2010: Originally hailing from the NorCal skate hotbed of Santa Cruz, California, its no surprise that Bode Merrill has skateboarding in his veins. “Snowboarding, skating, and traveling to explore new places” are Bode’s passions. And these passions seem to intersect perfectly in his role as an up-and-coming pro rider. Lured by the “best snow on earth,” Bode moved to Utah a few years back and began taking his skate-style riding into the mountains. Park City to be exact. Like many of his peers in snowboarding’s new guard, Merrill is equally adept at urban riding as well as hitting jumps. In 2010, he was nominated by TransWorld Snowboarding Magazine for both Rider Of The Year and Video Part Of The Year. Here’s why: In his first year of filming with Absinthe—for Neverland—Merrill stood out, and after all was said, done, and edited, he had secured the coveted closing part which, no exaggeration, blew people’s minds. After a winter spent injured—on the couch and in the gym—Bode only did one trip with the Absinthe gang for NowHere, “I went to Haines, Alaska. It was the deepest, most fun, and scariest snowboarding I’ve experienced!” But alas, Bode was back and charging.