Grown in NY: Jake Doan

Photo Liam McKinley

Interview by Evan Williams

Age: 19

Hails From: Lake Placid, NY

Sponsors: Fatypus Skis, Bloom Outerwear, Ski The East, Sports Page Ski Shop

So what's good Mr. Jake Doan? Where are you residing nowadays?

Heyo! I am currently living in Lake Placid, NY for the summer but right now I'm helping out coaching at one of the summer ski camps at Whaleback.

What’s going on at Whaleback this summer?

They host a few summer camps where you pretty much just skate, tramp, and ski on their turf setup for a week, so its a super fun time kickin’ it with a bunch of stoked younger guys.

How was your season? Any notable trips or days? 

My season was probably the most fun one yet! Despite the weak snow conditions out in Utah, Park City and Brighton still managed to get some really fun features setup. Aside from Utah, I went on a few urban/park shoot trips with Toy Soldier Productions in Montana for their upcoming movie. 

I would have to say my favorite trip was when I came back east in March for three weeks. Got to see all the homies back here and skied classic east coast spring conditions while doing a little competing and filming. Always a blast!

Describe growing up skiing on the east coast.

Well everyone has heard it before: Cold, icy, and gaper ridden.  Although those three things are totally right, I would say that the thing that is the best part of growing up on the east is how no matter where you go you will always see someone you know/have met before.  There is a sense of community within the east unlike any other place I’ve been.  That’s why I love going back in the spring when it’s nicest because there’s always homies around to ride with at any resort.  Given, the features are obviously a little smaller scale at most places than those out west, but that is what keeps the vibe so fun and enjoyable-nobody is ever too serious or concerned about who's watching, your just out there making the best of it and hoping that the rain from the night before didn’t freeze everything into an ice rink haha.

How was filming with TSP this season? The trailer looked amazing.  

It was awesome. Like I mentioned, Utah didn't get the most snow so I didn't get a chance to shoot much urban there but the few trips I took to Montana were really tight and got some shots I’m stoked on. Check out the movie, "Act Natural" to see!

Did you get a chance to shoot at all with Meathead Films?

Yep! I went on a trip with Luke Hagearty and George Watts to Quebec City where we met up with Alex Beaulieu-Marchand. We shot some urban around there for a few days. They had the most snow out of anywhere in the east at the time. We hit some pretty cool stuff that hadn't been hit before and some that we hit a little differently. But due to the lack of snow and being out west most of my season that was the only trip I was able to make with them this year.

Jake, Radio Ron, and Justin Perrry

What are your plans for this winter? Where will you be living?

I’ll be posted up in Salt Lake City. I’ll be taking the spring semester off of school again and skiing Park City / Brighton primarily.  Once the winter gets going I’ll be doing some more filming with TSP all over the place trying to get a segment together for the next movie.  Other than that I’ll be crusin’ with all the homies out in Utah trying to get after some snow that seemed to elude us this past year.  I’ll also be heading back east a couple times to do some filming with Galin Foley and Joey Szela of the Main Idea as well, other than that, just skiing as much as possible and hoping some fun opportunities come my way!

Photo Keith Carlsen

What year are you in college? What’s your major?

This fall will be the 2nd semester of my sophomore year at Westminster College since I took last winter off (I’m supposed to be a junior).  It’s a pretty sweet place, decently small for colleges, which is nice because I’ve gone to smaller schools my whole life, so it was an easy transition. 

I am currently undeclared, but I’m thinking of something in the environmental studies field, but who knows haha. Just takin’ it one step at a time.

How has college mixed in with your skiing pursuits?

So far so good.  Like I mentioned I take the winters off which helps and honestly I’m not in a huge rush to finish school.  I still have a little time until I get my major all figured out so for right now I just take fall classes and focus all my energy on those so I can make them count.  My parents actually were the ones who initially suggested taking time off and it’s worked out well so we will see where it goes the next few years.

Photo Andy Hahn

Who were your influences growing up?

Ski movies were the source of what got me into park skiing. From the age of 13 until I was 17 I would buy pretty much every movie that would come out, so when Ski movie 2 and 3 came out I was real stoked on Pep and CR. Then once I started getting Level 1 movies Liam Downey and Vanular were some of my biggest influences (and still are).  More recently, guys like Rainville, and Hornbeck have influenced me the most. I'd say.

Photo Galin Foley

What does skiing need more of?

Hmmm, that’s a tough question.  I feel like skiing is growing and progressing in a lot of different directions right now for better and for worse.  Although If I had to pick something that I would be the most stoked on is the different kind of urban features that are being shot.  One movie that got me real stoked this past season was Shoot the Moon by Videograss. Some of the stuff that crew does is so creative with finding different tranny’s and gaps-it’s awesome to watch. I’d like to see skiing head more in that direction which it seems like it has begun to do.

What does skiing need less of?

Hate from (some) Snowboarders, hah.

Shoutouts?

First and foremost my parents for supporting me from the start. I'd also like to thank Jared @ Fatypus, Jim @ Bloom, Drew from the sports page, and all the guys at TSP and Meatheads for giving me the chance to film with them!