You’ve definitely seen Riley’s clips from Hyland Hills on your Instagram explore page if you’re not following him already. We had G-Don tap in to get some insight on Riley’s approach to riding.

Name: Riley Johnson

Age: 28

Social Media Handles: @mids4thekids on Instagram

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Home Mountain: Hyland Hills

Sponsors: Rome Snowboards, Union Bindings, and Checkthefeed

Stance: Goofy

Setup: Rome Boneless 163W, Union Forces, Nike Vapens size 12s, angles are +9, -15

How did you find snowboarding? Snowboarding found me at age 12. My dad worked at Hyland Hills and gave me a chance at riding a rental board (nickname was soon to be rental board). I had a very slow learning curve but loved every minute of it.

Years snowboarding: 16

Best Contest Result: Never considered myself a great contest rider. Battling for best trick or walking away with a couple bangers I set out to do is far more satisfying than winning to me. Editor’s Note: Riley recently won best trick at Bomb Hole Cup

Favorite Snowboard Video: Adidas Snowboarding’s Blender

Biggest Inspiration: Growing up watching Danimals, Matt “Boody” Boudreaux, and Tommy Gesme all live in person. An experience that influenced my riding growing up

What motivates you: Pushing myself and those around me to progress

What rider from the new generation is the gonna be the future of snowboarding: Colin Fran’s for current gen, and Kenzie Livangood for the ladies groms!

Most Underrated Rider: Nate Bujarski

Favorite Old Head: Hands down JR Berard

Best style: Mike Liddle and Tommy Gesme

Most cooked homie: Zach Tucker for president

Most Talented Rider: Luke Winkleman

Sketchiest homie: Jake Keple

Favorite filmer: Personal – Chaz Chafee without a doubt. Official filmer – Colton Feldman

Who brings the best energy: Garret Mckenzie

Worst trick: Front board pretzel or ollie north (majority of one foot tricks)

Dream Sponsor (Doesn’t Have to Be Snowboarding-Related): Delta and Turo.

Worst Trend in Snowboarding: Negativity – Be the change you want to see in the industry, and always encourage the youth

Biggest fear: Lift laps for the rest of my life

Is there a time where you should have died but made it out unscathed? Or Sketchiest moment? I’ve never claimed to be the most profound street rider, but I found myself at a rail in Minnesota hitting a large separated quad kink that Dillion OJO had previously hit (unknowingly). He did back 50-50 on the rail and my stupid self chose front 50-50 on the outside of the stairs. Not only did I learn the stair lesson that day but also to avoid Coronas at the spot. I slipped out one of the attempts and taco’d in the worst way into the separations. Was rushed to the ER and ended up with serious internal bruising but nothing that required surgery. I won’t be going back to that rail! RIP to a legend #OJOForever

Warm up or straight to it? Wake the body up then put those fresh legs to work

When do you ride best? A nice cloudy day just below freezing. 2nd day of riding in a row and a light breakfast. Consider it a wrap

When do you ride your worst? When there’s any animosity on the hill toward another rider or staff. Also overly stretching in the morning is a no go

Best and worst place to snowboard: Hyland Hills & Hyland Hills on the weekends

Interests Outside of Snowboarding? Business, doing hoodrat sh*t with my friends, and sobriety

A moment that you’ll never forget? Growing up watching Sunday in the park, and then stacking on a bricked day with Adam at Bear for STIP.

Best advice you ever received? The harder you work the luckier you get

Words to Live By? Obsessed or average

Shout Outs: My Dad (TG) for putting me on a snowboard not Skis, my girlfriend Johannah, and my boy Chaz for supporting/filming me throughout my journey on a snowboard. Sticha/Travis deserve a s/o for making Hyland the best place on earth too.

Describe snowboarding in one word: Therapy