This is what you’ve done since, I guess ‘96.

This will be 20 years pro.

Was there a fear about that changing, or this being the career ender?

For sure. All that stuff was in there and that’s what I talked to [Dr. Goldberg] about. If I’m not doing this, if I’m not JP Walker, then who the fuck am I? I think other pro athletes go through shit like that, like football players. You’re living this life in the spotlight and stardom. But I’m getting older and filming my 20th video part. If I can’t do it, not only do I fail at that but now I’m not even this person that I’ve been anymore. [Dr. Goldberg] helped me understand that it’s not like that. Just like a lot of pro athletes that are super critical of themselves, their performance and all this stuff. He helped me put a lot of that into perspective. He’s an older guy from back East and I’m telling him how to do double corks and back lips and all this shit, telling him about tricks I’ve invented. And he’s listening, like he actually cares. But he said, “It’s damn sick that you did all this stuff, and you’re still that.”

Going back to those early years, there was definitely a bold image that you portrayed of JP Walker. How much truth was there in the Forum JP Walker, or the video part JP Walker?

At the time, a lot of that was hyped up. I guess I turn it on a little bit when the camera is pointed at me. Hit it with an “ugh, son” or something, instead of just standing there. But I always have been aware that there is more to professional snowboarding than just snowboarding. There’s such a thing as an image. Some of the most successful guys in snowboarding, surfing, and skateboarding have an image that goes along with their riding. Like [Shaun] Palmer. I was listening to a lot of hip hop, still do. I liked that style of dress, started wearing that look more in my gear. Had a lot of money, bought a Benz. I’ve been doing this a long time, but I try to adapt and change with the times a little bit. I’m not fully switching all my threads and wearing tight jeans and stuff like that, but I do realize that there is the other aspect to it and try to be as professional as possible and make this shit look good.