Anthony Boronowski Answers a Few Q's

Pro skier, artist, student and creator of Joystick Poles, Anthony Boronowski seems to have it all. Not many people at 26 can look back and say they have already accomplished so many great feats. Here are a few Q and A's Anthony managed to squeeze in to help you better understand what he is all about...



Age? 26
Hometown? Vancouver, BC

You just finished your undergraduate studies, correct? Are you considering going back for masters degree?

Yeah I did just finish my degree. Right now I’m not considering going back to do a Masters. There’s a bunch of stuff I want to do which doesn’t involve getting more education, so perhaps when I’m done with that I’ll think about going back, but I’m not sure when that will be.

Any professional training, classes etc. when it comes to art, or self taught?

Nothing, just self taught.

Influences? (not just related to art)

Ed Templeton, Jason Brown, Jp Auclair, Julien Regnier Lafforgue

Favorite artist(s)?

Ben Tour, Tiffany Bozic, David Choe

Favorite skier(s)?

Pep Fujas, Jp Auclair

Best ski graphic of all time?

K2 Hellbent (The one with the horse and the skeleton)


Worst ski graphic of all time?

Head’s Jon Olsson pro model


At what age were you officially deemed "pro" skier?

When I was 21 I was on the Armada pro team.

What inspired Joystick Poles?

Making a change in the ski scene. The need for fresh ideas. Representing something which is ignored in the ski industry.

How many years has Joystick been running?

3 years.

Ok, so I know you messed around with filming this year with the whole "Hot Lunch" project. Do you plan on making more films in the future?

Hot Lunch Teaser from ben pfutzenreuter on Vimeo.


I’d like to, but I’m not sure of what will happen. It really depends on a lot of different things. This year I’m focusing on riding in ski films rather than making them, but if the opportunity presents itself maybe I’ll do something again in the future.

I honestly don't know how you do it. You are running a company, juggling school, and skiing at a pro level. How do you balance all of your aspirations?

I don’t know. My life gets crazy sometimes. It’s been a busy couple years.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but last year Armada made the "Ant", your pro model ski with some of your artwork incorporated into the graphic. Tell me a little about that whole process and how it came about.

I’ve actually had a pro model for a couple years now, basically I create a painting and then send it to the art director of Armada. He handles it from there. I wish I had more involvement with this, but it’s something that is super time consuming and I haven’t had the time in the past. So basically I paint the graphic and then it’s out of my hands.

Inevitably, because I'm going to school for art, and just because I am critical of anything art related, I find myself critiquing just about every ski graphic ever made. On a more artistic level there is a lot of really great work out there, and a lot of really bad work out there. I am really stoked to see ski companies (joystick being one of them) who are finding artists--some not related to skiing at all, and incorporating their work into their skis, poles, street wear, etc. I guess what I'm getting at is: how do you feel about the level that graphics/ art is at, within the ski industry? Room for improvement?

It’s good that the graphics are improving. I think art and graphics on skis are totally different objects because of the economic pressure on ski manufactures to sell their product to a wide audience. Thus I don’t know if you can really compare the two in a linear fashion. But I do like the way the ski industry is caring more about how their products are looking, and the youth oriented approach which is developing.

Where do you see your artwork falling into the bigger picture? Is it simply something you do for yourself and your own enjoyment, or do you plan pushing it further?

I have no idea. Right now it is for myself. Now that I’m done school I’ll have a bit more time to create work so we’ll see what happens. But I just want to paint for myself right now.

Have you showed your work in the past?
No

Any upcoming shows?

Yeah I’m working on something in conjunction with Evo (shop in Seattle). I think it will be in the late summer/early fall. We haven’t confirmed a date yet, but around there.

What do you see yourself doing in say 5 to 10 years? Joystick, art, skiing? (I'm sure that is a bit of a ridiculous question...seeing as thought you will most likely be doing them all.)

Ah, yeah probably all of the above. It’s a bit hard to tell what’s going to happen, but I’d love to continue with the types/styles of projects I’m doing right now.

Ok, lets wrap this bad boy up. Last words of wisdom?

Just do you.