Jet-lagged world traveler Noah Wallace recaps his recent TNF PPOS grand prize victory

The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series changed up its format this year. The PPOS switched from a competition scheduled series to a virtual entry model, inviting skiers to submit a video edit showcasing what they deemed to be their “ideal” pipe or slope run. In the end, Spokane’s Noah Wallace took home the crown in the slopestyle and viewer’s choice categories, as well as the grand prize—the opportunity to film with Tom Wallisch for the Good Company project. Wallace has been on a tear this year, most recently taking home second place at the 2015 Total Fight slopestyle competition in Andorra. Hours after touching back down in the United States following a trans-atlantic flight, Wallace hopped on the phone with FREESKIER to chat about his recent success.

Hey Noah, how’s it going? Congrats on the PPOS win.

Thanks, man. Things are great, I just landed in Portland yesterday, heading up to Whistler later today for World Champs.

That’s a lot of travel, how’re you feeling?

I’m a bit tired. I went to a buddy’s birthday party last night, and ended up just falling asleep on the couch.

I think we’ve all been there. So, in regards to your big win, the PPOS changed it up this year. Participants were invited to submit their ideal park and pipe runs in a video edit. What do you think of this new format?

When I first heard about it I was really hyped, because it was such a different format. We’re so used to an actual slopestyle competition format where you have two runs to prove all you’re worth, but with this it’s just such a more relaxed setting and something that anyone can participate in. It seemed to work so nicely, especially for kids who didn’t have access to really good park, [the contest] still allowed them to take their time and really get their tricks down on all of these features and actually make something really sick that they’re proud of.

After going through this format, do you prefer it or do you still enjoy getting after it on competition day?

I’m a fan of the normal contest runs, just because I appreciate that kind of format. I like this one too, it’s the variety that’s really nice. It’s just way more chill and fun, and not as stressful as an actual competition, or an actual slope run.

Watch: Noah Wallace’s 2015 TNF PPOS entry.

Did you put together your edit by yourself, or did you have some help?

I did. I got a couple of shots from my buddies and threw it together right after the Grand Prix in Park City.

Head PPOS judge Mike Atkninson noted that you were the only competitor to include a pole tap rodeo 5 in your run. Did you have a feeling that trick could edge out the victory for you?

Yeah, I think that competing in actual contests helped me picture a perfect run in my mind. And I also know what judges really like to see. They expect a variety, and don’t want to see you hit a normal, run-of-the-mill feature. They want to see something unique that leans more toward progression. Plus, it’s really fun to do that trick, so I decided to throw it in there.

Wallace with the pole tap rodeo 5.

Do you see this format as something that will be adopted by other events?

Yeah, I definitely see a lot of potential for this kind of format. It’s something that everyone can get into. And it leaves so much more room for good, quality content, instead of having to deal with bad conditions or something like that.

Have you watched any of the other entries in the contest?

I watched a bunch of them. Brent Whipple had a super sick run, and Colby Stevenson, of course. Ian Hamilton, he threw down super hard. Then, I can’t remember the name, [Cayden Wood] but it was like this little 13-year-old kid from the Midwest, he crushed it. He had these baby features he was using and just destroyed them.

I watched a bunch of them yesterday and I thought that aspect was great. Seeing these guys on these tiny little hills just completely rip it up.

He might have won an award, too, maybe. Speaking of which, Max Moffat also had a dirty run.

He won best trick.

Yeah, he did a switch triple last year at Hood, it was insane.

You didn’t win best trick, but you ended up winning viewer’s choice, slopestyle and the grand prize. Now you have the opportunity to film with Tom Wallisch for the Good Company project. Have you spoken to Wally, yet?

The day that I found out I won, Tom gave me a call when I landed in the airport. He talked to me about it a little bit. We’re going to have a park shoot at Seven Springs next week, and hit the snowboard Superpark features.

Are you heading straight there from Whistler?

Yeah, I get done with big air on Saturday the 11th and then I fly out the morning of the 12th.

When are you going to have some down time?

After the park shoot I’m going back to Colorado for a second to film a bit more with my buddy Gavin Rudy. Then, I’m packing up my stuff and coming up to Washington and Oregon for the rest of the spring and summer. I’ll pretty much just hang out at Hood.

OK, back to “serious” stuff. You’ve got your social media game on lock; how do you embrace social media for self promotion? Is it just interaction with fans, sponsor stoke or a combination of it all?

It’s definitely a combination of it all. I personally enjoy photos and quality content. My favorite platform to share everything on is definitely Instagram. Some people find Facebook works better as well as Twitter. It’s just a good way to show people what you’re really up to. Social media just works out so nicely for sponsors and for self promotion. Just to tell everyone, “Hey guys this is what’s going on. Check out this really cool photo or video.” Then everyone gets hyped on it and you get feedback from fans and supporters. I can interact a lot more and see what actually people like. I can produce more of that kind of content.

This is a virtual competition; your name has gotten out to the masses, in part, due to online edits, photos, social media, etc… Did that aid you when entering a contest with this format?

I feel like it didn’t hurt it at all. I still have no idea how I got 10,000-plus votes on my edit, I was very shocked by that. I was blown away. Being able to build up a foundation in social media was so helpful. It helped with getting people to check out the videos and get feedback from them. It’s insane how much having a platform to share your stuff helps you to get content out. Having my name build up over the years has definitely helped. Trying to stay in the news and stay relevant is the goal.

You’ve been competing on the AFP World Tour for a while now, but this season, you’re appearing on podiums regularly. What do you attribute that success to?

Yeah, this year I got a coach. I’m working with Mike Hanley and he is very good at what he does.

How, specifically, has that helped?

Myself and most of the contest-level guys usually coached ourselves. Having an actual coach is like having a voice of reason. Sometimes your brain goes all over the place, you don’t know where to go with certain tricks. But they’ll calm you down and be patient, and tell you to focus on take offs and landings. The tiniest things make the biggest difference. It’s definitely worth it to have a coach, I knew I needed one, and he has made a huge difference in my skiing this year.

Any plans for that prize money?

I think I’m going to save it to hopefully go to the Southern Hemisphere this summer and then maybe go on a little break.

Where to from here for Noah Wallace?

I’m just going to keep on traveling the world, skiing and having as much fun as I can.

Good luck and safe travels, my man.

Thanks, dude. Talk soon.