Mercedes Nicoll

at the Flow Beach party

Let the Good Times Flow
Burgers were grilling, the sun was shining and perfect surf was rolling in as the guys from Flow kicked off the holiday weekend North side of the pier in San Clemente this past Friday. But this wasn’t just dad’s old company picnic, although dads and babies alike were present. Nothing too different from your typical office-gossip (”...I don’t know peoples’ business, but they know mine!”) with Flow’s family out on the shore. But what really sets this little beach-side shindig aside? Pros, pros, pros. Scotty Lago, Antti Autti and Mercedes Nicoll, to name a few all just paddling out and grilling on barbecue all day. I Even got to chat it up a bit with Nicoll. Half-pipe, boy drama, the whole nine yards:

Celia Canez: So, tell me how you became such a phenom. What got you started snowboarding?

Mercedes Nicoll: Well, I grew up skiing, my dad skiied and I saw snowboarders out one day and I was like, ‘I want to that!’”
And the half-pipe?
MN: I just saw the pipe and thought I am going to do that! I just charged it and I was like fourteen and all the old guys were doing it. I remember hitting my head really bad ine time and I was just like, those guys aren’t even watching me. They’re paying attention to themselves!
What was your first trick?
MN: Indie grab.
What is your favorite trick?
MN: Backside 540.
Describe yourself in three words.
MN: Fun. Crazy. Loving.
What are your goals?
MN: A lot of it is just qualifying for the World Cups. And mostly, making the judges happy, of course.
How do you feel about the Olympics?
MN: I get stoked! Definitely get your country pride going!
What keeps you snowboarding?
MN: I just look forward to it! Just having fun with friends. It’s all about who’s there.

Posted by Celia Canez on 09/16