Here's a Little Labels with a little board company called Global Mind Elevation, aka GME, out of Vermont that you may not have heard of. It was started by Justin Marti & Tori Ebenbeck who are looking to follow in the footsteps of Che Guevara and start their own revolution, but in snowboarding. Read up on how they are looking to elevate the mind, body (literally) and spirit of this new brand into something great.

How and where did GME start?
The exact moment is a little foggy, since it was surrounded by the consumption of a number of adult beverages. Suffice it to say it was in 2010 atop Mt. Hood, Oregon, when a few riders of varying ability all agreed that an opportunity lay ahead. Each team member provided a unique set of skills that, when combined, spits out a collaborative that we felt would be of interest to others. From entrepreneurs, graphic designers and former and current pros, we all had one common goal: create (or join, depending upon how you look at it) this evolving revolution in the industry of funky technical specs, limited-edition graphics and a focus and appreciation for this Earth upon which we are blessed to shred. Kind of a lot going on there, huh?

Do these boards literally Elevate you more off kickers or is it more of a metaphorical/spiritual thing?
Both. The lightweight cores, inlaid with strips of bamboo and carbon fiber, give decks like The Rev (our premier all-mountain stick) maximum pop off booters. And I guess we do have some seriously globally-minded hippies leading the movement, so Elevation of mind, body (literally) and spirit just comes naturally to us.
Who's on the snowboard team?
We are stoked on the team, as it is evolving each day. We started with a serious shred head, Casey Willax, out of Mount Snow. After winning a number of big air comps, this kid has taken Elevation to the next level. We then were introduced to a young cat by the name of Jeff DeForge. Jeff rides for Candygrind as well, and can be found dominating parks across this great nation of ours as he embarks upon a state-to-state journey with our good friend and evil genius videographer, Ian Post, from afterhours.

What other types of people do you guys sponsor or involve with GME?
I thought you'd never ask! One thing that is unique about Global Mind Elevation is our connection with the young up-and-comers in the sport. We don't just mean the kids who are dominating the snowboard academies around the globe, but the neighborhood young heads who skate all summer, shred all winter and live for progression. Thus, we created the Grom Unit, or G-Unit Squad ("Fiddy Cent" would be proud, no?) to start getting these kids some exposure and support as they are the future of our boarding community. Our first G-Unit rider was a young lady named Bella from Washington who we were privileged to meet at a demo at Mt. Hood. Just an all-around great kid, she told us she wants to see more girls joining the movement and - by the way - stomps backflips in her spare time. It's kids like this that let us know we have a strong generation of youth out there ready to take snowboarding to heights it has never seen. We are also cultivating a relationship with some local YMCA's to help underprivileged inner city kids get a ride to a mountain and a fresh deck to shred. Good times should be had by all, not just the financially fortunate.
Where are the boards made and how is that different to other companies?
USA-made, baby! We work with our good friends at the Monson Manufacturing company in Cali to ensure we get the best possible product. We've definitely taken some flack for working with a factory that produces for different brands, but quality has always been the name of the game for GME, so why change that? We've made a second home of that factory, fine-tuning our graphics, working in the shop with the boys... we have a relationship with them that is hard to come by.

What would you say to someone who tells you that scene is too crowded for another board company?
I've personally run a number of different organizations, and if there is one thing I learned is that people love options. Many brands will come and go, but we feel it's all about the connection with the public. GME was never created to be the new Burton. Rather, we just found a youth movement looking for the next fun thing that they could sink their teeth into. We asked them what they wanted and the overwhelming response was "to be a part of something unique". GME lives far from the mainstream... kind of in that grey area when you sit atop the first run and the morning fog hasn't quite lifted (Ed note: MISTY!). It's more than a brand, it's an experience.
Where can people get GME boards?
Aside from our website, we've got really limited the retail availability thus far. We've got great relationships with a few shops (AK Outerwear in Anchorage, Capsule Boardshop in Cos Cob, CT, soon to be at Invasion at Mt. Snow) that have allowed us to feature decks and get great feedback. We really value our retail partnerships but want to make sure we are able to provide them the best support and service as we grow, hence the limited releases. Many times we will set up a demo at the request of a mountain and/or its patrons and bring some freshies for sale as well.

Anything funny you guys tried in the early protoypes that just didnt work?
This is part of the problem when you have a collaborative of "creative spirits". Imagine Signal's Every Third Thursday gone terribly wrong... I'm still missing hair from one particular incident.

Tell us why Che is your hero and his message applies to GME? 
Being the great-grandson of a heroic Cuban revolutionary, I personally - and the brand - draw great parallels to Che Guevara. He is arguably the most recognizable face in a long global history of people who lead charges for a cause they believe in. Che didn't really pick his battles well, but he garners an incredible amount of respect around the world, thus we found his imagery fitting to our brand.
Any graphics that you wanted to put on the boards but just wont fly for the general public?
Ahem, is my publicist reading this? We are working with an incredible artist right now whose notoriety is driven primarily by his collection of naked chick paintings. While that seems to be the growing trend in graphics in today's snowboard market, we strive to do things differently (okay, and the parents of our G-Unit riders probably wouldn't be too stoked on our brand either).

If you could get any 3 riders from the present or past on the team who would it be (budget is not an issue)?
Another banger question. My old-timer choice (hope he doesn't mind me calling him that) is Steve Hayes of Hayes Brothers Snowboards. The guy has been an inspiration and huge asset in launching our brand. Kazu Kokubo would be the face of things now. The kid brings his own style and doesn't give... a... darn... what people think. And Kimmy Fasani on the lady front.
What is best use of an old board that you have thought of besides riding it?
In my home, my board bench is a staple. However, I'm currently constructing a moving replica of Godzilla made of melted down cores and evil spirits that I intend to use in my eventual world domination... you didn't really think Global Mind Elevation was just about snowboarding, did you?
 
What are we going to see from GME in 2012?
Individually handpainted top sheets. More hybrid cambers. The aforementioned Godzilla. Take heed shredders, we are coming.

Check some footy from kids on GME sticks!

 More info at gmelevate.com