Features

Rider of the Month

Silvia Mittermuller

Interview by Sarah Tollstrup

After a busy shred season, Silvia Mittermuller spent some off-slope time back home in Munich, river surfing, learning new tricks on her skateboard, and sampling steins of delicious German beer. Right now she’s coaching on the glacier in Whistler and getting ready to head to the Abominable Snow Jam at Mount Hood. Sara Tollestrup had the chance to chat with her in Whistler about her summer and plans for the future.

What has been the highlight of your month?
The highlight was probably surfing the river wave in Munich. It’s over 30 degrees in Germany right now, and after a long season, I finally had a few days at home. That was a highlight.

What is the worst thing that happened this month?
The worst thing is that I still feel my foot hurting from my crash at girl’s Superpark. I overshot a jump really bad and my ankle didn’t like it. I ride anyways right now but I take it easier than I normally would.

Who does your shred crew consist of these days?
Right now it’s the Isenseven guys, my home crew that I grew up riding with. Those guys are up here in Whistler right now to film for their video and I feel really lucky to be able to hang out and ride with them right now—I haven’t been with them for a long time.

What is something you’ve learned this month?
Nollie BS 180s on a skateboard. Little ones, but it made me very happy.

What is your favorite aspect of snowboarding?
The fact that you don’t need a coach or a national team to be good, happy, or successful in this sport.

Do you have some advice for the mini shreds out there?
Try to do as much switch stuff as possible. Learn all four 180s in a way you can do them in your sleep. Go switch on T-bar lifts. All those things will make you way more comfortable on your board. And don’t hit a jump when you’re moving too slow for it.

Aside from snowboarding what have you been up to?
Like I said before, I was in Germany for two weeks. I did some snowboard stuff over in Europe, but also enjoyed the beautiful German summer. I went surfing at the river wave and had a nice evening at a beer garden. Now that I’m over here in Whistler I’ve been coaching a week at Camp of Champions and riding the park up there for myself to prepare for the ASJ at Hood next week.

Which song is on repeat in your iPod right now?
Some Cansei de Ser Sexy songs and this Flat Pack “Sweet Child of Mine” remix. That will probably change again within the next seven days.

What is your favourite vacation spot?
Anywhere with ocean and lakes, weather over 30 degrees, and nice people. The only real vacations I have had in the last four years were to the Dominican Republic with a friend and last year to the Seychelles with my boyfriend. Both were awesome. I’d like to have more real vacations though.

If you could change something about the world what would it be?
Less small talk, more logic in everything. Less superciliousness, more love, more smiles. Less pollution. No wars. That would be a nice start.

If you could change something about snowboarding what would it be?
Less image, more riding. More doing tricks than talking about tricks. No waiting in lift lines. And I wished it were never cold. I don’t like the cold.

What do you want to accomplish next?
Figure out a plan for the next few months; find out how to make it possible to go to New Zealand and Australia. Maybe figure out a vacation, too.

Who in snowboarding has influenced you the most?
Probably all the Insenseven guys and Mike Casanova. Isenseven is what I grew up in snowboarding with, and Nova is one of the most inspirational riders in this universe.

Why is snowboarding not just a hobby for you?
I do it way too much for it to be a hobby and I also make a living from it. I guess that’s where it turns into a profession?

Thanks?
Thanks to my sponsors: Oakley, Vans, Santa Cruz, Elm, SP and Grenade. Also thanks to Camp of Champions for letting me ride their awesome park right now. And of course to friends and family for being there.