Photo: Justin Parkhurst. All photo captions (except this one) by Nick Lipton.

On May 5th 2012 at Mt Bachelor, during a little contest called Kinko de Mayo, we agreed to give a Hump Day interview to the winner. Now this could be a risky proposition — what if some jerk won? But when Krush suggested it (over the microphone) we decided to take that risk. A few short hours later the honor was awarded to Aaron Cardwell, a tall drink of water from Woodinville, Washington who Jesse Burtner assured us was a good dude and good boarder. So after weeks of painstaking research, we’re coming through with the first Hump Day ever given out a rail jam.

What’s it like to be from nowhere, Washington?

It feels normal, I guess. I’ve been in one spot my whole life but nowhere, Washington has a lot within a reasonable distance so it hasn’t gotten old yet. I like it.

Why do you associate yourself with Seth Kitzke?

Kitzke is sick rider and a cool guy.

Who’s better, Austin Hironaka or Austin Sweetin?

Who’s counting? Both of those guys are killing it and being from the same mountain as them is rad. You can get a lot better by watching snowboarders better than yourself.

It’s either a triple cork, or a 360, we don’t have a clue. But, at least he can do more than huck down rails. Photo: Bryan Giddens

Were you afraid of the Tranny Finders growing up?

ahahaha no I think you’d have a hard time finding someone who was.

Do you know Shayboarder?

No I don’t.

What do you do for fun, besides snowboarding?

Chill, hang out with my girlfriend, fish, kiteboard or windsurf for summer fun.

I heard you also played some hockey. Do those skills translate to snowboarding?

It might have made me better at riding ice. Snoqualmie has its fair share of icy days. Something about balance and taking slams maybe too I don’t know.

What sort of snowboarding do you fancy the most?

As long as I can snowboard I’m stoked. Whatever the weather brings is really how i treat it.. powder park street slush trees it’s all sick and it’s more fun for me to mix it up anyways.

Call this one Houdini style. Just try not to die in the process. Photo: Bryan Giddens

Is it hard to get good at riding man made obstacles being from the Northwest, what with all that powder and stuff?

There’s a good park that’s been around for as long as I’ve been riding there and its gotten better each year. Plenty of jibs and jumps to get good on . So with the right mindset you can really get good at whatever you want. Having a homie to ride with all the time and push the level is how I got better at rails but the powder and terrain we have around the NW keeps it fresh. You don’t get stuck riding only the park, only the streets, etc..being diverse is cool.

How’d you end up on the Snoqualmie park crew?

I started applying when I was 16, two years before they’ll actually hire you. I think I bugged Kevin Turner enough so that when I turned 18 I got a job.

What are the perks and drawbacks of such a vocation?

The perks are riding a ton, working with homies and having some input with our park. Some drawbacks are (not too sound negative) you don’t get paid shit, you’re always shoveling in the weather and after storms you’re pulling fence until you’re pissed off. By the end of the year some of the crew is over it but for me the sunny days shreddin park on the job make it all worth it.

Are you the best rider on the park crew? If not, who’s better?

There’s a lotta talent on park crew.. I don’t know probably not. Stayin humble on this one.

Once upon a time we thought 15 stair rails with trucked in snow was a big deal, then we had RedBull. Now if you don’t build a fake town with second story balconies to jib you just ain’t shit, son. Photo: Jeff Hawe

Do you actually think you’ll go pro? Is this your big break?

I snowboard because I love it and it makes me happy but I would be lying if I said being pro isn’t a goal. Might not be my big break but you gotta start somewhere, right?

So, you won Kinko de Mayo. How kinky are you in real life?

I don’t know. I don’t know how to answer this. I’m 19.

What’s the kinkiest thing you’ve ever done?

I’ll answer this literally and that’d be a quad kink.

Is your mom going to read this?

If I were to show her. I don’t think steezeburger is on her favorites.

When the park looks like the beaches of Normandy it’s best to keep to the air. Photo: Chris Faronea

How will it make you feel, deep down inside, if a bunch on anonymous idiots talk shit in the comments?

It won’t make a difference to me either way. Can’t say I’ve gotten a lot of hate in the past but I could handle some anonymous comments. Hate is so ingrained in this site that it’ll probably happen anyways.

Anyone you’d like to thank?

Matt P at DC, SnoCon, DROMAS, thank you parents for your support, thanks for the hump day!