évoilà | Jake Legault Full Part + Online Interview

Jake Legault comes out swinging for his first full part. You can tell pretty much immediately that his snowboarding abilities are finely-tuned, and by the time the last couple clips spin, you're more than likely in disbelief that this is his first video part. It becomes even more incredible knowing that he edited the whole thing. Having recently moved on from his the time on the competitive circuit and leaned into making videos, we wanted to pick his brain on riding for the Canadian team, his major influences, if his ender is easier than a frontside triple cork, and more. Watch the part, and read on below.  

King Snow: Yo, Jake. Let’s lay some foundation quickly. Where are you from and where were you on New Year's Eve 1999? 
Jake: I am from Saint-Bruno De Montarville Québec, a suburb town about 20 minutes from Montreal. I was not yet conceived on New Years 1999.

I see how it is. What year were you born? 
I was born in 2003. 

And you’re from Saint-Bruno, like the town at the base of the hill where the Bruners started?
Yeah, I grew up seeing Dillon (Ojo) and The Bruners squad riding underneath the lift at Saint-Bruno after school all winter when I was in elementary school. 

Damn. No way. Any standout memories or funny stories from that time in your life?
Yeah for sure, so many insane memories. I remember cruising around with Dave (Tourigny) at night when I was 9 or 10, and we were just little menaces. Spitting on heads, throwing snowballs, unstrapping peoples boards on the lift, cutting people off, and running from patrol.

That’s good wholesome fun. Am I correct in saying this is your first video part ever?
Yeah, 100%. This was the first year I was filming seriously. I had gotten clips here and there over the years but never really tried to stack for a part. 

You can tell from the part that you’ve spent a ton of time on your snowboard. Let’s air it out; what was up with your stint on the Canadian national team? Why did you transition away from competitions to focus on filming? 
I always felt like filming was the end goal for me and doing contests was a way of getting there. I got on the national team when I was 15, and last year was my last official year doing that. Comps were dope, I got to push my riding and live insane moments with my homies. Competitions are at such a crazy level right now, I felt that if I really wanted to go for it, I wasn’t gonna be able to film and progress my riding in the mountains and in the street because I had to spend so much time jumping. I didn’t feel like that was it for me. My goal was always to be a good all-around boarder and do it all.

What’s easier; your ender boardslide-to-boardslide, or a frontside triple cork?
Triple cork, for sure.

You also edited the part, and it’s your first time putting a video together, right? How’d you learn that?
Yeah, it was my first time editing a video! I bought (Adobe) Premiere for the project. I spent a lot of time at my homie Zacks crib during the season, who I filmed  all year. He’s on Premiere every day, so I observed him enough to know what to expect when I bought it. While editing it, I’d meet with him and ask for pointers. He kinda guided me through the process. 

I’m curious what videos inspire your riding and editing? 
In recent years I watched a lot of Dustbox because I could relate to them cause they were just homies out there doing it, loved the editing and boarding too,. A lot of the Vans videos; Landline, Evergreen, and everything after. Colton Feldman’s Good Sport, Blender… also,without a doubt, Jed (Anderson), and Rene (Rinnekangas), their riding was mad impactful to me.

You did your ender twice. Tell us a bit more about that session. 
I didn’t plan to hit it that day, but Zack was like “fuck it, let's just try to make it happen” so, I was in. The first few tries were scary but pretty safe. I landed it once for the fish, and Zack and I both wanted the bottom long lens angle so I decided to try it again. On the first try for the low angle, I got too locked on the first rail and couldn’t hop, so I went straight into the uphill rail. Worst case scenario, but I was all good, so I went back up. The next try I overshot the second rail and clapped out my whole body. I was pretty scared at that point, and also mad because I had taken two gnarly slams when I had already got one that I liked. I was in too deep, so I just went back up and got it the try after that 

There’s a couple of really low snow snow tricks. Word is you went early 2000s rink snow mode on ‘em. What’s the story behind those sessions? 
Every October we would bring arena snow to the local shop and make a little setup, so we kinda just built from that. We were really hungry at the end of October last fall, so we were just like fuck it, let’s put a tarp full of snow in the whip and run it. For example, the front board on that c-rail is at a ski resort, so the only way to hit it is before they start making snow because after that they have guards posted up all winter. Rumour on the street is Seb Toots got clearance from guards after we hit it and battled a session or two on it. 

There are some overlap clips from the latest Souviner video, Super Video Club. How did you get linked up with those guys?
I grew up with Dave (Tourigny), so I knew him well. I rode with Wes (Lalande) in high school a bunch, we we’re homies since then so I was familiar with that crew. Zack had filmed for Souvenir before and he had their extreme fisheye all year, so he created that link and got me on their radar. I tagged along with Zack on a trip with them to Chicoutimi, and felt I had found my place instantly with that crew, so that solidified everything.

You got any plans for the future?
Plans for the future are just to keep chipping away and gain more knowledge in the street and the mountains and eventually film a full-length project with my homies.

Anyone you wanna thank? 
First of all,I wanna thank my family, because I wouldn’t be here without their support . I also want to thank Zack Boulet, Édouard Thériault, Thom Galarneau, and all the homies who showed me the ropes - they were with me at every spot and gave me the confidence and opportunity to go out there and make something happen. Filming straight up taught me a new way of looking at the world and I’m forever thankful for that.