If you think the life of a professional athlete is all luxury travel, world-class resorts, and sponsor shoots, you’d be right. In the case of Caley Vanular, she travels in the luxury of a sweet truck, decked out for snow in British Columbia to surf in Baja. Her resorts are moving villages of good friends who have a knack for world-class tent placement. And the sponsor shoots…well…those are pretty true to form since girl’s a designer; she’s just on the other side of the camera now.

Vanular is a pro snowboarder who is making the transition out of a packed competition schedule and focusing only on the style of riding she loves. In her “spare” time she runs her own creative studio and fits in as much travel, surf, and British Columbia backcountry as she can.

It’s not easy to make the four-season dream of snow, surf, trail, and tent a reality. And while it’s said an angel get wings every time a bell rings, I’m pretty sure the outdoor community gives a universal high five every time one of the tribe fulfills the four-season dream. Vanular rocks it with the-live-and-let-live openness of a true adventurer.

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Check out her full feed @caleyvanular and more at her website.

Where is home base?

I have a room in Whistler, BC and one in Vancouver, BC.

Tell us about your time riding as a pro snowboarder.

I have been snowboarding for 20 years now. Wow, that’s a long time! When I was younger I did everything: slopestyle, rail jams, halfpipe, and boardercross. As I grew older I focused on slopestyle competitions. Then I moved on out to the backcountry and banked slaloms. That’s where you will find me now.

You’re still competing, right?

Yes, I still compete in banked slaloms. This year I did the Dirksen Derby in December. I will also be heading out to the Legendary Baker Banked Slalom, Neil Edgeworth Memorial Banked Slalom, and the Rat Race.

Your schedule is still full with events, but snowboarding seems to be finding a place alongside your other passions of travel and surf.

Other than those fun contests, I snowboard as pure joy and exploration. I love venturing out into the backcountry and experiencing what each day in the wild has to offer.

Speaking of venturing, where is the most intriguing place you’ve ever been through your work – as a photographer, a content studio director, pro rider, model, or any of the above?

My work has brought me to so many amazing places it is hard to choose. I love traveling to different destinations and discovering amazing places in nature – places like mountain ranges, ocean caves, backcountry cabins, and hot springs. I love trying the local cuisine and exploring the local markets. I can’t just pick one.

Ahh…come on…

Working in Australia at the Roxy Pro was all time. Huge, roundtable dinner meetings in China are fierce. Eating Balut in the Philippines was unique. Exploring the streets of Barcelona was inspiring. Surfing along the coast of Baja Mexico was motivating. Snowboarding at Baldface Lodge was insane.

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Whether for professional or personal satisfaction, what is the one picture you always try to get when you’re on an adventure with friends?

I like to try to capture the full experience of the trip I have with friends in a few candid images. Whether that is sitting by the campfire or walking out to the ocean for a surf. I try to sneak up on them when they least expect it to get the most candid and true images.

You’re an avid snowboarder and surfer. Between those two, which is more difficult to capture the spirit of the sport in a photo?

I have a hard time capturing the sports because I have too much fun doing them. Although when I am, I would have to say surfing is more beautiful in a photo, because there are so many variable elements to convey. Capturing snowboarding is more difficult because your color palette is much more limited.

Where are you off to next?

Tomorrow? Flying from SLC to YVR to YXT.

Later this winter? I am working on a project with Destination Canada X Much Music so…every province in Canada!

Before December 31, 2016? Canada, USA, Mexico, Spain, France and Costa Rica. I think 😉

Photos by Caley Vanular.