Rakai Tait

I am very excited to announce that I will be co-founding with fellow snowboard coach and friend, Brett Esser. Drop Next is a snowboard team that will be based out of Copper Mountain Colorado, working with athletes competing in regional level competitions, national competitions, all the way up to World Cup and Olympic level competitions.

For the last two years I have had the pleasure of working with TSST (Tahoe Ski and Snowboard Team) as a snowboard coach. It has been amazing and I have learned a lot about myself as a human and the kind of teacher that I would like to be. I am so thankful for the experience that I have gained and the people that I have been able to work with over the last two years.

Especially thankful to Scott Harris who has been my employer, mentor and coaching partner during my time at TSST. I would not be the coach that I am without the invaluable experience I’ve gained through working for his program.

Joe appreciation post ❤️ love ya and see ya in a few

I ❤️ Mentawai

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Thanks for the incredible experience

Happy birthday Joe ❤️❤️❤️
I love ya

⛅️🌊⛅️

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nz

This past winter, in the midst of a very turbulent time in our collective history, I had to make a difficult decision, whether to continue to pursue competitive snowboarding or to change tack and pursue other avenues. With support of loved ones and close friends I was able to confidently decide to hang up the bib and continue my education at University of Otago bringing my wonderful partner in all things, , to New Zealand with me.

I am so grateful for the experiences that I’ve had in the competitive snowboard world. I am so thankful for the community and the many friends that I made along the way. I can’t thank and the enough for allowing me to and represent Aotearoa at the Olympics. I can’t thank enough the sponsors that have helped me throughout my journey. So many good people in snowboarding. I am thankful for my parents, and and their love and support through everything and all the expensive travel. I am incredibly grateful for all my coaches who taught me to love all of snowboarding and helped show me what I was capable of. I especially want to thank for always being in my corner and and . you’re the f**kin’ man Boydy and I have to much love and respect for you man!! Thanks for everything you have done for me!

I am by no means done with snowboarding but I am finished with the competitive halfpipe chapter in my snowboarding. I am really looking forward to all the opportunities that lay before me and I am still very much looking forward to the NZ season ahead!

Thank you snowboard fam!!

Ps. I tagged everyone I could think of that helped me along the way in case you’re wondering why you were tagged and I’m sorry if I missed anybody!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_RAiyRSAlA

Super stoked on this edit that I made from shots I got this year in Wanaka! Would be stoked if you went and checked it out!

ME TAPE. - Rakai Tait Here's a little edit I put together with footage shot by Tom Christie and David Jones this season in the southern hemisphere. All the footage in this Video i...