Yes, my name is James, but my friends call me “Hi-may.” As an Idaho native, I’ve watched this state (especially the greater Boise area) change from a rural landscape to an urban one. The small town character that’s defined the place has evolved into what most call a city. With it, bringing culture that was once scarce (if it even existed at all).
Growing up, I was a skateboarder. That lifestyle was heavily frowned upon here in the late 1980s and early 1990s (maybe it was everywhere?). As I grew into young adulthood, I naturally turned my passion to snowboarding.
As a true Idahoan, I studied art at the University of Idaho. Focusing on my work full-time, my love for board sports had to take a back seat. I still held the idea in the back of my head that I’d someday travel and learn to surf. I never expected to learn to surf in Idaho.
This project is a tribute to the growing sport of river surfing. Boise’s whitewater park continues to make Boise a great place to live. I’m 44, live with my girlfriend and eight-year-old son (who helped me with this project). I’ve chosen to continue working diligently on my art so I have little time (or extra expense) for travel. That’s why river waves are so important to me. Enjoy the show.
