The snowboard community in Bend is a strong one. The handful of riders who call Mt. Bachelor home are among the best. In fact, there are more pros per capita here than in most other places in the U.S. But two people from the same town turning pro in the same year—what are the odds? In Bend, pretty high.
This season, K2 Snowboarding surprised two Bend locals, Gabe Ferguson & Curtis Ciszek, with pro models. Despite the age gap between them, they are close friends with a long history: they've ridden for the same companies, traveled internationally together, and shared many beds—and many beers. They even live just two blocks apart. Curtis, having just finished his fishing tours for the season, immediately reached out to Gabe for a drink (or five, or ten). The next morning was the perfect time for me to FaceTime them and check in on their latest pro boards. Intro/interview: Katie Kennedy
Age before beauty rule. We’ll start with Curtis. What’s your first memory of Gabe?
Curtis: I’ve known Gabe since he was probably around 11 or something. I don’t remember the exact first time, but there used to be an indoor skate park here that we all skated at. I was probably around 16 or 17.
Gabe: Yeah, I went to that skate park when I was really young. I started scootering there. Ben hated it and was super embarrassed. That must have been like eight years ago.
Curtis: Gabe was kind of just out there. But once he eventually started skating, he quickly got better than all of us.
When do you remember seeing Gabe snowboard?
Curtis: We all used to do the USASA contests when we were super young, too. He was probably in the youngest kids’ division, and I was probably around 14 or 15.
Gabe: Yeah, I don’t even remember Curt or his crew back when I was doing that stuff. I think my first real memory of Curt is from a Volcom ad. He was drinking a beer and snowmobiling. I know that’s way after we met, but I was like, “Oh, that’s Curtis.”
How did you start riding together?
Curtis: No idea. Probably just riding around randomly. That’s what’s cool about the Bend snowboard community—you just randomly run into people at the mountain. We all ride at one little resort, and we’re usually in the same area. You could be riding with Gabe and Dirkson one day, totally unplanned.
In recent times, what are some fond memories you’ve shared with each other?
Curtis: Well, we just went to South America together. That was a lot of fun.
Gabe: Yeah, Chile—it was fire. With Parker Z too. It was with K2. We also did a really sick trip to start the year in Wyoming. Left Bend, drove two hours to a hot spring, and slept next to Curt in a teepee.
Curtis: Yeah, we shared a bed, with a hot spring in the middle of the teepee. Woke up to Austin in it.
Gabe: Yeah, woke up to Austin just sitting in it, staring at us. That was really weird.
Austin staring at you from a hot spring first thing in the morning does sound really weird. Is K2 the first brand you’ve both ridden for together?
Gabe: No, we both used to be on Volcom and Giro together ages ago.
Gabe, what’s your favorite video part of Curt’s?
Gabe: It’s in We’re People Too. It’s the one where he shares a part with Austin, and at the start of it, he does this little thing—he’s smoking, then he throws it, and does a shaka to the camera. Now we do that all the time. Smoke, throw it, shaka. And we say "that's some Curt dog shit.” Smoke, throw it. That part is legendary. It’s sick because it’s like you, Eels, and Austin. Eels is tripling you guys up. You’re mad young, and now, today, it’s still like the same vibe.
Curt, favorite Gabe footage?
Curtis: Joy, maybe. The shots in Joy were pretty sick. I mean, the Born part’s obviously insane.
Gabe: Brown had the most footage so far.
Curtis: And Screwdriver might blow the top off, though.
If you were playing a Game of Snow…
Curtis: Gabe will beat my ass every single time. Not a chance for me.
Gabe: Maybe some steal?
Curtis: I haven’t jumped on a piece of metal in like two years. I’m terrified. I did a 50-50 front one out, and Austin was like, “Oh, you can’t do that, that’s whack.” And I was like, I don’t fucking know.
So no rails, just teepees and sledding for you guys. Tell me about your “going pro” experience.
Curtis: I had no idea. I didn’t know any of those guys contributed to it. (Bryan, Jake, Jamie, family, etc) I’m stoked, and it’s something I’ll have forever. I’m freaking hyped on it. We were premiering Jake’s movie from our trip to Antarctica in Bend. It was a total surprise, brought a tear to my eye. I didn’t cry like Gabe did.
Gabe, were you at Curtis’s?
Gabe: Yeah, I was there, but I didn’t really know either. I found out that day.
Curt, were you at Gabe’s?
Curtis: Yeah, I was at Gabe’s. I knew it was coming a little bit before, maybe a couple of days.
Gabe, how does it feel to have a board?
Gabe: There’s something about getting a board. When a company does that for you, it’s the best way to show support. It’s special, and I’m hyped. It’s dope to have something you can look at with your name on it. Mine came after the Brown premiere in Bend at the bar. I was completely tuned, not expecting it at all. Ben (my brother) did the graphics, and it hits a little different—it hits home more.
Ben is a quite the creative and made a sick graphic for you! What’s the story behind that?
Gabe: Ben is always drawing. We were sitting in the room I just showed you (the art room), and I watched him draw the graphic the whole time. I was like, “Oh, that’s a sick picture, I love it.” So I took one of them and put it in my room. I had no idea what it was for. I think that was a deciding factor for him because he knew I was going to like it. It’s this sketchy drawing of our parents’ dog, Frank, smoking. I took it, put it in my room, and it’s still there.
You kind of chose your graphic without even knowing it, which is probably the best way. K2 really leaned into your lives to make these graphics meaningful, which is super dope and hard to do when it’s a surprise. I’m excited to see them out in the world.
What’s in store for this upcoming season?
Gabe: We’re going to make an edit with K2. Us, Parker, Aya Satoa, probably some other people, but it’s going to be a little pow edit.
K2 Alchemist - Curtis Ciszek Men's Snowboard 2025
K2 Antidote - Gabe Ferguson Unisex Snowboard 2025