Talking Shop with Cooper Branham – The Interview

Photo: Jared Spieker

Cooper Branham is a snowboarder who's pushing the limits of backcountry freeriding and setting a new standard in filming.

Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, his roots come from a core community that is shown clearly through his style and terrain perspective while on snow. Now based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Cooper is charging hard with his crew, This Is Us In, and filming with Teton Gravity Research to piece together video projects every Winter.

He’s been stacking mind-blowing footage at an incredible pace, showing no signs of slowing down, and always is down for dawn patrol link ups to chase those deep days. We were stoked to sit down with Coop and catch up on what's he's been up to this Summer, his passion for Snowboarding, what's to come from him in the near future, and tons more!

Photo: Keegan Rice

What’ve you been getting into this Summer during the off season?

Little bit of everything. Surfing as much as possible in the Oregon and Washington coast. Skating. Biking more than ever. Couple backpacking and hiking trips in the mix. I also recently took a trip to Thailand and China in August, that was wild. Overall going back and forth between Tacoma and Jackson when I can until full time Jackson in the Winter.

How has Skateboarding impacted your perspective when Snowboarding?

Skateboarding gives perspective and meaning to my snowboarding. Gonna be a bit of Todd Richards here and say that sooo many grabs and tricks trace back to skating, I could watch an old transition video part from skating and get completely new inspiration on how to tweak a frontside air on my snowboard. Outside of that, I think the scale of snowboarding transition is bigger, but it's all the same perspective. I like the view that skating gives me on snowboarding, and helps me see the mountain as a skate park.

Favorite skatepark you’ve pushed around at?

I think Arvada, Colorado is the sickest. That place is massive and has plenty of everything.

Let’s run it back to the origin of your Snowboarding. What do you call your home mountain and what first sparked your passion for getting on snow?

It’s a toss up between White Pass and Crystal Mountain. I would spend weekends at White Pass growing up, probably first getting on Skis there at 3 years old. My Homies and I “worked” at WP in high school for a pass and would ride long days living off of french fries from the base lodge. It’s a small mountain south of Rainier with an epic local culture. My grandpa built a cabin near WP in Packwood in the 1970’s and my mom learned to Ski at White Pass. It definitely is home to me. Crystal was a big part of growing up for me and is the first place my dad took me to snowboard. Definitely learned a lot about riding steep terrain there.

The love for snow was sparked by my family, and both my parents skied most of their adult lives. My dad used to go on Heli Trips with my Grandpa (mom’s side) in the 90’s in BC.

Everyone has that first trick they got on lock or session they had with the local crew while learning how to board that sucked them in for good. What was yours?

I think I have been sucked in for a long time, it all started with Skating then quickly transferred to Snowboarding. I remember riding these chutes back home at crystal mountain, Horseshoe cliffs. We were about 14 or 15 and that memory of the first time dropping into a steep straight line has always stuck with me.

When did you move to Jackson, Wyoming and what caused that transition initially?

I first spent significant time in Jackson in 2020. Then moved here the following winter. Cam originally invited me up to come out and shoot, the rest is history. All for the love of boarding and how much access is in these mountains.

Are you going method grab in between the bindings or on the nose?

You’ll catch me doing both. I think the best style is in between with a straight back leg.

Couloirs or Cheese Wedges?

I love a good coulie. Is pillow line an option?

Powder or Steel?

Cmon… powder! Tho I watch street clips and am envious of some of the spots and creativity that goes into it.

Photo: Jared Spieker

What’s your go-to grab?

Favorite grab on a straight air is a stalefish… Nico Mueller.

Skidoo or Polaris?

I've been a Polaris guy since the start. Been a lot of chatter about some doo guys coming over, good momentum for Team Polaris

You’re hot lappin’ at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Who’s in your gondola?

We are packing the gondy. Cam, Yuki, Keegan, Pat Rice, Jared Spieker, Sean O’Brien, and Willie McMillan (good banter)

How did you find yourself linking up with Cam Fitzpatrick and Yuki Kadono and what sparked the start of This Is Us In as a crew?

I first started coming up to Jackson in 2019 to film with Cam. It was the winter right before COVID, and Cam was filming a project so he invited me up after we did a film tour together. So I was making the drive out to Jackson when storms lined up, and was super fortunate to stay with him and his wife René at their spot in town. After that I moved to Jackson cause it was absolutely the place I wanted to ride every minute I could. We made another film the year after then I think Yuki moved to Jackson in 2021 or 2022 after we all did Kings and Queens of Corbets together. The rest is history! The crew is the most important piece, i’m always so stoked to ride with these guys.

What’s the most memorable session you’ve had in the Jackson area? Why?

By far, the Ravine Gap session in 2023, featured in our crew’s film Blink. Simply put, I grew up watching Travis and Bjorn’s footage from the iconic kicker in the Jackson backcountry. It was a moment I will never forget standing at the drop-in of that jump after 3 days of building, knowing 10 years earlier I was blown away at the size of it. I think its about a 120’ gap. Myself, Yuki, Cam, all got tricks. Yuki walked away with a front 12 which was mental to see go down. Really sick session.

Photo: Keegan Rice

You just finished a session in the backcountry, what’s your go-to spot to grab a celebratory drink with the crew?

Right there at the trailhead

Favorite backcountry snack?

Haribo Twin Snakes or Black Licorice

Dream trip if budget wasn’t an issue?

AK mission including Aleutian Islands

What setup are you running? (board, bindings, outerwear, boots, goggles, etc.)

We shall see this winter… been working on some new stuff!

What’s your stance looking like? (angles, stance width, etc.)

Left foot forward. 21.75” Width. +15/-3

Is there anything for us to look out for from you in the near future? (trips, films, sponsors, etc.)

Shaping up to be a big winter coming up! Stay tuned for sure. Have a few sponsor projects, some new plans in the works :) , a project with our crew, and hopefully some more time out with TGR! Been talking to Kai about linking up, it would be really fun to join forces. TBD!

Check out some of Coop's footage from TGR's 29th annual film Beyond The Fantasy and get fired up to be back on snow!