Learning Curves
Friends ask Tavo to make sure he "Sends it." pc. @tavo.sadeg
Mario watched in horror as young Tavo veered uncontrollably off the slope towards the trees. He soared over the edge landing in the bushes and badly cut his lower lip. Fortunately, no stitches were needed and the mishap didn’t break his young spirit. Tavo was back snowboarding in no time.
It’s true, he’s had a passion for snowboarding since an early age. When asked Tavo readily admits, “I just love to ride. I always have.” That love began to gain traction in elementary school with his curriculum offering snowboarding sessions one or two afternoons a week. That wasn’t all.
Tavo also started practicing on the weekends with the Locals Program at Alpine Meadows. There he was matched up with the same coaches and teammates for the entire season. It’s also where Tavo began to ride consistently, mostly with older kids who he looked up to and wanted to follow around the mountain. Tavo attributes much of his learning to watching these older snowboarders. If he was gonna compete he had to level-up his own riding and get better.
Those teammates were some seriously good riders. Over the last 10 years Team Palisades Tahoe led by Head coach Wes Pyatt has produced six podium finishes at the junior world championships including two wins. (No wonder Tavo worked so hard! It sounds like he had little choice.)
Team Tahoe Freeride 2020 (Tavo, front row on the right). pc screenshot @tahoefreeride
This high level of competition might have been too much for some athletes, and even discouraged them from developing at all, but not Tavo. Like a fish to water, Tavo embraced his snowboarding routine with love and passion practicing every chance he got. By the time he started high school he had been riding (and competing) consistently for more than ten years. And it showed.
A Competitive Start
Tavo entered his first contest at just 6 years old. It was called The Little Big Air contest at Alpine Meadows Resort and was a slopestyle competition held in Tiegil Terrain Park.
Alpine Meadows Resort, CA. pc screenshot unofficialalpine
Tiegil Terrain Park, Alpine Meadows Resort, CA. pc screenshot unofficialalpine
Although Tavo didn’t make the podium that day he forever remembers the excitement of competing. The thrill he gets from the competitive environment. Tavo says it inspires him to push his own limits. It helps him ride his best and a feeling he said he’s been chasing ever since.
“Competitions just seem to bring out the best in the riders. Everyone is stoked to ride. It’s just an incredible feeling. I feel inspired and excited to compete. I just try to ride the best I can.”
And Tavo has surely done that. Even though he may have started in a “Little” contest he sure had BIG opportunities coming his way. Stay tuned tomorrow and find out how Tavo rides his way to the 2020 junior freeride world championships at just 16 years old!
We’d like to extend a special thanks to Tavo’s sponsors for their support on this amazing journey!
Tavo taking a much-needed break from the action. pc @tavo.sadeg