Like many in the snowboard and mountain communities right now, we at Mountain Life are still reeling from the loss of legend and icon Martin Gallant, who passed over to the other side late last week. It’s very hard to put into words what an impact Marty made on the sport of snowboarding or those lucky enough to have shared time with him in the mountains, on the beach, or out in the water.
So we are letting Martin’s own words speak for themselves. In February of 2022, Mountain Life: Coast Mountains editor Feet Banks was able to grab a few moments with Martin for a piece kicking off an issue about optimism. The Covid pandemic was winding down and it had been a weird couple years for everyone; who better to turn the tides than the king of stoke himself?
We miss you already Marty—one of the kindest, most adventurous, hard-charging and brightest lights to ever lead the way.
– ML Staff
Optimism with Martin Gallant
February 2023
Snowboard legend Martin Gallant drove west from Quebec in the summer of 1992 and taught himself English along the way by listening to NWA tapes on repeat. Over the past three decades, he’s evolved from a halfpipe competitor to a magazine shoot regular to a video company boss to a backcountry icon and surf shack host. But one thing has remained consistent—he’s never stopped riding, never stopped stoking those around him, and never lost his love for “da slash” and “da launch.”
We caught up with Marty after a huge storm and cold snap as he was digging out his home in the Squamish Valley and defrosting his pipes. “My shed is almost collapsing. The roof, and every’ting is frozen stiff,” he explained. “But there are salmon in the river and about 30 eagles in the trees and flying around. The sun is shining… it’s paradise, for sure. If something is broken, who cares, we will fix it. That is what my dad always say.”
Who better to kick off an issue about finding the good in things than the godfather of stoke himself?
“The secret is the beauty of nature,” says Marty. “The blue sky, the powder, the trees, the mountains. You gotta pay attention of nature and your surroundings. On your way up—by snowmobile, or chairlift, or walking, or any way—you take the time to stop and breathe and look at the mountain and see how beautiful it is. By doing this, you will notice the detail—the cracks or crowns in the snow, the direction the wind blows, the shape of the cornice, and this and that. That is one thing I’ve learned, that ‘go-go-go’ is not always the right way. Take your time up there and breathe and enjoy where you are. Know where you are, that is how you have the best day and the best life.”
