Bob PlumIt is almost a cliche these days to say someone just snowboards "for the love," but in Dirks' case, it really is true.

Snowboarding needs more Nick Dirks in its life. He isn't boring or covered in sponsor logos. He isn't drinking Muscle Milk with his trainer, or planning next year's contest routine. Dirks does things on his own terms. After his breakout season filming with for TransWorld's movie "These Days," multiple parts in the Airblaster movies, a TransWorld cover, and being part of the cool-guy Videograss crew, he is turning into quite the accomplished snowboarder. The young lad from Oregon is just getting started, though, and after coming back from a major injury, is on the verge of really showing the snowboard world what he is made of.

What's up, man. Are you in Portland?
Yeah, I'm in Portland. South East!

What are you doing this summer? Going to Hood?
I'm going up to Hood for the Videograss Session and then maybe a couple more times after that. Mostly I'm just going to go on road trips and camping and stuff like that.

Take a break from snowboarding?
Yeah, I do that every summer, just so I'm more excited when the next year comes.

Wasn't there a time when you were banned from High Cascade?
[Laughs] Maybe when I was younger. I went there last year.

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Bob PlumDon't get this guy started on digital vs. film...

Did you film a full part this year?
Yeah I did, for "Shoot The Moon."

You were hurt last year, a little bit, weren't you?
No, a lot a bit. I broke my femur on December 21 and was out for the whole season.

What did you do when you were hurt to fill the void?
I made some drawings, watched a lot of movies, and I listened to music.

Is it true that you might have been tattooing people?
[Laughs] Um, homemade tattoos ... yes.

What did you tattoo on yourself?
Pizza Pizza.

Are you still proud of that one?
Hell yeah!

You have a lot of tattoos now. I saw your Facebook page and you look like a sailor.
[Laughs] Yeah, I've got a lot.

Do you think you will be a tattoo artist when you're done snowboarding?
No, I just like collecting them.

You're kind of known for being a hell raiser. Have you matured a little bit?
This interview is straight dogging on me, fool! Yeah, I've matured! I'm 24 now.

Well the first time we hung out in Portland didn't you get in trouble for trying to go to the bathroom in a parking garage?
[Laughs] Yeah, that's awesome. I forgot about that.

Why were you in a graveyard for your Airblaster interview?
Because that's a spot we go hangout after hours.

Bob PlumAnd when he's not snowboarding he's building motorcycles. Acording to Videograss, he's working on a Yamaha XS 650.

You party in the graveyard. Seen any ghosts?
No, but there's a black cat that hangs out in there.

Is it a ghost cat?
I don't know. I haven't gotten to touch it, so it might be.

Did you go any rad trips last winter?
Yeah, we got to go to Sweden. It was cold, filled with beautiful woman and good food. I also got to go to Russia with Airblaster. It was crazy we were there for two weeks Moscow was super fun.

You got kidnapped by terrorists one time, right?
Yeah, well it was a militant group. It was sort of wrong place, wrong time.

Were you freaked out?
Of course. My buddies and I thought we were going down.

Were you guys hugging in the last minutes?
Yeah, I think there was a hug slipped in there.

That's what I like about you. You're tattooed but you're sensitive.
It comes from my mother.