During the record setting 2012 season in AK, Juneau native Ryland Bell invites friends and fellow Patagonia ambassadors Forrest Shearer, Josh Dirksen and Alex Yoder on a trip to experience his local turf, and shred off the chart snow totals. Expecting to face the challenge of riding in the monster storms that had been pounding Juneau’s coast almost non-stop for the entire season, the crew gets lucky, landing a perfect weather window and getting their fill of a season’s worth of pitch perfect pow under bluebird skies. 
Filmed by Sweetgrass Productions with their upcoming 2013 feature film ‘Valhalla’.

Dirksen rips one out. Photo: Abe Blair.

Josh Dirksen, Forrest Shearer and Ryland Bell Join Patagonia as Part of Patagonia’s Increased Commitment to Snow Sports

Patagonia Inc., the enviro-minded apparel company, is pleased to announce that Josh Dirksen, Ryland Bell and Forrest Shearer have joined the company as Snowboard Ambassadors. Each rider embodies the company’s core values, comes equipped with a life-long dedication to snowboarding and a desire to ride in the best outerwear possible. As a company, Patagonia has increased its focus in the snow sports category with a major update to its outerwear line in Fall 2011 and plans to continue the progression into future seasons. Dirksen, Shearer and Bell will collaborate closely with the company’s designers to provide first-hand input on every aspect of product performance and design.

“I’m pleased to welcome Ryland, Josh and Forrest to the Patagonia family,” says Josh Nielsen, Patagonia’s grassroots marketer and ambassador liaison, “This group of athletes represents a growing demographic of savvy backcountry riders who demand technical products suited specifically to their needs. We look forward to working closely and collaboratively with these guys as we continue to build the best product on the market while causing the least environmental harm.”

Ryland Bell. Photo: Abe Blair.

Dirksen, an icon in snowboarding for the past 15 years, says, “Now that I’m putting so much time into splitboarding to access my lines and riding more technical terrain, I need clothing that will work perfectly for all situations. I want to eliminate as many X-factors as possible when I’m out there and I know that with Patagonia gear, I don’t need to think twice.”

Patagonia’s environmental efforts and cause-the-least-amount-of-harm design ethics played a role in the snowboarders’ decision to join the company as Ambassadors. Says Forrest Shearer “I want to be involved with environmentally responsible companies because that’s what is important to me. Patagonia thinks about the products they make and tries to have the least amount of impact. The company has a killer history of taking remarkable steps not only in snowsports, but in all aspects of business.”

Forrest Shearer. Photo: Noah Howell

Bell, an Alaska native and Squaw Valley local says,” I’m excited to apply the heritage of Patagonia’s technology and design specifically to snowboarding. Having high-end, light, performance gear is the difference between struggling and being comfortable in the mountains. I’m really looking forward to taking snowboarding apparel to the next level.”

Bell, Dirksen and Shearer join a team of Ambassadors that includes surfing’s Malloy Brothers, Gerry Lopez and climbing’s Tommy Caldwell, Sonny Trotter and other notable athletes at the height of their sports.