Chris Bukovansky was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. In 1968 his parents escaped with him to the USA, dropping into the great Pacific Northwest and a childhood of adventures. He is now one of the main men at Dakine, a company he has been employed by for almost two decades. We caught up with him at their all–new HQ in Hood River.
DIRT ISSUE 141 | NOVEMBER 2013
Words by Mike Rose. Photo by Steve Jones
Where do you live?Hood River, Oregon, USA.
What’s your job title?Dakine VP of Sales and Merchandising.
What do you do?Work, raise family, play, bike, surf, snowboard, ski, windsurf. Mix it all up to keep it entertaining.
How long have you worked for Dakine?19 years.
How did you land the job?I was working at a snow/wind/surf shop locally and riding for Dakine. Then they offered me a job as a sales assistant.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?Building docks in Seattle in the winter.
Where’s your favourite place?Anywhere with big mountains.
Where’s your favourite place to ride?All over Oregon.
When are you happiest?Deep in the woods or backcountry doing something fun with family and friends.
What makes you angry?Wasting time.
What makes you happy?Lots. Fun times with family, untracked powder, tacky dirt and perfect uncrowded surf. Watching my kids grow and take on new challenges.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?Look ahead.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given?It’s always good to be a beginner at something.
What are your extravagances?I am lucky working in the snow and bike industry that I end up with lot’s of extravagant new bikes/ski’s/snowboards each season.
Who do you admire?Teachers for their dedication, focus and patience.
What’s the most important thing in your life?Family and health.
What would you never throw away?Memories of the good times with family and friends.
What’s your greatest fear?Losing those memories and the ability to create new ones.
What was your luckiest escape?I took a bad crash onto my back wave sailing deep in Baja Mexico. Four hours of rough dirt road from any town. I was hurting really bad, then started to pee bright red blood.
What’s the first thing you do in the morning?Look out the window and check the weather.
What’s the last thing you do at night?Realise how lucky I am with my health, family and life.
What would be your dream meal?Maybe great Mexican or Indian food set up in a cabin at the end of a perfect powder day of heli–skiing.
What things do you always carry with you?No real stuff, I just try to keep a good attitude and outlook.
Do you have any regrets?Looking back at my early years and thinking about all the time we would burn hanging out at the beach, or mountain in between activities. Once you have kids, work and everything, then you realise how inefficient we were with our time before that. We could have packed a lot more into each of those days.
What’s the most important lesson that you’ve learnt?Try to use every day wisely.
Who is your favourite rider?Tough one. Thomas Vanderham, Geoff Gulevich and Matt Hunter all rate high because of their skills and all around fun to be with and ride with.
What’s your favourite bike product of all time?RockShox Reverb adjustable seat post. Saves people with bad backs.
What’s your least favourite bike product of all time?Narrow bars with bar ends.
What’s your favourite motto or saying?Best day ever.
What saying do you use too much?Best day ever.
What bike are you riding at the moment?Trek Remedy 29”.
What was the last magazine you read?Bike Mag November issue with Matty Hunter in Afghanistan. Crazy adventure story.
What are you listening to at the moment?Johnny Cash.
What one thing would you change about yourself?Be a better listener and communicator.
What are your weaknesses?Being patient and waiting when I want to get something done.
What does the future hold for you?Growing up and watching my kids grow and enjoy this great place we live in.
What does the future hold for mountain biking?More new trails and people out building and riding them.
How would you like to be remembered?With respect and having those I live, work and play with remember the good times we have had.
[series]
