IVAN KOLOFF - THE ITNERANTS
Allow us to introduce you to the inimitable enigma that is Greg Dacyshyn aka Ivan Koloff aka A Dead Head. Greg spent over two decades working hand in hand with the sorely missed Jake Burton, as Chief Creative Officer at Burton Snowboards where also worked alongside other noteworthy alumni including Hiroki Nakamura (Visvim) and Errolson Hugh (Acronym) - as a dynamic a duo they guided the Burton brand to global success.
Greg / Ivan is now heading up his new venture - Creative Agency and brand ‘Camp high’ an ode to the Dead Head and life lived off to the left and way up high. He travels like probably no other itinerant we know so who better than to give us a minutiae of insight to the life of a man who’s definition of luxury is to be totally lost and immersed in a place he is visiting.
The Itinerants - An insight into the personal and private lives of global nomads driven and guided by their passion and innate ability within the creative industries. All images provided by the libraries of their phones and devices.
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I love Japan. I love pretty much everything about it. The food. The shopping. The culture…and most of all the people. I have had the pleasure of making so many good friends in Japan over the past 25 years.
The amazing human on my right is @akilla1. He is an incredible artist and Tebori tattoo artist, who has blessed me with his work over the years. The handsome dude on the right is Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto. Nori was a great martial artist and all-round great human. Unfortunately, kid passed a couple years back. Miss you, kid.
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This was on a trip that I took with @troubleandrew aka Guccighost and @willshot to Mexico City. This was during a party at the Gucci store to promote his most recent collaboration with the fashion house.
In addition to being a very talented artist, designer and musician, Trevor is an incredible snowboarder who rode for Burton for many years and was one of the first riders on the brand we created together with Burton, Analog. I first met Trevor when he was 14, when I picked him up hitchhiking back from a snowboard contest in Ontario, CA, before I was working at Burton. Over 20 years later, we are still super tight and so proud of all that he has accomplished.
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Luckily, Dead and Company was formed a few years back, and the long strange trip continues. This is a photo with my friend, Andy Cohen at Folsom Field in Boulder CO. Hanging in the lot is a big part of the scene, as is “Shakedown Street” and this venue is one of my favorites. Deadheads. We are everywhere!
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A couple years back, I had the pleasure of visiting the Jim Henson Workshop and the set of Sesame Street. It was truly amazing to be able to see the actual set that I had grown up watching and learning from as a kid. It looked pretty much the same, right down to the items on the shelves of Mr.Hoopers grocery shop! It was truly so inspiring, as most of the people had worked there for their entire career, and were more committed and passionate about their craft than ever. If that wasn’t enough, Cookie Monster was on set, which was a trip to watch. And of course, I couldn’t resist jumping into the home of everyone’s favorite grouch.
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Last spring, I traveled to Japan with a small crew of friends, including my friend John Mayer. He was playing a couple shows at Budokan, and I had never visited Tokyo with him. The concerts were incredible (we also got to take a Clapton show, where John was special guest) and had the best time shopping, eating, visiting with old friends, and just taking in all that my favorite city has to offer! And if that wasn’t enough John and the crew at Neighborhood Japan threw me a surprise birthday party, complete my caricature on a limited Neighborhood tee and hoody. So fucking cool!
This photo is John and I doing our best “Lost in Translation 2” pose in the elevator of the iconic Park Hyatt Tokyo.
I had been a fan of the music of the Grateful Dead since I was a kid, but I wasn’t until I went to my first show at Canada’s Wonderland in 1987 that I really understood it. From that day forward, I was completely hooked and have been “on the bus” ever since. It was truly a magical experience back then. Being young and road tripping to shows with your friends, with the only concern being whether you could make enough cash to get to the next stop. So many of my best experiences were during that time. It was such a feeling of complete freedom. I actually met my wife, Anne-Marie when she jumped on our car on the way to shows at the old Joe Lewis Arena in Detroit. Great times.
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This last photo is my beautiful wife, Anne-Marie and my two dogs Aiko and Bear. While I LOVE to travel, it’s always such a treat to get home to the ones you love the most. This photo was taken in my old spot in Vermont. While it was very beautiful and chill there, I never felt a real connection. Both personally and professionally, I always felt the need to travel for inspiration. Meet new people. Have new experiences. Get lost and see what happens.
Maybe it’s because I’m older now, or maybe because I love our new life in Santa Monica, but I don’t have the same wanderlust. That said, I can’t wait to get back to NYC next week and hang with my crew at Finelli’s! See you soon!
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A couple years ago, my wife Ann-Marie and I made the move out to live in Santa Monica. We are both originally from Toronto, but had lived in Vermont for over 20 yrs.! It was a big change, and we also needed to get our REALLY big dogs out here. So, my great friend and partner in CAMP HIGH, Greg Johnsen, volunteered to do the cross-country drive with me and the pups. It was an adventure, and we took our time to do it right and visit all the sites along the way. Too much fun! This was at the @thebigtexan, the famous spot along Route #66, where if you finish the 72oz steak, your meal is free. Just like John Candy in The Great Outdoors! I was being a bit of a wuss, and didn’t go for it, since we had to get back on the road. One of my great regrets in life. ;(
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Snowboarding has obviously played a big part in my life for a very long time. I’m not gonna lie. I was never the hardcore dude waking up for first chair, dropping a waterfall, or hiking miles into the back country. That’s never been my jam. For me, snowboarding is all about traveling to amazing places and getting out on the mountain with a great crew and having as much fun as possible. To me that’s all about cruising, talking shit on the lifts, having some great food, and a lot of laughs. And it’s definitely a bonus when the snow is good and there’s not a cloud in the sky.
This photo was taken by Jake Burton at the top of St.Moritz, right after enjoying an incredible lunch at CheCha. A day very well spent!
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Jake Burton Carpenter was truly as very special human. People describe him as a lot of different things. Pioneer, mentor, entrepreneur, snowboarder, etc. To me, he was these things and more, but most of all he was a best friend. Jake had a lust for life like no one I have ever known. An endless amount of energy. He was the quintessential camp counselor. Always putting together a group plan, and making every situation more fun. We traveled the world together for more than two decades, and had more good times and amazing experiences than anyone deserves. He lived life to the fullest and never took it for granted. And most of all, he loved to hang with his crew and have as many laughs as possible.
This photo was taken less than a month before he unexpectedly passed away. We were in Japan for a few days doing some inspiration shopping for his MINE77 line, and meeting with Neighborhood Japan on a collaboration project. He was super happy with the line, and it was great to spend a few days together in a city we both loved. Miss you, my brother. Love you, Jake.
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Jamaica is one of our favorite vacation spots in the world. The food, the beaches, the music, the people. And while it a can definitely be a little sketchy in certain situations, it’s always an adventure.
One spot that is never sketchy is my favorite resort in the world, Goldeneye. Formerly owned by Ian Fleming (where he wrote most of the James Bond books) it is currently owned and operated by Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records. Goldeneye has a vibe unlike any other resort. You feel instantly at home and is laid back luxury at its finest. I honestly worry about including it in this story, as I don’t want to see it get overrun! But I can’t help myself. If you get the chance...go!!