Coda

Distinct but Parallel Legacies

Distinct but Parallel Legacies
Photos: Colin Wiseman [left] and Mike Yoshida [right]

“When Jeff Keenan and Alex Pashley tragically passed away this spring, they left behind distinct but parallel legacies.

Pashley [left] was an incredibly capable person. Whether running ultramarathons, breaking trail or laying down clean lines, he knew that you’re only as strong as those around you in the mountains, and he focused considerable energy on sharing his knowledge and elevating other members of the snowboard community. From his years working at Salomon/Bonfire to Dragon, Slash, Smartwool and The North Face, he surrounded himself with likeminded folks who quickly learned that shit talk was his love language.

I too learned this as we spent weeks on the road—and once trapped in a blizzard on an Alaskan glacier—producing collaborative films between Smartwool and this title for a half dozen years. His lightheartedness in heavy situations left everyone smiling, despite any and all setbacks. Those who knew and loved Pash will agree that he’d be the first to help when you needed it, and that you’d probably hear about it for years after as a running joke at your expense.

The dude loved to laugh, and it was infectious—he knew that time spent in the mountains was always time well spent, and that no matter what happened, you’d always have a good story to tell. In recent years, he also became a very skilled photographer, documenting those adventures and misadventures, and his imagery appeared often within these pages.

Jeff Keenan [right] began his snowboard life as a pro rider, known for a raw style that spoke loudly to a generation of up-and-coming Canadian riders. Simply put, he was as core as they come. He worked hard for it, and that work ethic transferred to his next chapter, founding Dinosaurs Will Die with Sean Genovese with the belief that snowboarders can and should drive the industry from a place of passion over profits. Jeff also spent his winters behind the camera, shooting for a host of clients and, most recently, collaborating with his partner, Leanne Pelosi, to help elevate a new era of backcountry riders. 

To know Jeff was to know someone who was pure in his beliefs—someone who truly cared about snowboard culture and the unique bonds we form through the simple act of snowboarding. He and Sean supported this title in its early years and his images, both in front of and behind the lens, graced these pages numerous times. I was lucky enough to spend some time on hill and in the water with Jeff, and he always impressed me with his laid-back approach. Those who knew him well often described him as a calming presence amongst the often chaotic backdrop of documenting backcountry snowboarding.

Jeff was someone who was willing to dedicate as much time and energy as he could to sharing a lifetime of mountain knowledge, to finding peace, prosperity and an ever-strengthening community out in the wild spaces that we hold dear. He lived in the moment, always with eyes on the bigger picture—one that was inclusive and welcoming. A vision that never lost sight of the pure joy that can come from time together upon snow. 

We send our deepest love to Jeff’s partner Leanne, their son Khyber, his brother Brendan, sister-in law Jacqui, and Jeff’s family and extended family—to Alex’s wife, Erin, their Bernese mountain dogs Rainier and Dale, his family and his extended family. We are deeply saddened by Alex and Jeff’s untimely passing and wish we had many more years together to share in growth, adventure and good times. I personally feel immense gratitude to simply have been in the orbit of these two men who dedicated their lives to making our community a better place. As I think of times spent with Alex and Jeff, I’ll try to remember to smile through the tears.

Alex Pashley and Jeff Keenan’s legacy will live on through all of us, and we’ll do our best to make them proud.”—Colin Wiseman

Back to Issue 23.1