The GIV Family Blog

GIV + Brandon Becker = A conversation

givbrand — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:05:18 +0000

We decided to have a chat with our newest family member, to see what he has been up and to try and get a peak inside that mind of his. The following is our conversation with Brandon Becker…read on.
GIV
where you at right now?

BRaNdOn
I’m sitting in my throne in Idaho.

GIV
What was it like growing up in Idaho?

BRaNdOn
It was like mamm blasting coyotes to protect her sheep, lamb chops, horse back riding, camping in the mountains, long winters, skiing, fishing, you know like duck hunter on nintendo but real style!

GIV
I loved duck hunter

BRaNdOn
Yeah but a 12 gauge is way more fun than the nintendo gun. I like super contra!

GIV
up up down down left right left right baba select start

BRaNdOn
OH YEAH infinite lives!

GIV
ha!
how’d you get into skiing?

BRaNdOn
My mom packed me around in a baby back pack, cross country skiing.

GIV
that’s great
start em young

BRaNdOn
I started off at Brundage Mountain wit the Brundage Bombers!

GIV
how old were you then?

BRaNdOn
6 maybe, i don’t know!

GIV
Do ski hills even have those little ski teams anymore?

BRaNdOn
yeah, I’m going to be working with the Payette Lakes Ski club this year, which is a little hill with a t bar. Side Effect snowboard shop is helping out with Planet tools rails n boxes. It’s goin to be an after school program with various winter activities like park riding and nordic skiing… I haven’t heard all the details.

GIV
That’s sick man. Way to GIV back.

BRaNdOn
Holla!

GIV
So you filmed with Ostness this last year and also in TBC.
how’d you get into working with him?

BRaNdOn
I started working with Ostness in 2005, filming for Teddy Bear Crisis. He’s like the Einstein of ski films, portrays a natural, good feeling in all the films he’s dropped so far. The crash section in his first film, Clay Pigeons, is soooooo hilarious!

I enjoy working with Ostness and had a good time working with him this past season for 44 Days! I kicked his ass every time he stepped up to plate in Modern Warfare tho!

GIV
ha!
what was it like doing the 44 days thing?
how many of those days were you in on it?

BRaNdOn
I relocated to Utah for the month of February. After, I went back to Idaho and shralped some horrible powder, I went back to SLC for the 44th day, plus the shovel fight, which was day 45! Utah was fun, had my lil’ bro on board, he dropped a few hilarious bombs and stomped a few tricks too! Watch out in the movie, he’s my stunt devil for crashes, because i never crash…u know!

GIV
of course!

BRaNdOn
The other team riders that I sessioned with were Tim Dirtschi and Kevin Brower most of the time.

GIV
So…your part in 44 days comes after a sort of hiatus from films, what was going on between TBC and 44days?

BRaNdOn
Well, I filmed with MSP a little bit in 2006. I’ve mostly been in my mountain lab brewing up something Cold!

GIV
Tell us a little about that.
I’ve heard stories about your secret bc stashes in Idaho.

BRaNdOn
I would but this interview would self destruct!

GIV
Any truth to you living in an igloo a few winters ago?

BRaNdOn
It was more of a hobbit hut. I did take a photographer from Seatown out there for a couple nights, he didn’t have a sleeping pad, so I made him one out of tree boughs.

GIV
crazy!

BRaNdOn
his ski boot also got sucked up in my snowmobile track. it was a severe extraction process!

GIV
Ha!

BRaNdOn
We got some killer shots tho- u can peep em’ at mthomasphoto.com

GIV
nice.
So the season is about to start. What are you up to during the offseason?

BRaNdOn
I’ve been working on forest restoration projects for the forest service since May. In layman’s terms it’s basically treating the national forest like a garden. I was able to get on a few wild fires in northern california, and Idaho wilderness. The wilderness fire was tenderoni because I didn’t have to attempt to suppress it, just hiked around and watched it burn. Plus the river was full of cut throuts! I’ve been fly fishing, playing guitar, partying, chillin on my girl’s sail boat on the lake.

think about it!

GIV
Nice!
What do you do to get ready for the season?

BRaNdOn
i just think about the season. i’m pretty active, i ride bikes, and hike around. jump off cliffs into the lake.

GIV
So how did you hear about GIV?

BRaNdOn
our mutual friend Jordan Judd! That dood can bust a filthy mad CAT!
on his skis

GIV
yeah he can
people forget he was in the wind-up films

BRaNdOn
yeah, stylee 360 over pyramid gap in Utah!

GIV
What is it about GIV that made you want you to rep it again?

BRaNdOn
Fresh styles, organic cotton, it’s a positive and progressive expression

GIV
Nice Words.
What are your plans for this winter?

BRaNdOn
Powder lines, pillow lines, new tricks, a couple road trips. I’ll be filming with Poor Boyz productions and the Seven Devils.

GIV
Right on!

BRaNdOn
Looking forward to it!

GIV
Anything else you want to say?

BRaNdOn
Yeah I have to pee…gotta go!
Thanks to my sponsors first tho-

BRaNdOn
Atomic, POW gloves, Nike 6.0, Helly Hansen, Smith, Decade Snow and Skate. Word up!
And all my Ugly fellas!

GIV
Thanks Brandon!

BRaNdOn
De nada. Thank you! Keep on!

Cary Judd has a new Website and is GIVing away his music

givbrand — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:17:55 +0000

Yep you read that right. Cary has updated his site with new info about his upcoming album and tour info. Plus!…You can download Cary’s 2 first albums from his site for free right now!

Get on over to caryjudd.com and check it out.

5 Friends or All my Friends

Mark — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:40:54 +0000

Instead of sending this to 5 of my friends it’s going out to all that read the blog.

We have some additions to the GIV Family

givbrand — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:53:59 +0000

GIV would like to announce the additions of Brandon Becker and Jon Hartman to our family.

Brandon brings his chill mindset formed from growing up in the cold winters of McCall, Idaho to our growing family. Able to conquer anything you throw at him Brandon has a rare talent and continues to gain recognition for his smooth style. You can see Brandon ride in the Atomic/Kris Ostness release 44days.

Jon Hartman known for his artistic antics and urban steeze is a welcome addtion to the GIV family. Jon, who is regularly featured in the JIBIJ team updates found on Newschoolers.com, joined the family with fresh ideas and art for new tees in hand. We are upper excited about working with Jon in the coming season.

Brandon and Jon join our family of athletes, artists, and designers consisting of Jonas Marcinko, Halo Wilson, Doug Mercer, Cary Judd and others.

We at GIV are excited to have our family continue to grow as we progress in our offerings of apparel and lifestyle products. Be on the look out for GIV athletes in contests, magazines, and films through out the coming season.

Save Salt Lake Mini-Ramps, save the World…

givbrand — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:36:01 +0000

So a few weeks ago Salt Lake Health officials passed an ordinance to ban all back yard ramps because of the noise pollution. While a sane person who has ever been around or near both a skate ramp and a backyard pool party will know that the pool party is louder, the skate ramp is getting the bureaucratic crap bags attention.

Check out http://www.slcminiramp.com to learn more and to stay up to date on the details.

The reason this matters to you even if you live outside of Utah is it’s impact in the setting of a precedent. IF SLC allows this ordinance to stick than other cities/states can use it as basis for their own bans against skaters…fight the powers that be on this one Citizens of SLC!

The Salt Lake Valley Health Department board will consider suspending its ban on backyard skate ramps next week, buying time for interested parties to reach a permanent resolution by next spring.
The meeting is Oct. 2 at 7:30 a.m. in Room 2003 of the north building of the County Government Center, 2001 S. State. While a vote is scheduled, there is no public hearing. Show up to GIV your support to a good cause!

I am a geek but you already know this.

Mark — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:42:14 +0000

So Heroes is back and well I am a little excited. Comics were my favorite thing during my preadolescence (until I met a smart girl named Ann, but that’s another story). This TV show brings back many of those feelings from my youth. Even today I can imagine myself using a superpower or two…can’t you?

Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Mark — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:50:53 +0000

AAARRGH! It’s Talk Like a Pirate Day!

The guys that made this up were playing raquetball at a park and started having more of a fun time by encouraging and poking fun at each other while talking in Pirate speak. Needless to say, millions of people are a little more silly, smile a little more, and have a little more fun for a few minutes today, thanks to them.