Success in Snowboarding - Chairman of the Board
York County Native Soars to Success Chairman of the 'board' Some people go to great extremes for an adrenaline rush. For York County native Adam Longnecker, his thrill of choice is careening down the face of a mountain with a snowboard attached to his feet. He has made a full-time career out of chasing an adrenaline rush.
(PRWEB) January 3, 2005 -- York County Native Soars to Success Chairman of
the 'board' Some people go to great extremes for an adrenaline rush. A few will
jump out of airplanes, some will ride wild bulls, others may race cars at over
200 mph.
For York County native Adam Longnecker, his thrill of choice is
careening down the face of a mountain with a snowboard attached to his feet. He
has made a full-time career out of chasing an adrenaline rush.
Longnecker, a 1992 graduate of York Suburban High School, left the
rolling hills of York County for the treacherous, snow-covered mountains of
Aspen, Colo., when he was only 18. Fresh out of high school, Longnecker began
competing in contests throughout Colorado. He did so well that he began coaching
professional and amateur snowboarders. This experience eventually led him to
launch his own snowboarding team. Comprised of both professional and amateur
athletes, the team grew from just five members to more than 100 within five
years. Because of his history of success, Longnecker's talent quickly became
known throughout the snowboarding community and the demand for his skills
skyrocketed.
"After I became known in the pro circuit as a great
half-pipe coach, I began accumulating pro rider clients, working with the U.S.
Olympic snowboard team, New Zealand Olympic snowboard team and running my own
private half-pipe camps for pros only," Longnecker said. Snowboarding is not the
only extreme sport in which Longnecker excels. He is also a top-notch
skateboarder, with a list of accomplishments that easily competes with those of
his snowboarding career.
In 2000, he launched a series of World Cup
skateboarding events throughout North America, where world-class competitors
come from all around the globe to compete. Longnecker has also been successful
in creating celebrity-coached skateboarding camps, where students receive
skating advice from some of the best skateboarders in the world. Because he
juggles snowboarding and skateboarding, the typical year for Longnecker is
packed full of enough events to satisfy even the most adrenaline-starved people.
November through May are spent concentrating on snowboarding and all of
the traveling associated with it, including trips to British Columbia to run a
freestyle camp and a trip to Alaska for helicopter-access snowboarding.
Once the snow melts, June and July are spent skateboarding at some of
his various skate camps, or touring the country on one of his skateboarding
tours. In August, Longnecker heads off to New Zealand to take advantage of its
winter season and work at a snowboarding camp he established there. "September
and October I do my best to relax and enjoy someplace new, or someplace I know,
do some surfing and just take a breath," Longnecker said. Most only dream about
a schedule like his, but for him, it is reality.
All of Longnecker's
success didn't come without some major setbacks. Longnecker has suffered from
multiple shoulder dislocations, two shoulder surgeries, a broken ankle, a severe
concussion, and a fractured skull. Somehow, Longnecker overcame all of those
injuries, and kept pushing forward, always in chase of the next adrenaline rush.
"I still get a great adrenaline rush when straight-lining huge mountain chutes.
Pointing down 1,500 vertical feet at 40 to 50 degrees just does not compare to
any other feeling in snowboarding," Longnecker said.
If you are
interested in seeing Longnecker in action, tune in to ESPN's X-Games to see him
riding the half-pipe with his friends in Aspen, Colo. You can also check out his
Web site at www.adamlongnecker.com.
Author: By Andy Snyder
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/1/prweb193329.htm