Let it Ride

Once in a while a person comes along and flat changes it all. For the world of snowboarding, Craig Kelly was that guy. Craig Kelly led the charge, and led it with more class, skill and energy than anyone else would have or could have. Craig Kelly was snowboarding’s original captain, and remained on top until his tragic death by avalanche in 2003.... More »

Once in a while a person comes along and flat changes it all. For the world of snowboarding, Craig Kelly was that guy. Craig Kelly led the charge, and led it with more class, skill and energy than anyone else would have or could have. Craig Kelly was snowboarding’s original captain, and remained on top until his tragic death by avalanche in 2003.

While Jake Burton and the other literal founders of snowboarding are due much cred for creating the sticks so many of us rely on for our sanity, happiness and sport, snowboarding as an industry and profession owes Craig Kelly and riders like him its livelihood. Snowboarding as an Olympic sport? Professional snowboarding as a legitimate job? Snowboarding as a billion dollar industry? Craig was the match that lit the fuse.

Director Jaques Russo’s “LET IT RIDE,” is Craig’s story. The adolescence of snowboarding saw Craig Kelly win more than 7 World Snowboard Championship titles, and million dollar contracts and the X-games soon followed. Craig did not follow. He gave it all up in order to dedicate his life to big mountain backcountry riding, and became the first accredited mountain guide on a snowboard.

The mountain that gave Craig everything also took his life on January 20, 2003, a tragedy that hit the snowboard world hard making the boldest of riders feel suddenly human. Craig Kelly’s tragic death united snowboarders around the globe and reminded them that snowboarding is more than a sport, but a culture.

Featuring: Craig Kelly, Jake Burton, Tom Sims, Jason Ford, Keith “DuckBoy” Wallace, Tex Devenport, Dan Donnely

Music By: Metallica, Johnny Cash, The Doors, Pearl Jam, Swollen Members, and more. Less «