Thayne Rich is known for going big-whether its stomping switch landings in the backcountry, or filming heavy segments for Level 1 and Strictly. But when the snow melts, he swaps skis for chainsaws, running his own arborist business - Rooted Tree and Stump.
We caught up with Thayne to talk about why tree work keeps him ready for ski season, how it compares to sending lines, and what kind of weather will ruin a day in either field.
How did you get started doing arborist work and how long have you been doing it for?
I started doing tree work in high school just as a summer gig. I really liked it and had a good crew of friends that I worked with. Couldn't think of a cooler job until I started spending my summers building skis at 4FRNT. Once the White Room closed down, I have been full on in the arborist game and been doing tree work for 10 years now.
Thats rad. What is your favorite aspect of the work you do?
My favorite part of the job is being outside everyday and getting a bit of a workout while doing it. Another thing is that every tree and job is different so it's kind of like a new equation to get it out of there, or at least what you need of the tree while pruning, without damaging the house, fence, or other things on the property. We use a lot of ropes and different rigging systems and its always fun to figure it all out.
Totally, it sounds like a lot could go wrong if you aren't dialed. What made you decide you wanted to finally start your own business?
I started my business (Rooted Tree and Stump) because I have been doing it for so long. My buddy who I worked for has always treated me right, but after gaining the knowledge and skill to be able to get jobs done on my own I figured - why not? Not to mention the major pay bump that comes with it. There is a lot of admin stuff that I'm still getting the hang of but it's pretty nice to be my own boss and work directly with clients.
Do you find any similarities between arborist work and skiing?
There are a few similarities for sure. Getting in your first big tree of the year is scary as hell. A very similar feeling to standing at the top of a big cliff or inrun for the first big jump of the season. The more you do it the more comfortable it gets. Another big similarity is that the W (wind) friggen sucks. In the winter it causes wind loading or wind board and can deem full zones or even ranges unskiable. In the summer there's nothing more uncomfortable than being at the top of a big tree swaying in high winds. It almost makes you feel sea sick a bit when you get down.
What's harder: Getting a snowmobile unstuck, or getting a pinched chainsaw unstuck?
Hahaha they're both situational. I feel like I've had sled stucks that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy so it's probably worse. I will say though when you're doing crane work and you're fighting the clock and you've got a 32" bar stuck and you're trying to communicate with the crane operator; it's also a pretty bad time.
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