Hana Beaman Interview

Jan 26 2007 / Aspen, CO
Women’s Snowboarding Smoothest Operator

Born and raised in Southern California, 24-year-old Hana Beaman’s upbringing at Big Bear (where powder is infrequent, but perfect kickers are) is apparent in her riding. She is one of the few women in snowboarding who boasts serious skills and precision in the park, on rails and on quarterpipes.

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When Hana first emerged on the scene, she was one of the few females landing 360s consistently, which helped earn her Snowboarder Magazine’s rookie of the year award in 2001. Fast forward five years, Hana lives and trains in Mammoth, CA and 360s have become warm up trick. She is now known for switch spins and far more rotations, as well as her impeccable style.

At Winter X Games 11, Hana is definitely leading the charge of female progression. Lat34 caught up with Ms. Beaman in Aspen to see how her season is going.

Lat34: How long have you been snowboarding?
Hana: Oh gosh, seventeen years!

Lat34: Do you feel like that dates you at all?
Hana: Yeah it does. I don’t usually feel old, but that makes me feel old. That’s about how old Elena (Hight) and a lot of the other girls are.

Lat34: As one of the older women in the competition, do you feel your experience helps you in competitions?
Hana: I think so. I think the last couple years I’ve learned a lot and I think that’s helped me in the contests. Like, I’ve learned you’re just gotta have fun, ride your best and land solid and that’s kind of what counts. If you don’t land, it doesn’t count.

Lat34: Is Winter X your first contest this year?
Hana: Yes, it is my first contest. I just came back from the European Open and that was gonna be my first contest, but it got cancelled, so I’m back here and this is my first contest.

Lat34: Do you have any jitters because it’s your first contest this season?
Hana: Nah, I don’t know, I never really get nervous at contests I just kinda more am ansty-pants to see how everything turns out. I’m pretty mellow. If I just tell myself I’m just riding the park and having fun and that seems to work really well.

Lat34: Do you have any new stuff you’re gonna try here?
Hana: I might try a backside 720 and some switch stuff. We’ll see how it works, if I feel comfortable in qualifiers, and if I get a good run down I wanna try and step it up and I might throw out some other tricks.

Lat34: Have you ridden the course yet?
Hana: Yeah, we had a practice all morning. It’s fun. There’s a couple things that are a little hard to deal with, but I’ll find a way and everything will work out.

Lat34: How is X Games different than other contests?
Hana: I think for everybody that watches it and a lot of industry people it’s a really big event. It’s the biggest hype and it’s got the biggest name around it. I think it’s a good event because a lot of people can see it but it’s not necessarily the biggest event for me. I always try to do well and you’re stoked if you do well, and if not you have something to look forward to next year.

Lat34: Other than competing, you are filming for Runway Films this year. Can you tell me a little bit about that project?
Hana: Runway is a production company that Leanne Pelosi and a bunch of the other girls started since Misschief took a year off from making videos. We’re all kind of in on it, we all have some say, we’ve just been filming and everything’s been going pretty good. Our teaser just came out in Vegas and I’ve been hearing a lot of positive feedback about that. We’re all just trying to film and make a super good video part so we can not rely on contests as much. That’s our goal!

Lat34: Have you been on any cool trips filming for the video?
Hana: This year so far we’ve just been filming in the states. I know a lot of the girls have been up in the Northwest like B.C. and up in Washington. We’ve had a crew out in Colorado riding in Denver and at Keystone and Breck. It’s been those two areas ‘cause that’s where all the snow is. Hopefully we’ll get some more snow and be able to travel around a do some more stuff. Maybe a trip to Japan.

Lat34: It definitely seems like women’s slopestyle had progressed a lot in the past few years. Do you think we’ll see anyone try a 900 at Winter X?
Hana: You might. I know Jana Meyen’s been working on them, Cheryl Maas has been working on them, Silvia Mittermueller’s been doing some frontside 9’s. I don’t know if they are going to put them in their run, but you never know. It just depends on how they feel on the course. Hopefully we’ll see some.

Lat34: Is there one thing that you are most excited about this season?
Hana: I am really looking forward to just going and riding powder. I’ve been riding rails and park and all kinds of urban stuff so far this year, and I am just really looking forward to going and riding some powder.