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Thank U Snowboarding

Thank U Snowboarding

By: Chris Cracknell
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About this listen

Welcome to “Thank U Snowboarding,” the podcast that dives deep into the rich history and vibrant culture of UK snowboarding. From the early pioneers handcrafting boards in the Scottish Highlands to today’s Olympic medalists and world champions, we’re uncovering the incredible stories behind an island nation that, despite its lack of towering peaks, has made a monumental impact on the snowboarding world.


Join us as we chat with the trailblazers, innovators, and everyday riders who have shaped, and are shaping, this unique scene, exploring what makes snowboarding not just a sport, but a way of life. Whether you’re a seasoned shredder or new to the slopes, our mission is to celebrate the passion that fuels our community and inspire the next generation to hit the mountains. So strap in, and let’s carve our way through the history and culture of UK snowboarding together!

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Chris Cracknell
Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Thank U Snowboarding - S3 - Ep14 - Owain George
    Jan 29 2026

    This episode features a rider who owns possibly the best turn in snowboarding. I'll caveat that with 'that I've seen in real life' because the general concensus is that Josh Dirksen has the best turn, but I've never ridden with him. I have ridden with Owain however, and I wanted to follow his line and ride like him and I've not felt like that for a long, long time.


    Owain is a coach and lives in a little village about Bourg Saint Maurice, which is where I used to live, but we met riding with a crew in Tignes whilst out at the Dragon Lodge early season. Whilst sharing a chairlift I found out a little more about him, his work on Jenny Jones' workshops, his involvement in Protect Our Winters (POW) and his life as a local in Tignes, and he just has a warm, low key energy that I really like, as well as some serious skills.


    We talked a bit about the camp we are running in March and if he'd like to come and spend a day coaching with our clients and then we talked about coming on the podcast to talk about his career in snowboarding, one which is acheivable, should someone listening want to endeavour on a similar path.


    I'm stoked he is coming on our camp, I can't wait to get some tips myself, and for the whole group to unlock the next level of their riding, as well as all the other cool stuff thats gonna be happening. If you want to know more about the Thank U Snowboarding Community Camp in March 26, there are details here: https://thankusnowboarding.wixsite.com/spring2026 or you can email us at thankusnowboarding@gmail.com


    If you are interested in getting Owain to work on your snowboarding, you can check out his website here: https://www.motionsnowboarding.com/

    If you want to know more about Protect Our Winters, you can here https://protectourwinters.uk/


    If you are interested in merch, we have T's and Hoodies in all sizes, hit us up at thankusnowboarding@gmail.com


    We are supported by the rad crew at The Snowboard Asylum, and their sale is online now: https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/


    We are also looked after by Dan and Lizzie at Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en and Tom at High Days for Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/


    I'd like to take a moment to introduce FourTwenTea, which is delicious tea embibed with CBD oil, which I have been drinking over this summer, just to help keep my brain from overheating. Its completely natural, Jemma, the owner, is a snowboarder and total legend and I can't recommend this stuff enough, so go check it out: https://fourtwentea.com/


    Peace x

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 41 mins
  • Thank U Snowboarding - S3 - Ep13 - Chris Carr
    Jan 22 2026

    Chris Carr is one of those riders whoo, in the 90's, was living for dryslope riding. A regular at Becton and Hillingdon, as well as a face and contender at any give drylope competition, Chris carved himself a nice little niche in snowboarding. Sponsored by Morrow and Special Blend (two holy grail sponsors) he may not have gone the biggest, but had a distinct and solid style honed from countless hours lapping dendex kickers.


    Fast forward 30 years, Chris has lived and ridden in the USA, Austria and France, has worked in many different positions in the industry, finding ways to keep his dreams of shredding alive. He zigged to Austria when most of the UK scene was in France, was in Mammoth when the scene over there started popping off, got sponsored by Bud Ice, which for a snowboarder at the time could have been a nail in the coffin, but he took all these experiences and, started a company to act as the go-between between brands who wanted some of snowboarding and actions sports' shine and the core of the industry.


    It's quite the journey and one Chris is still on as he takes his (nearly grown up) kids to the mountains and pushes himself to stay ahead of them. Its great to see and after 30 years of knowing Chris to say hi to, a pleasure to actually spend some time with someone who is still frothing for the shred.


    If you want to know more about the Thank U Snowboarding Community Camp in March 26, there are details here: https://thankusnowboarding.wixsite.com/spring2026 or you can email us at thankusnowboarding@gmail.com


    If you are interested in merch, we have T's and Hoodies in all sizes, hit us up at thankusnowboarding@gmail.com


    We are supported by the rad crew at The Snowboard Asylum, and their sale is online now: https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/


    We are also looked after by Dan and Lizzie at Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en and Tom at High Days for Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/


    I'd like to take a moment to introduce FourTwenTea, which is delicious tea embibed with CBD oil, which I have been drinking over this summer, just to help keep my brain from overheating. Its completely natural, Jemma, the owner, is a snowboarder and total legend and I can't recommend this stuff enough, so go check it out: https://fourtwentea.com/


    Peace x

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 16 mins
  • Thank U Snowboarding - S3 - Ep12 - Hannah Duncalf
    Jan 15 2026

    This episode is a great example of how Snowboarding, possibly unlike other 'sports' can bring people together. I'd never met Hannah before and we sat down as strangers, but by the end of the interview I felt I'd made a new friend. Then we went shredding and had a great day with a solid crew, some up from Bourg and other Tignes locals, all chopping around in the bit of pow we had, laughing on chairlifts and basically, doing what snowboarders do.


    I wanted to tell stories like Hannah's because doing a season is a joy in itself, and for some, one season turns into a life and a career. I wanted to show that is is possible, no matter where you are from, that you too can carve a life out in the mountains, and that there are people that speak your language, come from where you come from, doing the thing you might want to do.


    It is totally do-able and hannah is the proof, that as well as snowboarding, she had carved her career doing other things she loves too, it isn't just a subsistance lifestyle of doing whatever to get by (well, it might be early doors) but you can pursue your other passions out in the mountains and live a life that is rewarding in all aspects.


    You can find out more about Hannah by visiting her instagram @hannah.tadasanayoga


    If you want to know more about the Thank U Snowboarding Community Camp in March 26, there are details here: https://thankusnowboarding.wixsite.com/spring2026 or you can email us at thankusnowboarding@gmail.com


    If you are interested in merch, we have T's and Hoodies in all sizes, hit us up at thankusnowboarding@gmail.com


    We are supported by the rad crew at The Snowboard Asylum, and their sale is online now: https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/


    We are also looked after by Dan and Lizzie at Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en and Tom at High Days for Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/


    I'd like to take a moment to introduce FourTwenTea, which is delicious tea embibed with CBD oil, which I have been drinking over this summer, just to help keep my brain from overheating. Its completely natural, Jemma, the owner, is a snowboarder and total legend and I can't recommend this stuff enough, so go check it out: https://fourtwentea.com/


    Peace x

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 29 mins
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