were you listening to in in 2000 and do you still listen to it today?
I guess I was listening to hip hop, I still listen to it nowadays but probably not as much as back then...
Worst move you pulled when you were wasted in past 10 years?
That's still confidential...
Cab 9 in Saas Fee
If you could have lived in a different era, which one would it be?
During the Roman Empire.
Favorite movie of the past decade?
Pulp Fiction, amongst many others.
Did you ever buy Method Mag on VHS tapes?
Yes, I bought it sometimes, mostly when I was traveling.
Massive backside 7 cornice blast
Springtime switch backside 3 in Riks
Any funny nicknames you got tagged with the past decade that you managed to shake?
No nicknames.
Best new rider of our era?
I like Mikkel Bang, but there are so many good new riders...
Have snowboarders gotten smarter over the years or just more wasted?
Probably the same, I haven't seen much change regarding that in last 10 years, there are always smarter riders and wasted riders.
What do have to say to Method for surviving alcohol poisoning for a decade?
You always pay the price eventually...
Heelside slasher in the sweet spot
How many groupies have you banged in the last 10 years?
None.
Would you like thank snowboarding for anything?
Of course, it has given me a lot of good times and a lot amazing experiences while riding, traveling, etc. It gave me the opportunity to live the lifestyle I was looking for and it always helped me stay on track.
How does your bank account compare to what it looked like 10 years ago?
Probably a litlle smaller, but no complaints.
Snow-seeking missile
Top 3 who's who of snowboarding in the last 10 years?
Gigi, Nicolas, Freddi K, Michi Albin. Sorry, had to add a fourth name there.
Who's video part do you wish was yours in the last 10 years?
Freddi K, Nicolas, Gigi.
Switch back 5
Front 5
What has drastically changed that would be hard for kids to believe these days?
Honestly, I don't think snowboarding has changed much in the last 10 years. Other than the riding level, which gets better every year, I think the rest is pretty similar: gear, mags, movies... Especially if you compare it with the 90's, when snowboarding really changed in every way and became the fastest-growing sport in the world. The equipment also took a big step forward during that time. All this was good for snowboarding but also brought some problems, like people from outside snowboarding wanting to get a piece of the pie, like the FIS. All this eventually killed the ISF, which was sad because they were doing a pretty good job. I think contests would have been better and less confusing today if the ISF hadn´t died. I also think it was pretty lame that the International Olympic Committee chose the FIS as the official organizing body for snowboarding instead of the ISF.
A decade doesn't change the fact that Method's are the tits!
Don Iker