Mitch Brown still ranks as the youngest rider we have ever profiled in our Fast Forward pages. He was just 12 years old when this shot from Ohau ran in our May 2000 issue. He had already been turning heads well before then with his silky smooth style, and has since come through to represent New Zealand twice at the Olympics. Still young for a pro snowboarder,  the best is yet to come from Mitchell Brown…

[flare gallery=”mitch1″ size=”837 x 1021″ ids=”3657″]

PHOTO: Scott Needham/SNP5000

AGE>>12.
BORN>> Dunedin.
LIVE>> Mt Maunganui and Wanaka.
SPONSORS>> Burton, Pulsate, Oakley, Nixon.
WHAT FIRST GOT YOU INTERESTED IN SNOWBOARDING>> Watching others rip it up.
WHEN AND WHERE DID YOU ACTUALLY START RIDING>> At Cardrona in 1996.
WHERE DO YOU SNOWBOARD MOST IN NEW ZEALAND AND WHY?>> Cardrona because it’s where my family go.
HOW ABOUT OVERSEA’S TRAVELS? IF SO, HOW DID YOU PULL IT OFF?>> In January I went to Niseko, Japan with Sita, Jah and Herc. Then in March I went to the Junior World Champs in Les Menuires, both trips thanks to Pulsate and cool parents.
WHAT ELSE ARE YOU INTO?>> Triathalons, swimming, surfing, touch rugby,surf life saving, basketball.
WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS?>> To keep improving my riding and placing higher in comps.
WHAT DRIVES YOU TO SNOWBOARD?>> I love to ride and I want to keep improving till I’m at the top.
MUSIC CHOICE>> NOFX, Chemical Brothers.
RIDERS YOU RESPECT>> Suzy Parker, Shaun White, Michi Albin, Terje, Dylan and Deni.
WHAT’S YOUR OPINION ON COMPETITIVE SNOWBOARDING?>> The competitions are getting bigger and the riders are getting better.
HOW DO YOU FEE OUR RIDERRS STACK UP AGAINST OVERSEAS RIDERS?>> The juniors overseas are ripping, so its good for us to have experience there.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS?>> Nearly finished school-yeah!
ARE THERE ANY IDEALS THAT YOU LIVE BY?>> Make goals and stick by them.

BOARD>> Burton 138 Punch
BOOT/BINDING>> Ruler boots with Freestyle binding
ANGLES>> 21 front, 6 back
WEIGHT AND HEIGHT>> 30kg, 141 cm
HOW OFTEN DO YOU TUNE?>> Heaps
OTHER COMMENTS>> Forward lean rules