Ridin’ sky high

World-class snowboarder Danny Kass finds Portland’s style a perfect fit

By Jason Vondersmith

The Portland Tribune, Jun 18, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Kass says he likes to relax by skateboarding in a back room at his business, Grenade, near Southeast 81st Avenue and Stark Street.

L.E. BASKOW / Portland Tribune

A famous Olympian among the counter-culture snowboarding set, Danny Kass may play the role of righteous dude at times to satisfy his fans. But the 26-year-old — who has now made Portland his home, after moving his snowboard apparel company here in 2005 — stays true to himself. He’s all about the sport.

“Fame is good, but I just love to snowboard,” he says.

For Kass, nothing matters more than taking to the halfpipe and being creative, pushing the limits even with the threat of bodily injury. It’s the ultimate high.

“You gotta be kinda crazy to do well,” he says. “For snowboarders, a really good day is when you’re scaring the crap out of yourself.”

A two-time Olympic silver medalist in halfpipe, and the only snowboarder to win five U.S. Open snowboarding championships, Kass has also found success off the slopes.

He and his brother, Matt, own and operate Grenade Gloves and moved the snowboarding apparel company to Portland in 2005. Grenade deals with retailers in 37 countries and sells products online, and its warehouse at Southeast 81st Avenue and Stark Street stands out with a huge (fake) grenade resting atop a stanchion serving as its business sign.

When Danny and Matt thought about starting their company, they decided on the grenade as their icon, because “it was powerful and explosive” and they could play off the military and soldier images, Danny says.

Eight years later, Grenade has revenue in the millions — the exact number being “top secret,” Danny says — and ranks with Burton and Dakine as industry leaders in snowboarding gloves.

Being a business owner has taken away from his snowboarding somewhat, Kass says, but he has always been a natural in the snow. Danny Kass practices his sport, but Matt Kass says his littler brother simply has the knowledge and knack for doing spectacular things.

“He was always really naturally talented,” says Matt Kass, 30. “It’s kinda funny, I’d try to learn a new trick and it would take me all day. I’d show him — ‘Dude, look what I’ve learned.’ He’d look at it, stare at it, be all confused with a scrunched face. And, then he’d pull it off, first try. What took me all day, he’d learn on the first try.”

Danny Kass recently won the U.S. Open snowboarding championship for the fifth time, overcoming wrist and shoulder injuries from the previous year, and it’s now “a wait until December” — the start of snowboard season. He has the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C., in his sights, and another attempt to stand atop the medalists’ podium with the gold around his neck. In 2002, Ross Powers beat him for gold in Salt Lake City, and four years later, Shaun White won gold in Turin, Italy — both being American rivals.

Kass, White and others still have to qualify for the Olympics, through a series of five contests at three Grand Prix events — Powers has moved on to boarder cross, a different event. Four spots are up for grabs, and the U.S. has the most depth of snowboarders in the world. It won’t be easy.

“He looks poised to get himself back on the team,” says Mike Jankowski, the U.S. Snowboarding halfpipe coach, who also lives in Portland. “Danny’s riding at the top of his game right now and also progressing and moving forward, learning new tricks and combinations, keeping himself very competitive.”

“He’s maybe the most decorated halfpipe snowboarder in the U.S.,” adds Jeremy Forster, U.S. Snowboarding director. “Ross Powers has won a gold and bronze, and Danny has two silvers. Maybe in 2010 he’ll break the tie. Two silver medals is incredible, but just making the U.S. halfpipe team is an achievement.”

Like many snowboarders, Kass grew up riding a skateboard. While living in New Jersey, he got his start in snowboarding mostly on Vermont mountains, and while living in Florida he rode skateboards while looking up to stars such as the great Tony Hawk.

He still skateboards for fun — practicing on a track in the Grenade warehouse — but snowboarding has been his life since age 16, when Kass started to beat the best. “It’s not my job,” he says, of skateboarding, “and that’s what I love about it.”

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