Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship for The Winooski News
BURLINGTON — Williston native and pro skateboarder Chris “Cookie” Colbourn is known for landing hard tricks and executing smooth lines throughout Vermont’s skateparks. But outside of the park, he is building an art career that is just as daring.
Colbourn, 34, has been a professional skateboarder for almost seven years. He has competed in dozens of international skate competitions, landed multiple brand deals and has a loyal following on social media, where he posts videos of himself skateboarding.
The skateboarder is also a prolific artist, and has had his original art show in galleries across the country.
Colbourn first became interested in skateboarding because of his older brother, Ben “Cutter” Colbourn. He brought Colbourn to Talent — the state’s only indoor skatepark, in Burlington — for the first time when he was in seventh grade.
Hannah Deene Wood — one of the owners of Talent — first met Colbourn when he was in middle school.
“He was that little buddy out in the park,” Wood said. “I could watch him stand up at the top of a ramp and he would be doing the craziest lines that nobody else had ever thought of doing.”
Wood remembers watching Colbourn skate for hours, witnessing his progression from a little boy playing around to a professional skateboarder.
Colbourn got his nickname at Talent. An employee could not remember Colbourn’s name but recognized his resemblance to his older brother, Cutter. The employee started referring to Colbourn as “Cookie Cutter.” The nickname stuck.
By his teenage years, Colburn was working as a skate coach. He mentored young skaters and took on a brotherly role at Talent. Wood called it a “beautiful fit.”
Around this time, the Chill Foundation — a non-profit founded by the Burton Snowboards creators that aims to make youth board sports more accessible — started a skateboarding program at Talent.
Colbourn got involved, helping with skate lessons and offering his expertise to young skaters.
In 2008, the soft drink brand, Mountain Dew, reached out to Colbourn for a sponsorship — his first one.
After high school, Colbourn took a year of classes at Community College of Vermont, pursuing a degree in graphic design. He wanted to learn how to design art for skateboards.
Colbourn moved to California in 2011 with the goals of becoming a professional skateboarder. On the West Coast, he would be able to skateboard year-round.
Alongside his skateboarding, Colbourn continued to work as a graphic designer and participated in a number of art exhibits in both California and Vermont.
In 2017, Colbourn and his friend, Jordan Maxham, produced a collection of paintings for Mountain Dew. The collection showed up in a hotel in Coachella Valley, home of the famous music festival.
Around this time, the Chill Foundation asked Colbourn to help out with their new skate program in Los Angeles.
“I’ve just made a point to keep up with them every year and volunteer at skate programs,” Colbourn said. “Offering my expertise in sourcing proper boards and materials for the kids.”
Colbourn traveled across the world, competing in skate competitions and creating art, from 2013 to 2019. In 2019, he won Boardr’s — a national skateboarding event production company’s — skate competition in New York City.
After eight years in California, Element announced the Williston native as a new member to their professional roster.
While signed on to Element, Colbourn achieved his childhood goal of creating his own skate graphics.
Colbourn’s board features a collection of hand-drawn faces surrounding the Element logo. However, as the graphic starts to wear, it reveals a secret layer of cookies.
Back home in Vermont, Colbourn’s community was thrilled. After going pro, Talent Skatepark held an event for Colbourn, celebrating his new skateboard design with Element.
