ESPN.com: First off, what is the Eastern Snowboard League?
Morgan: [It's a] series of three events, [taking place] at Holiday Valley, Big Boulder PARK, and Seven Springs. The host resorts ... will pull out all the stops to present riders with the most progressive and innovative contest format set ups to date. There are two divisions: Destroyer [pro] and Youngblood [am]. Destroyers are competing for cash and points, and in the end, the top point earner wins a slot in Superpark, courtesy of SNOWBOARDER Mag. Youngbloods are competing for a trip to Woodward at Copper. We'll also give out a Honeypot [ladies] award each stop.

Bob KnabPat's an undisputed voice of snowboarding in the mid-Atlantic, both through his work, as well as via the loudspeakers at area contests.

How did the original concept come about?
Basically, me and Junior [Kantor, Mid-Atlantic Program Rep] started chatting about doing [a contest series that was] bigger and better. We got Joel Rerko from Seven Springs and Ian Oliver of Big Boulder PARK involved, and next thing you know, we're running a thousand miles an hour, each one of us bringing ideas to the table. When all was said and done, we had a killer brand partner list, solid concept, and a ton of resources. Everyone is so stoked. Having the resort tie in will be huge, because all three have big things happening. Springs and Boulder both [made] huge splashes in the TransWorld polls this year, and Holiday Valley is starting to make waves, despite being a small resort.

Can you describe the snowboarding community in the Mid-Atlantic and what this type of contest series means for the area?
These are the kids that kill it just as hard as the 'other East Coast' kids. They're kind of like the 'what about us? We're east coast, too' crew. These aren't academy riders. They don't have the luxury of travelling to multiple resorts in their own backyard. They have one resort, and that's their resort. That's their sense of pride and ownership.

Bob KnabRed Bull's Josh Green (center) and Pat (right) have been a cohesive team in New York the last few years, providing grassroots contests for local riders.

Do you think that they kind of get sidelined to the New England part of the East Coast, in terms of snowboarding culture?
This contest is huge, because ... it's going to get a lot of attention. No one from the Mid-Atlantic probably ever thought they'd have a chance to be shredding at Superpark. It's going to give these riders a chance to shine. Everyone knows who the heavies are in New England, now these kids will start to be able to flex a bit, too. Yes, I totally think they get sidelined. These kids, although it's their passion, they weren't brought up the same way as New England kids.

And in the end, it's all about that full circle and giving back.
Absolutely. That's a huge thing. The ESL was conceived with the notion of giving back to our communities and culture. Its most basic function is to cultivate the talent of up and coming riders on the East Coast, giving them an avenue not only to progress with their peers, but also to expose them to the next level of competitive snowboarding.

You have experienced this community from the ground up, because you grew up in upstate, right?
Born and raised. I could have moved out West, but I knew I could make a difference locally and still participate with the heavies from here. There's nothing wrong with the East [laughs]. We've got a ton of character.