Back in February 2022, the most adorable snowboarding clip ever hit the internet. It was follow-cam footage of a young rider dressed in a dinosaur costume, mic’d up and having the cutest conversation with herself as she rode down a powdery tree run. Affectionately nicknamed Powdersaurus, Aubrin Sage, we learned, was the star of the show, and her father, Robert, was the man behind the camera capturing it all. Some 100 million views later, @chasing.sage has become Insta famous, and Aubrin, her dad, mom Samantha, and younger brother Torin, continue to post amazing snowboarding content (plus biking, skating, and other outdoor footage) to their channels, which are followed by 1.5 million fans.
I was fortunate to have a conversation with Robert as his kids played out front of their home riding skateboards down the driveway. We spoke about parenthood and snowboarding. Robert is one of those devoted Rad Dads who never seem to stop providing for their families while also finding time to make turns of their own, whether that’s on a snowboard, mountain bike, hiking trail, or skateboard.
Traveling to resorts, shooting terabytes of raw footage, editing together hours of content, and posting it all to the family’s social media is a full-time job on its own, but somehow Robert manages all that while handling the family’s tiny-home rental and his career as an architect. It’s a balancing act, but he and Samantha are blazing a path for their kids and ingraining a love of the outdoors while documenting those special days while their children are still young.
Who came up with the Powdersaurus nickname?
Aubrin Sage had just fallen, and in an effort to provide a positive distraction while she was working to get back up, I asked, “What kind of dinosaur are you?” thinking she’d respond with one of her favorite dinosaurs at the time, like the Spinosaurus or the Ankylosaurus, but she quipped back, “Powdersaurus!” Then, after having difficulty getting back up on her board, she said in defeat, “I’m a Stuckasaurus…,” which sent the world rolling in laughter and kicked off this wild ride we’re on.
Aubrin seems to love riding in really fun outfits like the dinosaur and the fairy wings. Are those her idea?
What she wears is always her choice. We’ve sought to cultivate independence and autonomy from a very young age, and allowing them control over such a simple thing is a great way to do that while also encouraging self-expression. Having a fun snowsuit can definitely help a child be more excited about heading outside in winter, and I’m all for anything that helps kids get outside and be happy.
I think it really started the winter when she was three years old. We had made these huge butterfly wings for her Halloween costume, and one day she asked if she could take them snowboarding. We said, “Sure, we can try that,” and she lit up with surprise. You could tell she was thinking something along the lines of: “Wait, that’s…allowed?”
How do you manage to get so much great stuff on camera?
I try to anticipate. I have a camera on my shoulder strap that I can pull out on the fly to capture the moment without forcing anything or staging it.
That must be a ton of work on your end.
The line we draw is that nobody is going to be more critical about how we do our content, how we’re living our lives, and how we’re parenting than I am. I think about it every day. I make sure we’re doing our best in an ethical and fair way, especially for our kids. They will never feel any pressure. I feel the pressure 100 percent, but they never will. I refuse to make them feel like we need to get one more shot or they have to perform in front of the camera. I try and stay humble and appreciative of the opportunity.
Did Aubrin pick up snowboarding easily?
I remember the moment things clicked for Aubrin. It was a night session at Whitepass, Washington, and it was so cold, maybe four degrees, pure ice. We had lights on her board, but Aubrin wanted to ride on what I considered the worst conditions imaginable. She rode better than ever, linking toe and heel turns all the way down the mountain.
Kids all have that breakthrough at some point, and who knows when it might come. We started our kids at 18 months old, because we wanted to show them the beauty, fun, and magic that’s outside. Aubrin was almost five years old before she started S-turning—heel, toe, heel, toe—despite starting at 18 months.
Did you ever think your snowboarding content would grow so big?
Certainly not, but it does add a sort of validation to my decades-old passion for visual storytelling. It’s wild to discover that simply doing what you love can capture the attention of so many people, but then again, it’s easy to see why a wholesome video is a breath of fresh air at a time when algorithms are driven by argumentative engagement and doomsday stories.
I don’t think we fit the traditional notion of influencer. We’re kind of unique in that we stumbled into this opportunity doing what we love rather than seeking out popularity by making content we thought others would like. We don’t rely financially on creating content—any income from it is simply a bonus for our children’s future—so we have full autonomy and zero pressure on every decision pertaining to how we navigate social media, which has allowed us to be very intentional every step of the way and stick firmly to the boundaries we set for our family.
What’s been the most rewarding part of that journey?
Many people don’t understand why we put all the effort into taking our kids snowboarding at such a young age, but we have a secret: It’s not really about the snowboarding. It’s about being out here together, building trust and connection in nature’s classroom. Some of my most cherished moments have been sitting in the snow or on a chairlift connecting deeply with our kids, and our snowboards have been the vehicle and the excuse that instigated and enabled those moments. Snowboarding is about so much more than sliding on snow, and I am forever grateful for its continued positive effects on my life.
Do you have a final comment or message for families inspired by your content?
It doesn’t happen overnight. Everything from teaching a child to snowboard to finding your groove as parents takes time, commitment, and an immense amount of effort. Have a goal or a vision and start moving toward it, one intentional step at a time. You will get there.
Falling is not failing. It’s simply part of the process to get where you want to be.
The act of snowboarding, and all ambitious activities, is secondary to the basic needs of young children. If you want to have success introducing a child to snowboarding, you must fulfill their basic needs first. Naps, snacks, and thermal comfort can’t be sacrificed if you want to have a positive outing. When in doubt, keep it short and fun and head home on a good note rather than pushing it too long and leaving mid-meltdown. The goal, and ultimate sign of success, is to have them ask to come back to snowboard again. That’s a sign that you have truly cultivated a self-driven passion for snowboarding within the child rather than simply foisting your interests onto them.