Draft:Matt Shaffer
{{Short description|American former professional snowboarder and strategic planning executive}}
{{Draft topics|biography|media}}
{{AfC topic|blp}}
{{AfC submission|||ts=20250325223442|u=BobbyJSmith1972|ns=2}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Matt "Matty" Shaffer
| image =
| caption =
| nationality = {{flagicon|USA}} United States
| birth_place = Bountiful, Utah, U.S.
| sport = Snowboarding
| event = Slopestyle, Freestyle, Backcountry
| turnedpro = circa 1999
}}
Matt Shaffer (also known as Matty Shaffer) is an American former professional snowboarder and current businessperson. He grew up in Bountiful, Utah, where he began snowboarding and later attended Bountiful High School. Shaffer spent over a decade competing and filming snowboarding segments in the U.S. and internationally, and developed his freestyle ability at local areas including Mueller Park Canyon, Canyons Resort, and Brighton Resort.{{cite web |title=The Roots of Snowboarding in Utah: Brighton Resort's Influence |url=https://www.snowboarder.com/absinthetv/microdose-brighton-episode-4-part-2/ |website=Snowboarder Magazine}}
Snowboarding career
Shaffer competed in regional and national contests in FIS-sanctioned slopestyle events throughout the 2000s.{{cite web |title=Athlete Biography: Matt Shaffer |url=https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/athlete-biography.html?sector=SB&competitorid=141698&type=result |website=FIS-Ski.com |publisher=International Ski Federation}} He was sponsored by brands such as Burton Snowboards, Red Bull, Nike Snowboarding, as well as others.{{cite web |title=Matty Shaffer – The Rise |url=https://www.snowboarder.com/videos/matt-shaffer-three-seasons-tahoe/ |website=Snowboarder Magazine |date=December 30, 2000}}{{cite web |title=Xtreme Weekly Issue 12: Spur of the Moment |url=https://sundial.csun.edu/91754/sports/xtreme-weekly-issue-12-spur-of-the-moment/ |website=Daily Sundial |publisher=California State University, Northridge}}
Contest results include first place at the Rome Premature Jibulation in Vermont,{{cite web |title=Rome Premature Jibulation Results |url=https://www.newschoolers.com/news/read/Rome-Premature-Jibulation-Results-2011 |website=Newschoolers}} and second place finishes at the Volcom Peanut Butter and Rail Jam (PBRJ) Championships at Mammoth Mountain{{cite web |title=Volcom PBRJ Championship Finals Results |url=https://www.the-house.com/portal/volcom-pbrj-championship-finals-2015-results/ |website=The House}} and Burton Qualifiers Finals at Seven Springs.{{cite web |title=Burton Qualifiers Finals – Settled at Seven |url=https://www.snowboarder.com/featured/burton-qualifiers-2016-finals-settled-at-seven-ryan-paul-takes-the-win-at-seven-springs/ |website=Snowboarder Magazine}}
Shaffer filmed on backcountry jumps including the 90-foot Pyramid Gap in Alta, Utah, and 110-foot Ravine Gap outside Jackson Hole, Wyoming.{{cite web |title=Pyramid Gap – Grizzly Gulch, Utah |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNQRNc4CqHk |website=YouTube}}{{cite web |title=Red Lined: Gassing Pyramid with Nik and Jare |url=https://tormentmag.com/p/red-lined |website=Torment Magazine}}{{cite web |title=Priceless Peer Pressuring on Pyramid Gap, Utah |url=https://snowbrains.com/priceless-peer-pressuring-on-pyramid-gap/ |website=SnowBrains}} He also joined Burton's team for filming sessions in Japan alongside snowboarder Shaun White.{{cite web |title=Burton Team Trip – Hokkaido Backcountry |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4jRrFzzE1Y |website=YouTube |publisher=Burton Snowboards}}
Media coverage
Over the course of his career, Shaffer appeared in video parts in snowboard films including TB8,{{cite web |title=Snowboard Movies Aren’t Dead: The Triumphant Return of Mike Hatchett |url=https://www.backcountrymagazine.com/stories/snowboard-movies-arent-dead-the-triumphant-return-of-mike-hatchett/ |website=Backcountry Magazine}} Three Seasons,{{cite web |title=Matt Shaffer – Three Seasons in Tahoe |url=https://www.snowboarder.com/videos/matt-shaffer-three-seasons-tahoe/ |website=Snowboarder Magazine}} State of Mind,{{cite web |title=Finger Da Trigger: State of Mind |url=https://www.snowboarder.com/videos/finger-da-trigger-state-of-mind/ |website=Snowboarder Magazine}} and Double Decade.{{cite web |title=Mack Dawg Productions – Double Decade (Full Movie) |url=https://www.snowboarder.com/videos/mack-dawg-productions-double-decade-full-movie/ |website=Snowboarder Magazine |date=December 2008}} He also appeared in The Art of Flight, produced by Brain Farm,{{cite web |title=The Art of Flight – Brain Farm |url=https://www.tetongravity.com/video/snowboard/the-art-of-flight-full-movie |website=Teton Gravity Research}} and made appearances in other projects such as as Rewind: Salt Lake City – Episode 2, Influx & Explosion.{{cite web |title=Rewind: Salt Lake City – Episode 2, Influx & Explosion |url=https://www.snowboarder.com/videos/rewind-salt-lake-city-episode-2-influx-explosion/ |website=Snowboarder Magazine |date=January 29, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Rewind: Salt Lake City – Episode 2: Influx & Explosion |url=https://snowboardermbm.de/videos/rewind-salt-lake-city-episode-2-influx-explosion/ |website=Snowboarder MBM |language=de |access-date=March 27, 2025}}
Shaffer appeared in sponsorship advertisements and editorial coverage in industry publications including Transworld Snowboarding and Snowboarder Magazine, which profiled his riding during Superpark events.{{cite web |title=Matt Shaffer at Superpark 21 |url=https://www.snowboarder.com/featured/matt-shaffer-superpark-21/ |website=Snowboarder Magazine}} He also appeared in a video capturing an avalanche incident at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort that received widespread attention online and was later covered by national media outlets.{{cite web |title=Sugar Bowl Seeks Snowboarder |url=https://www.firsttracksonline.com/2016/01/21/sugar-bowl-seeks-prosecution-of-snowboarder-who-triggered-avalanche/ |website=First Tracks Online}}
Education and business career
After retiring from professional snowboarding, Shaffer earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business where he also studied abroad in Wales. He worked for a brief time in marketing at Burton Snowboards. After leaving the snowboarding industry, he entered a management training program at ATI. He is now Strategic Planning Manager at Davey Tree Expert Company in Kent, Ohio.{{cite web |title=Matt Shaffer – Strategic Planning Manager at The Davey Tree Expert Company |url=https://theorg.com/org/the-davey-tree-expert-company/org-chart/matt-shaffer |website=The Org}}
Personal life
Shaffer resides in Hudson, Ohio with his two children. He maintains a low public profile but occasionally shares on Instagram.{{cite web |title=Matt Shaffer (@the_real_matt.shaffer) • Instagram photos and videos |url=https://www.instagram.com/the_real_matt.shaffer/ |website=Instagram}}
References
External links
- [https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/athlete-biography.html?sector=SB&competitorid=141698&type=result Matt Shaffer – FIS profile]
{{Draft categories|
Category:American male snowboarders
Category:People from Bountiful, Utah
Category:Sportspeople from Utah
Category:University of Utah alumni