10 years in business. Denis “Bonus” Leontiev: only the street can be better than the mountains

This year, from March 29 to April 7, one of the largest snowboarding festivals Quiksilver New Star Camp will celebrate its 10th anniversary at the Rosa Khutor resort in Sochi. In its honor “Championship” launches a series of materials “10 years in business”. Each story is a story of a pro rider’s formation, a memory of “how it was then” and an answer to the main question: what should be done today to continue to develop snowboarding in Russia and make it more popular, fashionable and attractive every day?

Most of these stories are not about Olympic gold or a career in professional sports, but they are all about love for one’s work, one’s own unique style and personal victories and overcomes on the slope. Our first hero is Denis “Bonus” Leontiev. One of the most reckless, tattooed and funny jibbers you can meet on a railing or a snow-covered sport.

Pro rider’s profile

Age: 27 years old.
Skating experience: 12 years.
From where: was born in Sovetsk, Kaliningrad region. Grew up in St. Petersburg.
Favorite places to skate: Snezhkom in Moscow and Bear mountain in Los Angeles.
Favorite trick: there is no such thing, loves everything.
Rider who inspires: none.
Instagram account: @denisbonus.

How it all started

I got up on the board with a classmate at the Eagle Mountain resort (now it no longer exists, it was in the Leningrad region). On our return home we were attacked and our snowboard was taken away. That’s how my story began.

How it used to be

10 years ago snowboarding was already developed, I didn’t get to the peak of its development. It was great back then, everyone was investing in the industry, building parks. Pro riders were like stars. There were a lot of people snowboarding back then. They were all trendy, interesting, because it wasn’t as mainstream and accessible to everyone as it is now. At that time, when I saw a person with a snowboard, I thought that this person definitely knows something about the sport.

Scariest moment in your career

The scariest moment was when I got a call from Red Bull saying they wanted me on the team. At that very moment, I was shooting for a project and tore a ligament in my knee. I was just a few years old at the time, but I was afraid that I would never recover. Everyone was telling me that it would be very difficult to snowboard professionally after a knee ligament injury. And because of that I had a very hard emotional period. But nothing… after 4,5 months I recovered, came to America, made a cool video and proved that I can “wrench” no matter what.

An accomplishment to be proud of

For me it’s that I “cut a window to America”, became the first snowboarder from Russia, who performed and performs with them, skates at the same level.

On how to develop snowboarding in Russia

Actually, I’m already doing a lot in this topic. I have my own projects, brand, events, etc. But my task is different – to make it not more popular, but more fashionable. And to do that, I need to cultivate cool riders to be looked up to. They should be unique in their riding style, interesting. Then, in my opinion, snowboarding will be more appreciated than it is now. Because nowadays it’s all very public and I don’t see any outstanding people in Russia that I want to look up to and be like. That’s why I want to find such guys, to discover their talent.

Dream ride

I would like to ride in New Zealand, it’s too expensive for now. But I hope it will happen someday.

My only advice to a snowboarder

I would say for someone who already has a little bit of experience and is starting to ride in the parks. For someone who has their own unique style that maybe someone doesn’t like: don’t listen to anyone and do exactly what you think is right. Go for it.

What could be better than the mountains?

The only thing better than mountains is the street! Because I’m a child of the street.

See you on the slope!