Jerimiah James Pebley: An Unsung Hero Of Snowboarding

Jeremiah James Pebley Photo Courtesy of SPT

When I heard about the tragic death of one of my best friends, Jerimiah James Pebley, I was spending time on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It’s a very spiritual place which somehow gave me some comfort in a very difficult time and the strength I needed to write this. Most of Jerimiah’s friends knew him as “Miah” and as a person who had a larger than life personality, a priceless sense of humor and as someone who was just a good human being. He grew up in Big Bear and one of his best friends during those years was Janna Meyen Weatherby. “Miah was always there for me when I needed support,” says Janna. “It makes me smile when I think of how he’d tell stories of us growing up in Big Bear and terrorizing the neighborhood. I heard them all more than once but that’s a special bond you share with those who you grow up with and go through life together with.”

Miah was one of those people out there who have made significant contributions to the snowboard world without a lot of recognition for it⎯an unsung hero of our industry, if you will. I first met Miah the year that Snow Summit bought Bear Mountain and the two SoCal resorts merged. I was on the Bear side working in marketing and he was on the Summit side working in terrain park development. Despite each coming from the “other side,” we immediately hit it off and became really solid friends. He was an instrumental part of the development of the first-ever all-mountain terrain park. He began his career under the tutelage of Chris “Gunny” Gunnarson. “Miah started working for me when he was 16-years-old at Snow Summit,” says Gunny. “From there, we traveled the world working on all kinds of adventures in the snow. I remember how he always brought his New Era cap carrying case so his lids would stay clean and perfectly shaped.” Miah was a bit neurotic by nature but it was in a way that made people smile and laugh and a trait that truly helped him build his career as he would strive for perfection in his work. He was always willing to go the extra mile to get it done right even if it meant multiple all-nighters in his snowcat.

After a couple of years building some of the best parks in the world at Bear Mountain, Miah picked up and moved to Truckee where he, once again, began working directly under Gunny⎯this time as a part of Snow Park Technologies (SPT). “It’s kind of remarkable how far his reach extended in the snowboard world,” says Gunny. “Snow Summit in the early park days, Bear Mountain and SPT as well as building courses for events such as the X Games and US Opens and working with several resorts across the country and the world. He had a natural ability to make personal connections with people everywhere he went. He eventually became my right hand man at SPT and one of my tightest friends.” Miah was also, in part, responsible for countless unique park builds for some of the most infamous film and photo shoots in the history of snowboarding including work with Mack Dawg, Wildcats, Forum, Burton, Nixon, DC and dozens of others. Most recently, Miah had returned home to Big Bear to spend more time with his family and he took up building the terrain parks and special event setups for Mountain High Resort.

Miah has always wanted to go to Hawaii but never made it. So after a day of remembering him, I decided that it seemed only fitting to head to the western most part of the island of Kauai, and the literal end of the road, to a place known as Polihale. According to ancient Hawaiian mythology, Polihale is the gateway to the afterworld. I did a solo paddle out into the warm, aqua-blue tropical water and put a ring of flowers, known as a lei, out to sea in his honor. As the lei drift out into the Pacific, I couldn’t help but think of Miah’s mischievous grin, his life, his contributions and the people he left behind⎯his parents, Jim and Penny, brother, Rob, sister, Julie and more friends who deeply care for him than he could have ever possibly realized. “I know you are in heaven now telling stories of the life you lived with your friends,” says Janna. “I can hear the angels laughing. Nothing but love my brother. Until we meet again…” Rest in peace Miah. We all miss you. You will live on in our hearts and on our minds.
-Brad Farmer

Memorial Information:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124263417598052

Memorial Fund:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jerimiah-Pebley-Memorial-Fund/125811070770468

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Comments

speed.
05/24/10 - 2:44 pm

clindindindin
YoBeat: Making Fun of Snowboarding Since 1997 » News » R.I.P. Miah
05/24/10 - 5:21 pm

[...] Snowboarder Mag just informed us of some sad news, Jerimiah James Pebley, better known as Miah, passed away. For years Miah was a fixture at snowboard events as part of Snow Park technologies, which is how our paths crossed way back when. He was always down to share a hotel room or drink a beer, and he will certainly be missed by all who were lucky enough to know him. Brad Farmer wrote a touching memorial for Miah on the Snowboarder mag site, including quotes from people who knew him best. Most of Jerimiah’s friends knew him as “Miah” and as a person who had a larger than life personality, a priceless sense of humor and as someone who was just a good human being. He grew up in Big Bear and one of his best friends during those years was Janna Meyen Weatherby. “Miah was always there for me when I needed support,” says Janna. “It makes me smile when I think of how he’d tell stories of us growing up in Big Bear and terrorizing the neighborhood. I heard them all more than once but that’s a special bond you share with those who you grow up with and go through life together with.” [...]
Mikey
05/24/10 - 9:38 pm

I worked with Miah over the past year at Mt High. Sucks to lose a guy like him. He will be missed.
See you guys at the Memorial.
RIP Good Friend
05/24/10 - 11:19 pm

Thanks Brad! Miah truly was a “larger than life person”. It’s amazing how many lives he touched over the years. No matter how busy he was or what was going on, he always took the time to keep in touch and make you feel important. That showed in his work and friendship.
Tweets that mention Jerimiah James Pebley: An Unsung Hero Of Snowboarding | Snowboarder Magazine -- Topsy.com
05/25/10 - 12:24 am

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Snowboardermag, Tim Besecker. Tim Besecker said: Jerimiah James Pebley: An Unsung Hero Of Snowboarding http://bit.ly/cANC9S #snowboarding [...]
anon
05/25/10 - 1:32 am

So… uh, WTF happened to him?
anon
05/25/10 - 10:40 am

So WTF happened to him? I can’t find the news anywhere. Is it a secret?
Jerimiah Pebley | The People Crew
05/25/10 - 12:59 pm

[...] about him. Below is a few excerpts written by his good friend Brad Farmer from an online story on Snowboarder Magazines website earlier this week. Most of Jerimiah’s friends knew him as “Miah” and as a person who [...]
Zak
05/27/10 - 9:25 am

Thanks for posting this, Such a bummer to hear though. best memory with mia, I took my first run at vans cup like 4 years ago and I get back up to the top and he looks at me and all he says is “you need to learn how to jump” Thanks for the tip Mia and I’m going to miss playing golf with you this summer. RIP
KLo
05/27/10 - 7:08 pm

Much love and respect to someone I didn’t know for very long but made a huge impact on my life thanks for the memories and the times in the cat this season. RIP
This Week in Snowboarding
05/28/10 - 5:40 am

[...] on the internet.MONDAYThe TTR announces the World Snowboard Championships. A rad girl and a rad dude passed away. Marco Smolla rocks Lederhosen. Dave Seoane has grown a massive beard. This winter, [...]
Mike McEntire
06/5/10 - 8:05 am

Miah thanks for being such a great friend and helping to make so many dreams come true. You made the features that people dream up come true and made our movies reach the next level. Much love to you brother.
RIP Jeremiah,
Mike McEntire
MDP