Snowboarder Andy Finch and other athletes are working with Alli in the run-up to the first Winter Dew Tour to ensure it goes off right from the start. Finch has had an epic couple of years, winning big contests all over the world in places like Davos, Switzerland and Jindabyne, Australia.

Allisports.com caught up with Finch to find out why he’s fired up about the new contest tour and why he’s just generally loving life.

Allisports.com: For a lot of riders there seems to be a tension between balancing out the competitive side with freeriding and filming and just snowboarding for the sake of progression, but you’re a guy who always seems stoked to be competing. What do you love about contests?

Andy Finch: I enjoy watching the competitive side of it, seeing the mindset of the guys, how they approach it, how much practice they take. When it comes down to a competition on this level, it’s all mental. All of the guys are really good, but you watch the more experienced guys pull through in the end and the younger guys sort of buckle, but everyone gets fired up on it and anything can happen. The best of the best can fall, and somebody new can come in out of nowhere with something big they’ve been working on and change the game. I love seeing that part of the competition.

What’s the vibe among pro snowboarders about the new Winter Dew Tour?

Andy Finch: Everybody’s pretty fired up about it. We’ve all seen how successful the Dew Tour has been as far as the summer goes, and I personally think there’s room for a good new tour in the winter. There are a few other contest tours going already, but frankly I have a couple in mind that have needed to step it up for too long and just haven’t. I think the Dew Tour’s going to slide right in and take over.

What would you like to see from a new tour to have it fill those gaps?

Andy Finch: Where the Dew Tour’s stepping it up is they’re upping the prize money, they’re coming in with open ears to make it what the athletes want and making sure the athletes are number one, and then just bringing in tremendous exposure for it. Alli and NBC Sports have the knowledge to run a good contest and portray it on TV, and then MTV has the capability to reach the younger people. With the two teaming up, it’s going to really make this tour blow up and get what’s happening in snowboarding out to a much bigger audience.

What have you been up to since last season?

Andy Finch: I’m neck deep in remodel projects on the house, stacking stones and pouring cement. I feel like a little kid again, playing with Lincoln Logs. Mostly I’ve just been enjoying summer. I got a couple weeks of surfing in down in El Salvador, and I’m heading to Argentina to film some snowboarding with Nations Foundation.

What are you looking forward to this season, other than the Winter Dew Tour?

Andy Finch: I’m looking forward to traveling and riding as much as I can. As far as the winter goes I’m going to be on the road a lot doing all the Dew Tour and TTR events, filming with Nations Foundation, competing as much as possible, trying to keep my body healthy, going hard.

You’re well known for your positive attitude, and it’s been important to you to inspire younger people and try to be a role model. What inspires you?

Andy Finch: I’m just so stoked on my life, you know? Making it as a snowboarder was a childhood dream, and it was that dream that got me here. I’m chasing it with everything I have. No matter what people told me, it went in one ear and out the other because I already knew what I was going to do and I had my heart set on it. I think it’s something God instilled in me at a young age, you know? Like, “This is your gift, so go out and do it, and give back in any way you can.” I’m enjoying every second of it, and I’m very grateful for everything I do. I’m very grateful for God watching over me. Some of the things we do are definitely on the risky side, and I feel blessed to be able to do them.