P3: Pipes, Parks, and Powder

One of the most charismatic, popular and talented snowboarders in the world, Todd Richards, tells the story of his life as a skateboarder–turned–world–class–snowboarder, and of the sport that in less than 10 years has gone from underground to the forefront of the Olympics.

In the late 1980s, snowboarders were seen by skiers as skate–punks and 'knuckle–draggers' but in just a few years the sport rapidly gained popularity in ski areas and resorts. By 1994 snowboarding was an exhibition sport at the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer; since then it has become one of the most popular sports in the Olympics. Todd Richards was there through it all and, as he tells his story, he shares the history of his sport.

Todd Richards is one of the biggest names in pro snowboarding. Now his image is on PlayStation games, plastic toys and countless magazines. He's won world championships and X Games medals. Known for his wit, work ethic, and front side 900, Todd has helped bring snowboarding out of obscurity and into the limelight. The sport continues to gain momentum through growing media coverage, and no professional embodies the image and attitude of snowboarding better than Todd Richards.

Todd Richards continues to compete in and win the world's most prestigious snowboarding competitions and is currently producing his second trick-tips video. He makes frequent television appearances but is avoiding a commentator job for as long as possible -- at least until he lands a major role in a future Star Wars movie. He lives with his wife and son in Encinitas, California, and Breckenridge, Colorado.

Eric Blehm is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestsellers Fearless (soon to be a major motion picture) and The Only Thing Worth Dying For. His book The Last Season won the 2007 National Outdoor Book Award and was named by Outside magazine as one of the “greatest adventure biographies ever written.”