In recent years, the Dew Tour iON Mountain Championships have become the unofficial start to the snow contest season, proving to be one of the biggest – and most special – events of the season. This year, some of the world’s best athletes in skiing and snowboarding will shred the powder in Breckenridge, Colo. from Dec. 12-15, including snowboarding star Danny Davis.
For Davis, 25, the event is even more special, since he’s sponsored by the title company. Davis and Mountain Dew have worked together for a while now, which has not only made the Mountain Championships more fun, but also helped the Michigan native take his snowboarding career to the next level – and for that Davis is certainly thankful for the relationship.
“[Mountain Dew] allows me to do what I want and they back me on it,” Davis told us. “They understand that I just want to snowboard and that I’m not just a [half]pipe rider. They are down to build cool features and help support me in almost anything I can think of – I can’t thank them enough.”
But Davis’ snowboarding time has been limited recently.
Prior to a femur injury last year, Davis suffered one of the worst injuries of his career, at one of the most inopportune times possible. Amidst preparing for a shot at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, Davis suffered a nasty bike injury in an ATV accident. Just like that, his Olympic aspirations were gone, and instead he devoted his time to recovering – though it wasn’t always easy for Davis.
“Just like any injury, I had to buckle down and make sure I got myself healthy again – but with the injury being spinal stuff, it made it a little more serious than just another injury,” he recalls. “It was a long process and a long recovery, but definitely something I knew I had to take seriously.”
The injury taught Davis a lot, about his body, about snowboarding and about his career.
“I’m so aware now about when things are feeling tight or when they aren’t feeling the way they should,” Davis added. “[The injury] taught me a lot about stretching and preserving your body for the long haul of a snowboarding career, that I need to stay on top of being strong and most importantly, to stay active. And it taught me that I love snowboarding much more than I knew – and when I wasn’t able to do it, I really missed it.”
Davis is back and with the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games looming, it’s as though he has a second chance.
It’s as though the snowboarding star has come full circle, which might be ironic, given that this year’s iON Mountain Championships are an Olympic selection event for snowboarding. The added pressure might be tough on some of the athletes, but not Davis, for him it’s just another day in the powder.
“I’m going to give it everything I have got to go, but I’m also not going to kill myself mentally or physically over it,” he admitted. “I’m a snowboarder and I enjoy snowboarding, I don’t view myself as an Olympian, but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in experiencing the games.”
Davis isn’t looking that far ahead just yet, however. He knows that a lot can happen between now and Feb. 7, when the games kick off. Instead, he’s just trying to prepare for next week. It’s been a long road to come back since his injury last year but he’s ready for what’s ahead.
“I didn’t get to ride very much last year due to my broken femur, so I wanted to ride as much as possible this summer,” he said. “Whether it was rails, jumps or halfpipes, I just wanted to be on my snowboard as much as possible. To be on my board in October, throwing tricks and having fun, was a big confidence booster and kept my motivation up.”
In talking with Davis, it’s clear that snowboarding and having fun are his main concern these days – not contests, money, or even stardom. The guy does what he loves and doesn’t press, but rather simply takes in the event, enjoying himself as well as the company around him. That might be why this stop in the Dew Tour is one of his favorite events each and every season – and it’s clear he cannot wait.
“The Dew Tour is one of those contests that has treated me well,” Davis recalls. “I have done really well in the past and of course Mountain Dew is one of my sponsors, so it has a good vibe for me. I feel comfortable, because all the people from Pepsi come and it’s always good to see them. It’s a fun one for me and that allows me to just ride and not stress about results.”
You can watch Davis – and all the action – on NBC and the NBC Sports Network, or stream live here.
Ed Miller is a contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @PhillyEdMiller or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Adam Moran and Mountain Dew
