How did you get into snowboarding?
I started skiing at the age of two through my family. We were always lucky enough to go skiing around Christmas and during school holidays, so I spent a lot of time in the snow as a child. I had a deal with my parents that I had to be good at skiing before I could start snowboarding. As I wanted to snowboard right from the start, I was very motivated to get as good as possible at skiing as quickly as possible so that I could switch from two boards to one. Together with my siblings, I bought my first ski pass at the age of 12 and that's when snowboarding really took off.
How did the transition to professional snowboarding go?
The transition was very smooth, it was never my dream to become a professional snowboarder, one thing led to another and I was in the right place at the right time. I was snowboarding a lot in Laax, where I was involved in a Laax film, which is how I met Nicolas Müller. Nicolas brought me to Absinthe Films and that was actually the leap into the professional world. We filmed together for Absinthe and soon we had our own project with friends: it was a dream come true!
You live in Zurich, what inspires you about the city?
I grew up 10 minutes away from Zurich and all my friends live here too. The city is very central in the mountains and no matter where it snows, the journey doesn't take too long. Zurich offers a good starting point for snowboarding and at the same time the city offers a good break from the snowboarding world. As I'm actually out and about in the snowboarding world 24/7, I really enjoy the inspiration from the city and from friends. The balance between mountain and city is very important to me.
Your film Chroma is also about the balance between city and mountain, what do you want to convey with the film?
Exactly, Chroma is about precisely this topic. But we don't want to define what the message of Chroma is, the film is intended to be a thought-provoking piece and invite free interpretation. I always like to return the question about the message, as there are so many different views about the film! Chroma was a very special project that I had in mind with friends for a long time.
Will there be a new film project this season?
This season Arc'teryx has given me the opportunity to make a new film project and this time I want to do something completely different from Chroma. At the moment everything is still in the making and there is no fixed plan. I find this process super exciting and important so that we can give free rein to our creativity. So the output is still open, we're really looking forward to seeing the film on the big screen in autumn on the Arc'teryx film tour.
What are your favourite areas for snowboarding?
I have several favourite areas, but I also find it super exciting to get to know and explore new resorts and discover something new every time! But Airolo in Ticino is definitely one of my favourites.
Which resort or terrain has been the most extraordinary for snowboarding for you so far?
The most extraordinary place to snowboard so far has been Alaska. Five years ago, we travelled to Alaska with Absinthe and that was always my dream! We found the perfect terrain in the middle of nowhere. As we are currently planning a trip to Alaska, I'm really looking forward to it again! As the snow was so good in the Alps this season, Alaska will also be the first overseas trip of the season. My crew and I have stayed in the Alps due to the snow conditions and have also started our new project here.
