AM-MO™: Joe Mertes

All of a sudden, the mid-west just pumped out another batch of really talented riders.  It's like there's a factory out there that produces stylish jibbers, and their new shipment just hit the shelves.  Joe Mertes is obviously a product from there.  He's got a proper style & attitude, real classic and not half-assing anything.  He's got strong smooth moves, which almost makes his tricks look too easy.  (He's also a regular footer, in case you can't figure it out.)  As his talents show, he pulled the ender part in the new Team Thunder flick, Beauville.  He prefers to be judged on the comment boards, rather than live in front of an audience screaming for stunts.  Joe gets support from Nitro, L1, Raiden, Dragon, Active, Comune, Magical Go-Go, Elm, and that's plenty of AMMO to go pro.  -Robbie Sell

Joe with a cup o' Joe, of course. (photo by Ryan Taylor)

I know your name is Brandon.  How come you tricked all of us into calling you Joe?

I guess I'm just a tricky guy.  Just kidding.  I'll give you the short story.  When I was born my parents really liked the name Joe, but there was already another Joe Mertes in my family, so they went with Brandon Joseph Mertes.  Plus, I do believe my weird name situation started a middle name game at High Cascade and thats how I know your middle name is Harold.

When did you start snowboarding, and why?

I started snowboarding when I was 12.  I think I started cause I'd always try standing up when I'd go sledding, and I was just starting to skate.  The first time I saw someone actually snowboarding was at this sledding hill and after that I had to try.  I started with Black Snow plastic boards in my neighborhood and finally got a real board a while later.  Nitro Pyro 155 I believe it was.

Minnesota style fun in the sun.  (photo by Bob Plumb)

Who was the first pro snowboarder you met; did you get an autograph?

Micah McGinnity!  He used to ride at Buck Hill where I grew up riding.  Never got an auto though.  I see him around Minneapolis, maybe I'll ask him next time I see him.   Haha. 

What was the first snowboard movie you watched?

Ticket to Ride.  I think Andy Hetzel is in that one.

So, you find a magic lamp... what are your 3 wishes?

To be able to fly, a Transformer for a truck, and have it snow as much as I want when I want.

What's your influence in your snowboard style and attitude?

Skateboarding for sure.  I just try to be as smooth as Kenny Anderson.  Jared Johnson too, I like to ride like him.  Music influences me a little too.  I don't really ever ride with headphones, but when I do it's super fun to ride like a bat.  Attitude, I don't really know.  I just try to be real.  No bullshit.

How much cash would it take to get your sponsor's logos tattooed on your forearms?

I would never do that, ha.  Maybe I'd just trade gear from each of the sponsors for the tattoo or something.

Tweak it.  (photo by Robbie Sell)

Would you give up the opportunity to be a pro snowboarder, if you could have a one night stand with any girl in the world?

Haha, probably not.  I'd go on a date with Katy Perry in a heartbeat though.  Or Zooey Deschanel.  Or both at the same time.

What are your goals in snowboarding?  Do you have to get a pro model someday, or would you be content with getting your name on a couple team rosters and some free gear?

I really want to keep filming for video parts.  Like horribly bad.  It's the funnest thing ever.  It's what I've wanted to do since I was a kid.  I'd love to get a pro model for sure, or at least a signature graphic or something.  It's sweet to be involved.  It'd feel good to be backed that well too.

If some random brand approached you for a sponsorship deal, and you didn't really like the product, but they offered to give you a big truck and wakeboard boat (for free) and give you paychecks, would you take it?

Haha, what the crap?  No thanks.

Fakie tailpress, or switch nosepress?  (photo by Ryan Taylor) 

If you could have any song to a video part, what would it be?

Metallica, Jump In The Fire.

Can you do any wakeboard tricks?

On my snowboard?  Nope.  I used to wakeboard though.  I've lived on lakes for a long time, just kinda grew up playing on the water.

Why don't you do super spins, like in the contests?

Not my thing really.  I have a lot of fun jumping for sure, but growing up in the midwest there aren't very many good jumps.  So rails kind of came more naturally.  And I don't really like anything over 900.

No boat needed.  (photo by Bob Plumb)

What's your dream job, after you retire from being a poster boy?

Not too sure yet.  I'd like to open a sign shop or something maybe.  Or something with graphic design.

Are you going to jump your board into a double cork this winter?

Nah, I don't like those things.  On axis only ha.

Favorite drink?

1919 Rootbeer.

Not rootbeer.

What is the most memorable shot (video or photo) that you've ever seen?

JP Walker hard way switch frontside 270 to backlip in Shakedown.

Who is your favorite rider today, and from anytime in the past?

Thats a tough one.  I'll give you a few.  Today: Darrell Mathes, Chris Bradshaw, Jed Anderson, Nick Mertes, Jared Johnson, Jon Kooley, Johnny Miller, Ben Bilocq, Will Tuddenham, Gigi Ruf.  It's hard to narrow it down.  From the past: Kevin Jones, Travis Parker.  They aren't really total goners though. 

If you could teach any female in the world how to snowboard, who would it be?

Teaching girls is stressful.  But I'd teach Marisa Miller.  Heard she surfs, so she'd pick it up real quick I bet.

Trying to impress Katy Perry.  (photo by Ryan Taylor) 

Tell me a cool story.  Go.

When I was 18 I moved to Big Bear Lake with my friend Eric.  Drove all the way out there, moved into a hostel, and started working at Snow Summit.  After about a week and a half we got a house with some other people that were staying at the hostel too.  The rest of the season was so amazing.  Looking back at that year I can't believe how smooth it was; not even 19 years old and we had it all figured out with no major hang ups.

What's your favorite nickname given to you?

Joe.  People call me Mertez or Merts a lot cause they don't know how to pronounce my last name.  But I don't mind it.  Just as long as they know how it's really pronounced.   Justin Meyer has the best nicknames for anyone, he came up with Mertecycle once. 

He can make it snow when he wants.