Checking in with Benny Urban

So, Benny, what have you been up to recently?

I've just been finishing up my movie projects that are ongoing with Vans, and then simultaneously hosting an event at Moon Park, which was pretty cool! I guess I can say, quite a success for the first time we're trying to put something together like that. Full DIY vibes. I’ve also been wrapping up a Wasted Talent piece which I am working on with some lovely people.

Tell us, what is the Moon Park?

Well, the Moon park was born from a place of frustration from the ski resorts around the Alps, because they're not really providing what snowboarders are necessarily looking for. So we decided to do a DIY snowboard park. It’s been an ongoing project for the last five years with a tight crew of friends, and the park is ever changing and evolving. This year was the first time we really put an effort in making an end of season event which was tight!

And tell us more about your upcoming Vans film?

My Vans film, if I can say my Vans film - a project that I've got to direct and curate with Vans together as an ongoing project over the past two years with this last season being the second season. We've been filming for it, having fun chasing the snow around the globe. I'm happy with how it’s coming together and looking forward to edit it over summer with a couple of really talented people. So really looking forward to put that out soon – watch this space!

Who inspires you in snowboarding?

Man, there's so many good people out there. I guess it’s one big pool of inspiration that I try and take a little bit of so many different characters and their snowboarding with me on my journey!

What gets me really stoked is just to see the up and comers - groms that remind me of myself when I was young who are just stepping into the scene, putting themselves out there and progressing every day. The main point is that they are having so fun much fun with it, wearing the biggest smile on their faces because they just love snowboarding to death. In terms of other riders, people like Arthur Longo and anyone that represents a different type of snowboarding gets me really hyped, as well as big mountain type snowboarding - that I can't really do that well gets fired up!

And inspiration outside of snowboarding?

Skateboarding. Skateboarding is definitely just still so stuck in my brain. I just can't get it out, I'm not even trying to - it's my first love! So yes, still definitely following skateboarding a lot. Other than that, where to begin. My family, my daughter, music, friends. All that’s around me. It's all just one big pool of inspiration.