Jeff was a committed snowboarder and in 1991 he made his way to Lake Louise in search of air and powder. His style earned him the nickname “tweaker” and he became a member of the infamous ‘101 crew’, under the tutelage of the likes of Greg Todds who was building the best park in snowboarding. Jeff’s oozing style and deep tweaks earned him a picture in the first ever published Snowboard Canada magazine.

“I think it was a melon” - Jeff recalled while casually dropping the fact in conversation a few years later.

“I should have got the cover” - he mused amid deep reflection,

“and I think the they mixed up the names. Its undeniable though” - he stated.

Jeff had a deep soul and was never compelled to pursue fame or fortune. Always a soul shredder, Jeff moved to Red Mountain for a season with a fellow shredder. He stayed for three seasons riding perfect pow amid the steep trees that the area is known for. Next snowboard stop was Whitewater in Nelson, BC. While snowboarding always remained close to Jeff’s heart, he soon found himself on the foreground of another extreme sports boom - freestyle mountain biking. This time, Jeff positioned himself behind the camera catching his friends catching air. Never a slouch himself, Jeff was more than proficient across any sport that caught his attention. As stoked as Jeff was to catch images and footage when a guy that stoked catches air himself it invokes a level of bro-ness that creates family. Jeff was constantly amassing a community of high-level haywires across multiple sports. The Slednecks came next, and when Jeff moved to Whistler he filmed with the best in the world. I always liked seeing his big air in the credits of respected films he worked on. Imagine the cinematographer going full send and just so stoked. I met Jeff in 2004, around this time in Whistler, and our snowboarding story began.

He would call me in the summer;

“so what do you think this winter’s going to be like?” – prophesizes Jeff

“I’m getting my pass I don’t want you to worry” - Jeff

“I’m just so stoked” - Jeff

“ I think it’s going to be so sick”. – Jeff

I was generally in full agreement and support. In 2009 we received over 400cm in November. Jeff and I rode 14 days straight with several 50cm days consecutive.

“It’s like groundhog day” - Jeff

“I need a day off but I cant’ take a day off. Do you think it will stop?” – pleads Jeff

On a stormy day on Blackcomb we were doing two chair laps and it kept getting deeper every time. I witnessed a perfect turn. Jeff committed to most things with a fearless abandonment that yielded a result of it was going to be sick or SO SICK accord to Jeff. One moment I will never forget, as he laid in with speed, style, full send. Pitted to perfection a perfect toe turn that any board rider could deeply appreciate. It was like a perfect wide open alpine turn but this one was mid mountain surrounded by trees. Jeff asked me;

”did you see that!?”

all I could say was “ya”

“that was maybe the best turn of my life” he yelled back.

“So fucking sick!” repeated by both us the rest of the way.

When Jeff became a father it was noticeable how much he changed his outlook. Jeff taught both his boys how to snowboard and would gladly miss alpine openings to be with his boys though always with the goal of getting them ready for the next level. Nothing stoked him up more than seeing the rapid progression and the natural style evolving before his eyes. I have been so lucky to spend time with the Lawrence family snowboard team. The last two years I stepped into the role of assistant team manager. My duties included extending my employee discount, providing gloves, goggles, toques and any forgotten items available at lot 6 in the morning. I always kept extras in my van for the family. Also my favourite, was scouring the re-use it center for boards, bindings and anything else.

On a 30cm day myself, and the 3 Lawrence boys purposefully targeted the fall line below the old crystal chair. We put our hard charging styles aside and threw snow around like nobody’s business. Everywhere I looked was a Lawrence completely pitted.

Jeff raved ”that is how I want to see my boys!”

“that was just so sick”

Jackson and Ryder have been coached by the Whistler Valley Snowboard Club in recent years. They have excelled in skill and even more so in style. This last season while riding mid-mountain on a stormy day no alpine. I told Jeff “we still run the alpine, but these boys are going to start showing us around on the mid mountain with all this coaching at club”. The next run me and Jeff veered right. Jackson cuts hard left ”did he see us?” “where’s he going?” in our faces he lays down a perfect turn down a steep untracked section of glory. Committed and pitted – it was an unforgettable turn. We screamed, we cried, it was so sick! The pride beamed off of Jeff the rest of the run. Jackson asked his dad “did you see that?” He was and will always be watching.

I’m starting “THE JEFF LAWRENCE SNOWBOARD LEGACY FUND” with the focus of raising funds to keep Jackson and Ryder snowboarding. When we can do the things that we have done with our lost loved ones it’s my belief it is the closest we can be to their spirit and connection to our souls. Jeff is my snowboard soul brother and I will honour him every time I strap in. I’ll never be able to strap in without thinking of you Jeff.