Throughout the last decade, we’ve seen Cooper Whittier move between just a couple different board brands, ultimately landing on the blossoming roster at Rome Snowboards. With a storied history in snowboarding, Rome has seen its share of ups and downs, major team and identity shifts, and some truly epic video projects. In the past few years, though, it feels like they’ve found their footing again, back to supporting riders and producing snowboarding videos we’re genuinely interested in over here at Torment. And with a move like adding Cooper to the pro team, it’s hard not to see the trajectory bending upward. We caught up with Coop to see how the board deal came about, why it felt like a good fit, and what he loved about Rome as a young snowboarder growing up during what many would say was their best era… so far.
Interview by: Ian Boll
Why did Rome seem like a good fit? Or was it more like they came for you?
Is this on the air now? Yeah, they approached me. So, I think that was a big part of the process. Maybe it's lazy on my end, but from the jump it seemed a little nicer having somebody come to you with a plan, and be like, “Yo, like this is how we see you fit in our brand and we already are kind of building out a space for you. Do you want to come in?” That’s unheard of, for me. Tom [Johnson] texted me about it, and after a few conversations with him and Matt Stillman, I was like, Damn. I would be a fool to turn this down. And after seeing the Swarm video, already having those guys on my radar, it’s like, they have the ability to uplift street riding between myself and the rest of their team.
What was their selling point?
There were 2 major points. The first being the restructure with Tom Johnson coming in. That was a big moment of like, Oh, this, this is gonna be sick. They have somebody with so much knowledge and expertise in the industry. Then I think the second one was them expressing they just want me to keep doing what I'm doing. They were like "We see what you're doing and what you've done, we're not asking you to change your career path. We just want to be involved with it and want you to be involved with us."
Dude, that's so sick, actually.
For them to sign guys on and be like, "Yo, just be what you already are, here's the money to continue doing that, because we’re not trying to hodgepodge careers." They have the money to pay guys that have already established themselves and they want to just use the channels they've already been cultivating.
Rome kind of fell off for a while. Was there anything else specifically that changed for Rome that made you want to be a part of it?
I definitely have had my eye on what they've been doing with the Am team for a while, and that was for sure the biggest piece. In addition to that, just like hopefulness. It seems like they're very excited to usher in a new era, and I know their golden era so well, it's what I grew up on. So I think that with them expressing their hopefulness to grow into something new, the little kid in me being so attached to the old Rome was like, Damn this could be so, so perfect.
Dude, yes. I'm hyped to see where it goes. Swarm changed a lot, I think, for a lot of people. Like, that shit was fucked.
Dude, that video is insane. I mean it’s some of the most impressive street snowboarding that came out last year. And it's from a group of friends that a brand trusted a project with, just like, "Yeah, go do it." Then they show up getting better footage than most of the industry. I was like, Yo, that's incredible. That alone was enough for me to be like, All right, yeah, this will work out just fine.
Who are your favorite past Rome Riders?
Umm… Lazz [Johnny Lazzareschi]? Right?
Yeah, oh yeah.
Like that Lazz part is cracked. I think like when I was a kid, it was like Lazz and LNP [Laurent Nicolas-Paquin], were the two dudes on Rome that I was geeking over. And then Derrek [Lever], like the hesh Rome era with Derrek. That was also like a big, big influence. Yeah, those three. Derrek, Lazz, LNP.
Have you ever ridden a Rome board before this year? And are you currently on the boards now?
I always wanted one, but no, I don't think I ever did. But yes, I'm currently on it.
What board are you on right now?
I've just been riding the Renegade, Rene's pro board.
Who is one person on the Rome squad now that gets you hyped?
Casey [Savage]. That was so sick seeing his part because I’ve known Casey forever. Like since I was a little, little dude. That part had so much personality. Yeah, just seeing him doing it was awesome.
Sick. Do you want to take more creative control? Whether that's on graphics or just direction of the brand or anything else?
That'd be awesome. Maybe, I think we'll see. It’s so early in the relationship, right? Where you're trying to figure out all the pieces of the puzzle and like, who's doing what and where there's space. But I'm always open to that with any brand. Could be really cool, but I think it’s too soon to tell.
If you could put one person from Dustbox on Rome, who would it be?
One person from Dustbox on Rome… Dude, I have definitely considered it. I already want Aito [Ito] on, you know, regardless of the question. So I'm gonna answer with Aito.
That's a dope answer. Alright, what's getting you hyped these days?
What's getting me hyped? Let me think on this, because there's a lot getting me hyped. People enjoying snowboarding and whether that's doing what my friends and I do, or just enjoying it in the most raw form. I think that's what's been getting me the most excited lately. Seeing people around me do it for the right reasons.
Is there anything else that you would want to say or talk about?
No, not really. Hope to see you soon. I'm watching Dan [McGonagle] and Ryan [Collins] tie the E-winch right now. I'm trying to film a clip of McGonagle. So we're gonna try to get him winching into this rail.
Say what up to Dan and Ryan. I miss all of you guys. I can't wait to hang dude.
Love you dude.
Love you too man, peace.