Seb Toutant
The question remains whether the world is ready for the future of professional snowboarding: Sebastian Toutant, aka Seb Toots.
Since blasting onto the scene at the 2006 Empire Shakedown at St. Saveur just outside of his native Montreal, "Toots" has had the eyes of the global snow industry on him. But he's never said a word of his plans. He has gone the way of the Karate Kid - training, pushing himself, and preparing for the big days ahead.
Following his first big win at Shakedown, the world saw clearly that this kid is far from a one-hit-wonder. In various contests and video parts the last few years, Seb unleashed some of the most savage Slopestyle tricks ever witnessed, the type that only a small handful of other riders in the world have dared to attempt.
In a universe marred by the way-too-cool, Seb is one of the nicest guys in the game. He lets his riding do the talking, and spends most of his time with a broad smile on his face. His change-up is a game face, reserved for those moments when jedi-level focus is all that will suffice. After all, what other face can you make in the midst of a triple-cork 1440? And how do you keep from celebrating afterward?
None of this is to say that things have come easily for the young man from Montreal. Seb started off both the 2009 and 2010 seasons by missing the Winter X Games in Aspen (once named only as an alternate, and once with a blown ankle). So when he finally strapped in atop the start gate in 2011, he was a young man on a mission. Days later, Seb would be crowned the Slopestyle Champ, and Big Air Runner-Up, and sporting a perma-grin for weeks after.
Say what you will about contest snowboarding. The Winter X Games, which blasts into millions of homes each year, remains the pinnacle of annual exposure-generating competitions on an overall contest circuit that touches down on four continents. It's a great place to leave your mark.
Today, Seb's name grows with each passing day. Supportive family, sponsors, media and fans fuel a fire which is sure to be roaring by 2014, when Seb will have the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities on an even larger stage -- the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. The billions of viewers that will tune-in to watch Seb and friends battle in that park are likely to see Seb's game face, but we are betting they'll also see that very broad smile as well.
Team O'Neill riders David Wise and Seb Toots taking gold at the Dew Tour.
Seb Toots won the men's snowboard slopestyle Finals on Sunday with his second-run-score of 94.50, increasing his lead on his victory lap. With the win, he also took home his first Dew Cup at the Toyota Championships at Snowbasin Resort in Utah.
David Wise took the lead in his first run and held onto it until the end. In that winning run, Wise started with a switch double 1080, into right 9, left 9, alley oop flatspin 5 tail to end with a double cork 12. Total score of 94.50
David Wise
Seb Toots
Interview