The Backside 1980, Olympic Visions & A Legacy in the Making w. Brian Rice II (Part 4)

In the final installment of this four-part special, Host Raphael Levon Price and "Flyin’" Brian Rice II bring the journey full circle—connecting the humble beginnings of a 10-year-old kid in Michigan to the futuristic edge of professional snowboarding. Brian analyzes throwback footage of himself at Alpine Valley, where he turned unattended piles of snow into jumps, proving his philosophy that you don’t need a massive mountain to start—you just need to seize the opportunity "right under your feet". He contrasts those early days with the most dangerous conditions he faces now, describing the terror of Austrian whiteouts where you can’t see the ground and "you're never in too much of a rush to save your life". The conversation turns to the cutting edge of the sport as Brian reveals the "impossible" trick he is currently mastering: the "Backside 1980," a gravity-defying maneuver consisting of five-and-a-half rotations that didn't even exist when he was growing up. Brian then takes listeners inside his mind at the future Winter Olympics drop-in, sharing his visualization process and the raw mantra he uses to stay present. Finally, Brian lays out his 5-year plan: to become the first Black American to medal in Olympic snowboarding, to work with the Chill Foundation to inspire inner-city youth, and to eventually follow in the footsteps of Salima Mesakela as a voice for the sport. Raphael closes the series with a powerful spiritual message on vision and "mustard seed faith," sealing a conversation about breaking barriers and flying high.

Raphael Levon Price, REALTOR, RSPS, RCC, SRES, SRS
[e-mail]
raphaelprice.fivestarleaders.com
Five Star Real Estate Leaders
5920 Livernois Rd Suite 100 Troy, MI 48098
248-672-4505

Produced & Edited by Ethan Tocco

Special Thanks to "Flyin’" Brian Rice II
Freestyle Snowboarder, Team NBS Athlete, Aspiring Olympian
[e-mail]
Instagram: flyinbrian_2

Special thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Rice!

Creators and Guests

Host

Raphael Levon Price

Licensed Realtor at Five Star Real Estate Leaders

BR

Guest

Brian Rice II

Professional Snowboarder

Editor

Ethan Tocco

Producer & Editor

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... you'll see that I am not the best snowboarder. I am a kid making due with what he's got. The most dangerous conditions I've ever ridden in or been in, you can't even see the ground. You might take a wrong turn and end up off a cliff. And I don't mean that lightly. You're never in too much of a rush to save your life. Well, first of all, your body don't get to make decisions. It's all about your brain. I would love to be a voice for anyone who looked like me and anyone who don't.

Now, let's look at, um, video number eight. Now, we going from Farmington, Michigan to the big stage. Uh, you shared a throwback video from Alpine Valley in your hometown. How did training on a small local hill shape your technique and your drive, and what do you say to riders who think a massive mountain is required to become elite?

Here in these videos, you'll see that I am not the best snowboarder. I am a kid who is making due with what he's got. Um, in this video, we have here-

Mm-hmm

... um, is a video of the, uh, the jumps

or... I don't know if they're even called that because they're actually just two mounds of snow that someone pushed together

and left there

unattended or anything. Just left 'em there and I decided, "Hey, I'm gonna turn that into a jump."

How old were you in this video?

In this video... Let's see. What color pants am I wearing? I'm wearin' orange pants. Okay. So I'm, I'm 10 years old.

Wow.

I'm 10 years old in this video, and I'm making due with what I got. I know that Colorado exists at this point. I know what's out there, but I also know that I- I can learn

from what... whatever I have. Like I said-

Yes

... let, um, an opportunity that you have right under your feet

slide on past you. So this was an opportunity that I saw and a opportunity that I took because

ain't nobody build a jump that day. [laughs] They just left a pile of snow for a 10-year-old Flyin' Bryan to find and to go and have fun on. So that would be...

That would be the first thing. Now, for those who, um, wonder or think that you have to have big resorts, um, to succeed, um, I would say that depends on what you wanna succeed in. If you wanna be a really technical rail master, I would say

find a place that has a lot of rails. It doesn't have to be a big resort in Michigan

or Minnesota, or, um, put a... What's that place called? Even like, Mountain Creek over in, uh, New- New Jersey, I believe. Um, none of those places have big mountains

or a big terrain, but you can get really technical and learn a lot of things there.

Mm-hmm.

Now, for me,

it was... it was crucial for me to move

to the West, to Colorado, to the Rockies, um, to pursue the area of snowboarding that I really wanted to. And that was to be an Olympic athlete in the... in the area of big air and slopestyle. And to do that, I had to go and find big air

and slopestyle, which conveniently was in Colorado.

Sounds like Colorado's your favorite state.

I like a lot of states, but I'm not sure if Colorado's my favorite.

Okay.

It, uh... it's really cold. It's really dry, and, uh,

in the summertime, half the time it gets too hot.

Oh, wow. Okay.

'Cause it... Half of it's desert and half of it's mountains.

Mm-hmm.

Let's just say I don't mind. I've been here for a while, and I don't plan on leavin' anytime soon.

All right. Let's go onto what is the most con- dangerous condition you've ever ridden, and how did you manage it safely?

The most dangerous conditions I've ever ridden in or been in, um, would have to be up in the Austrian Alps, and it is complete whiteout. If a fog or a cloud comes in, you are completely trapped within that cloud.

Yes.

You cannot see. You can't see a person who's wearing

highlighter clothing not even 10 feet in front of you.

Wow.

Like, y-

you're... You can't even see the ground, and so-

Hmm

... the only way to get through those types of situations

is to take it real slow because if you don't, you might take a wrong turn and end up off a cliff.

Oh.

And I don't mean that... and I don't mean that

lightly.

Yes.

You could be gone.... so if I have one tip to anyone that, uh, might experience that at some point in their life, it's that, uh, you're never in too much of a rush to save your life.

Let that sink in, folks, because, uh, you know, you only get one life, okay? You're not a cat. You don't get nine. So you need to make sure that you use the wisdom of Flying Bryan here. Don't be cocky in thinking that you Captain America and you can save the world. You can't even save yourself.

Be safe. Use wisdom.

And take it slow.

Take it slow.

Take it slow. All right. Now we're going to look at video number 10, the future of Flying Bryan. And I'm gonna say this as a preface.

Not too long ago, I was trying to do a cartwheel, and at my age, I was even scared to do a- a cartwheel. So how did you develop the courage to flip and spin in the air on a snowboard on snow-covered mountains?

Well, I gotta give props to you for getting that cartwheel down. That's-

I didn't get it down. I'm talking about as an adult. [laughs] You can't, you don't have to give me no props, man, because yeah, I, you know, at my age, I- I just, I just didn't have it in me to just try to go through with the whole thing. You know, my body doesn't rotate and move like it used to when I was, you know, seven, eight years old. [laughs]

Well, first of all, your body don't get to make decisions. It's all about your brain.

Yes, sir.

Um, so next time you think about it,

mess around and try it because

who knows? You might just bust it out and land it right then and there. And you could be like-

Right

... all right, I know I can do it. That's it. But anyway-

You know, I think my producer is probably thinking right now, "Man, we should do a- a video short of Flying Bryan training Raphael how to do a cartwheel."

[laughs] Oh, man, I don't want to embarrass myself like that. So let's- let's keep it smooth and keep it cool, you know? [laughs]

Yeah. We'll keep it smooth. We'll keep it smooth. Um,

but, uh... [laughs]

But you gave us a sneak peek at a new project, the trick you're working on. What can you share with us about what's next for Flying Bryan?

This trick that I've been working on for some time now, and

it is a backside 1980.

A backside 1980. That's what you call it?

That's what it's called because 1980 is the amount of, uh, degrees of rotation that this trick is. So-

[laughs]

... when-

Man, that was when I was born, 1980. [laughs] I'm pro- I'm probably old enough to be your granddaddy, man. How old are you?

I am 20, going on 21 soon.

Yep. I'm old enough to be your granddad. [laughs]

Man, there ain't no way. I mean, I-

Oh, yes

... I know black don't crack, but like, come on, man.

[laughs] Oh, yes. By today's standards, you know, babies having babies. Man, yes. But anyway...

But anyway, um, yeah, so... [laughs]

Babies having babies, still got me choked up.

[laughs]

That's the truth.

That's- that's from me. Having worked in education for a couple of decades, man, I done seen it all. But I don't wanna get off-topic, so let me have some tea and let's carry on the conversation.

All right. We shall.

Ah, tea break.

But, uh, yeah, so talking about this, uh, this thing that I'm working on, the 1980. It is a, uh... Wow, it's almost so big, I'm having a hard time thinking about it. But it's, uh, five and a half rotations,

taking off

goofy and landing regular.

Mm-hmm.

So I'm taking off with my right foot forward and I'm landing with my left foot forward. And-

Wow

... my feet... I'm going down the hill backwards then. And, uh,

this trick actually didn't exist at all growing up. So there was never a point in my adolescence that I thought, "Oh, you know, I would love to do that trick someday." It- it didn't exist. We didn't think how physically, um, like quite literally physically, it was possible as a human being to spin that many times around, um-

Wow, you...

... and to land it and keep going.

Wow.

That is where my journey is leading me, and that is the next big thing that I'm looking forward to. [camera clicking] [motors buzzing] [cameras clicking]

Okay.

All right. So

let's go to a scene in the future. It's at the Olympics, you're at the top of the run, the Team USA jacket on, flags waving. What's playing in your head right now before you drop in?

Wow. That's a... that's deep.I would have to say

in that moment, what I would be thinking about

is

just a glimpse into what it took,

um, for me to get there. Um, what it, with the sacrifices

myself and my family have made for me to be at the top of this drop-in. Um, and for me to be wearin' this jacket. I'd also be thinking

of the community that supported and raised me, um,

because I believe that my mother and father are, uh, very, very important. But I also believe that I have

h- hundreds of mothers and fathers on this world, um, and so I would love to make them all proud. And then

I would probably

turn down my music real low

and, uh, take a deep breath.

And then I would drop in and say, "[beep] 'em" and go do it.

All right.

[clears throat] [laughs] That's just um-

Very poignant way of puttin' it.

Yep. That's just something I say sometimes before I drop in 'cause I'll, I'll be deep, deep in that thought and, uh

[smacks lips], as present as it feels, um,

some of those thoughts can lead to the past or the future and I don't wanna be anywhere but the present.

So sometimes I just say, [beep] "um," just so I can-

All right. All right

... remind myself what I'm doin'. No- nothing-

Mm-hmm

... else matters. I'm, I'm right here. You know?

Yes.

My family and

my whole community, everybody, they're right here in my heart, right?

Yes.

They're here with me in that presence. And, uh, and then I drop in.

All right. Brother Flyin' Brian Rice, what would be your biggest goal for the next five years on the board and beyond it?

My goals for the next five years on my board and beyond that. Number one,

be the first person of color

in the Snowboard Winter Olympics. Second to that, be the first Black American

to medal at the Winter Snowboard Olympics.

And thirdly, I always remind myself

that those first two goals isn't just for me. I could, I could never

do any of this all because I want to do it for me. I wanna do it for every little boy and girl

of person of color, whether no matter what race, ethnicity or nationality you are, I wa- I wanna do it for them. I wanna do it for the people [sniffs] that are told that they don't belong there because of the color of their skin or have had hardships or less opportunities because of so. And I wanna do it so that I can show them that

no matter what people say or what people think, you can do anything that you put your mind to. And like you said, um, in the very beginning of the, this, this interview, your life don't gotta be all about football and basketball and that's the only golden ticket. Your golden ticket is whatever you make

and whatever, whatever you want.

See the world, see the world through your eyes always and no one else's. And, uh, be you. And

in the next five years, I wanna keep that as my main mission. Um, I work very closely with the Chill Foundation that brings kids from inner cities out to the mountains to, uh,

let them see the world through their eyes in a different light

and to show them that there's something else out there for them. And that, uh, even if it ain't

snowboarding or winter sports, just having that new experience and seeing that there's other things out there

gives them

the, uh, creativity and the imagination to

prosper other ideals into their life and their surroundings. I know I'll be in this sport for a lot longer than five years, but after that, I would love to, uh,

follow in some of the same footsteps as Salima Mesakela,

um, who is an amazing host and personality, um, through the Winter X Games and so much more. Um, I think that's someone that I've looked up to

for a long time and, uh,

his energy and the way he speaks, I would love to follow something like that.

Yes.

And to also be a voice.

Mm-hmm.

For anyone who look like me, and anyone who don't. That's me in the next five years and beyond.

Well said, Flying Brian. And what you have just, uh, summarized for us, it really encapsulates the question I was going to ask. When it's all said and done- when it's all said and done, what kind of legacy do you want to leave behind, not just for snowboarding but anyone chasing a- a dream? You just basically expounded on that. You elucidated on that question, and you have, uh, made it very clear that your perspective and your philosophy-

... uh, is really about, uh, inspiring others. And you find that, uh, the greatest leaders and people that are most celebrated the world over are people who, uh, could think beyond themselves and they could think about how they could impact others and leave, uh, a legacy for others that would, uh, empower them to have a better quality of life and- and to have a more fulfilling life, a more, uh, satisfied and prosperous life. So thank you very much for that expose on your philosophy and what drives you and motivates you, uh, to do what you do. It's very, very insightful. And so in closing, I want to say thank you so much, Brian. These videos were outstanding. Thank you for letting us into your world and taking us behind the scenes of what it truly takes to ride snow at a professional level. Thank you for inspiring the next generation to chase their dreams one jump at a time. And I pray God's favor and protection upon you as you train to dominate the competition at the Winter Olympics next year. Now I must tell you really briefly, in First Kings, chapter 18:46, there was a Biblical story about God's power coming upon the Prophet Elijah, enabling him to outrun King Ahab's chariot for nearly 20 miles to a town called Jezreel. And I pray that God's power will come upon you as you train and compete in your upcoming competitions, and may you experience supernatural anointing to flip, jump, and fly beyond levels seen heretofore. I truly believe and know deep down in my heart the best is yet to come for you, Brian. Now to everyone watching, if this conversation inspired you, even a little, to get on a board, conquer a new mountain in your life, or push your limits, then we accomplished something meaningful. In Matthew 17, verse 20, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Now this passage uses the mustard seed, a proverbially tiny seed that grows into a large plant, to illustrate that even a very small amount of faith has the potential for enormous growth and power. Vision is the mother of faith. If you have a vision, like Flying Brian, of accomplishing something great in your life, ask God to give you faith to work toward fulfilling your v- your vision. Luke 1:37 says, "For with God nothing should be impossible." For the young riders out there, let Brian's journey be a reminder that greatness can start anywhere, even on a small local hill. Stay consistent, stay hungry, stay curious, and stay humble. And keep building your craft. In the words of the late, great Bill Russell, "You can do anything you want to do if you want it badly enough." Now if you have enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like, comment, and share it, because the world needs to see

what is possible when passion meets purpose and vision gives birth to faith. We have more powerful conversations coming your way in the next few weeks, including some special guests you will not want to miss. Brian, thank you again for an incredible session. And to our audience, stay sharp, stay motivated, full of vision and faith, and we will see you on the next episode of Premier Insights. As always, we pray God's richest blessings upon you in this life and in the one to come.