Mike Mertion is a strapping 20 year old lad taken by his new home and his love of fencing. This was Mertion’s second season of filming with Rage, and once again, he put together amazing footage for “Pretty Good” which will premiere this Saturday in Bend, Oregon. [IMG]http://media.nscdn.com/uploads/member/pictures/1252361370Mertion_9_California.jpg[/IMG]
By *Rage-Films*
MERTION: Hello?RAGE: How are you?MERTION: PRETTY GOOD, how are you?RAGE: PRETTY GOOD. What are you doing?MERTION: Sitting on my patioRAGE: Why aren’t you working?MERTION: It’s a stat holiday.RAGE: What’s that?MERTION: We get paid not to work.RAGE: What did you do this summer?MERTION: I bought a houseRAGE: How old are you?MERTION: 20 RAGE: When did you turn 20?MERTION: Sept 1RAGE: How come I didn’t see it on my FB?MERTION: I dunno, I put a party out thereRAGE: What did you do for your bday?MERTION: I partiedRAGE: By yourself or w/ others?MERTION: Others, we did nothing, but partyRAGE: Are you coming to the premiere?MERTION: Ya, Saturday, right?RAGE: Friday night at Devo’s for the sneak peakMERTION: I’m gonna take Friday off and comeRAGE: Describe your love of fencing?MERTION: I just love it so much that I wanna do it every summerRAGE: Why not winter?MERTION: Well, it’s hardRAGE: So, you ski in the winter?MERTION: Ya, sometimes, usuallyRAGE: How was your season last year?MERTION: PRETTY GOODRAGE: That’s it, PRETTY GOOD?MERTION: Dope. Till I hurt my back in Stevens.RAGE: Was that our fault for building shitty jumps?MERTION: Nah, for going too fast. It was one of the pimpest seasonsRAGE: What’s your best memory from last year?MERTION: Schuster putting his sled in the trees after coming around the corner. Skiing memory, California when we murdered that one jumpRAGE: I think you murdered it.MERTION: It was the pimpest memoryRAGE: Aren’t 2 day trips the most successful for you?MERTION: Think so, seems that way, I don’t know whyRAGE: Because you get it done quick to get home to your girlfriendsMERTION: Ya, I get in and get out quickRAGE: How’s your relationship life?MERTION: Not that goodRAGE: You single?MERTION: YaRAGE: You announcing that?MERTION: Ya, I’m staying single for sure. It’s hard to have a relationship when you have a houseRAGE: So being a homeowner, you can’t have a relationship?MERTION: Ya, it’s too hard, too grown up. I’m too busy building fencesRAGE: So b/w building a fence and having a house, no time for relationships?MERTION: I tryRAGE: What do you have planned for the upcoming season?MERTION: Ski in a lot of places. RAGE: You gonna travel this year?MERTION: Try toRAGE: Comps?MERTION: Try, and film a lot.RAGE: You have big plans?MERTION: I have huge plans. RAGE: You like competing or filming more?MERTION: Filming cuz you’re w/ a bunch of buddies, killin it. But, competing is fun because you win money. It’s a 50/50 thingRAGE: Halfpipe or slopestyle. What’s your forte’? MERTION: Big airRAGE: Didn’t you do well at half pipe?MERTION: I did ok, alright, not the best. One comp, Aspen Open, I got 10th, so it wasn’t that good, but it was good for me.RAGE: Didn’t you qualify for 1st?MERTION: Ya, but I chokedRAGE: You aren’t much of a trainer, did you ski at all this summer?MERTION: No, I went to the water ramps. I did 5 doubles and quick jumped the rest of the dayRAGE: That’s your summer of training?MERTION: You can look at my FB videos.RAGE: That’s your training? Jumping in a lake? Would you like to train in the summer?MERTION: Ya, but money wise, I need to work.RAGE: Well, when you’re a 20 year old house owner, someone has to pay the mortgage, right?MERTION: Ya, it’s a money thing.RAGE: Who is supporting you?MERTION: Rip Curl, Faction, Serius Gloves, Olympia Ski Shop in VernonRAGE: Describe Vernon in its ability to produce pro skiers? Aren’t there like 8 pro skiers out of Vernon?MERTION: Freestyle program produces a lot of kids from Silverstar. Whistler is down the road, location. the Kokanee is in the waterRAGE: The Kokanee is in the water?MERTION: Ya, our coaches are super pimpRAGE: What do you think about Ian claiming he is from Vernon when he’s not?MERTION: I don’t know how that happened, but it did. He’s living here now, so I guess, he’s here now, but he wasn’t born and raised.RAGE: He’s trying to jump in the pool of Vernonites?MERTION: It just came upon. RAGE: How’s the porch?Merion: It’s a little cold, raining, kindaRAGE: Winter’s coming!MERTION: Is it?RAGE: In a couple monthsMERTION: I’m super excited. I started my sled up and I was like damn.RAGE: Did you breathe in too much exhaust?MERTION: Ya, it was in my shop. I hot boxed the shop w/ my 2 stroke. My bro and I stood in there. The smell of 2 stroke smoke in the morning is amazing.RAGE: What should kids look for in Mike Mertion in a ski video?MERTION: I’d say PRETTY GOOD time. Buy, PRETTY GOOD, you’ll enjoy it.RAGE: Say hey to Mark Devo: What’s up Dude?RAGE: That’s it, Mertion, anything else?MERTION: I’m gonna go to Kelowna and jump off a diving bored. RAGE: Training?MERTION: YaRAGE: I’ll see you Friday for the premiere?Merion: Will ya?RAGE: Ya?MERTION: Ok, see you FridayPost interview text from Mertion…I didn’t realize that was my interview till halfway through…ha ha.
We're here at Mammoth and sat down with Monty Wright to talk about growing up skiing in England, getting sponsored by Armada at 14, working at a tattoo shop, riding at Laax, and more.