1st 3* at Freeride World Qualifier Silvretta Montafon/ AUT
ABOUT ME
I was born and raised in the Ore-mountains in Germany which is the reason for many questions like “So, how the hell did you get into skiing?”. I´d be lying if I told you that the mountains we ski at home are like the Alps, but it is still “home” and they are cute little mountains that are great if you grow up racing. My first time on skis was at the age of two. My parents strapped skis to my feet and just pushed me down the hill. By the age of 16 I was racing. As time went by, crashing gates gradually became less important, and even became tiring and boring to me. A few years later I found myself skiing in the backcountry - that is what my heart beats for!
I did get my Masters degree, but I haven´t had the urge to pursue a big career. I´m mostly focused on being on skis as much as possible.
What MOMENT do you ski for?
I´m chasing the feeling of pure happiness. The stoke. The smile that you just can´t stop. All that matters in this moment is you, the mountain and the friends who are just as passionate and excited as you are.
How do you conquer difficult situations?
I always try to keep my mind clear and to anticipate what might be the outcome. I´ll look at the pros and cons in connection with the surrounding factors and my skillset. It all comes down to whether it´s worth the risk or not. If it is and it does look possible, I’d much rather go for it and fight, than quit or bail. What sacrifices have you had to make to get to where you are today and were they worth it? I guess I´ve made a couple of sacrifices BUT they don´t really feel like sacrifices because skiing simply makes me happier than anything else right now. This might slightly shift as I grow older (but maybe not! ?) Since skiing plays such a big role in my life there´s not that much time and energy left for other stuff. I should probably socialize a little more, get married and make 12 kids sometime soon - haha!
How does your mindset (or attitude) influence your performance?
Oh, the headgame is crucial. As soon as you´re only a little bit distracted or not fully into it you´ll most likely not succeed. I need to be 100% on it and most importantly be confident. Things can for sure and should from time to time scare you a little, because that´s how you get stronger, right?! BUT it shouldn´t feel out of your league. That´s not healthy in the long-run.
What do you do when you aren’t skiing?
I usually jump in my van and go somewhere beautiful. I like to keep it simple - hike, climb, fish, hang out with friends around a campfire. I pretty much like everything that happens in the outdoors.
What strategy do you use to overcome pressure and stress for optimum performance?
That´s definitely something I´m working on. I put quite a lot of pressure on myself and easily get stressed out. That´s one reason why I stopped competing. I always did well in training but almost never skied to my potential in a comp. Well, at least I know where my weaknesses lay!