Dec 5, 2011
Author: Sara Owen. Photos courtesy of Roxy
Despite some contest announcers’ inability to do so, the correct pronunciation of Roxy rider Kjersti Ostgaard Buaas’s name is something you should know (Shers-tee Bu-ahz). Not only did Kjersti win a halfpipe bronze for Norway in the 2006 Torino Olypmics, but she’s also a solid slopestyle competitor with podiums from the Burton U.S., New Zealand and European Opens as well as World Cups and Dew Tours under her belt. Her air to fakie is one of the best in the business and is (arguably) more stylish than most of the male competitors’ in the game. As seen in the Roxy Refreshments webisodes, Kjersti is also a pow slayer and a rap star. She has been competing for more than a decade and is continually stepping up her skills, so watch out for her as the contest season gets underway over the next few weeks.
1. What are you most looking forward to this month? Snowboarding—just in general—because it’s been so long. Also, learning new tricks and grabs and finishing my Bachelor’s degree, which I have been working on for a long time now.
2. Do you sit down and make goals for yourself every season? I make goals, both for my snowboarding and for my life, but I’m not very consistent at writing them down. I want to get better at writing my goals down, as I think it’s easier to reach them if I do.
3. What do you remember about your first time on a snowboard? I remember falling on my knees a lot! My parents had rented boards for me and my sister and they took us to a local ski resort called Oppdal in Norway. I was so excited to try this new, exotic way of moving around on snow. I remember some homemade pants that I think my older sister had made in a sewing class, Black Fly goggles and a jacket that was way too big for me. After my first run I was in love, and after that I could not get enough!
4. When did you first realize you could be a snowboarder for a living? I can’t remember realizing that. I think I was just loving snowboarding so much that I was determined to keep riding and progressing no matter what. It was and still is my creative outlet, where I really feel connected to myself and what I am capable of in this world.
5. Who is the best female snowboarder of all time? Hmmm… This is a question that I don’t have a definite answer to, so I’m going to make up some of those celebrity combo names: What about Taroah Dabright? Or Jamijenna Andermayen? Or maybe Stivictor Brujalous?
 6. How do you get over a bad fall? I check what’s broken, get up (if possible) and start thinking about how I can find gratitude in the situation. When I can be grateful, I will be happy and hopefully get over the crash. Meditation also works to get rid of bugs from bad falls. If I slow down, zoom out and take it back to the basics, things seem easier to overcome.
7. What do you do to keep from burning out? I make sure I have fun, whatever it is that I do! I try to create and surround myself with playful and positive people. If things get unpredictable, it’s even better!
8. Which women (snowboarders or not) most inspire you? I get inspired by women that have good style in snowboarding and fashion and just in life. On a deeper level I get inspired from people who carry a light and playful energy and people that smile a lot. This is very contagious to me, so that’s something I seek a lot. Other things that inspire me are women who stand up and speak their heart, even when they know they are going to get judged hard. Women who participate in making this world a better place with green initiatives and non-toxic living have also been a huge inspiration to me the last two years.
9. What is your guiltiest pleasure? I love red wine and chocolate—antioxidants, right?!
10. An Olympic gold medal or Best Video part award, which would you prefer and why? Well, this answer would be different if you asked me five or 10 years ago, but today I would prefer best video part. Right now there are so many negative politics going on with the Olympics, I’m having doubts about the whole thing. I guess there is politics within filming a snowboarding part too, but at least it’s controlled by snowboarders and not ski federations.
11. What is the best thing about your home mountain? My home mountain is called Vassfjellet and if you translate it it means “Water mountain”.
12. What scares you? My own insanity. And sometimes planes.
13. Favourite on the road food? Homemade waffles or Wolfgang Puck at airports. Or good pasta with veggies. Or Mexican. Don’t panic, it’s going to be organic! Oatmeal is also a favourite, it fills you up and is easy to bring in the backpack.
14. One must-have item for snowboarding? My snowboard. Duh!
15. Who would you like to thank? My mum and dad because they have always inspired me to love activities and my sisters for being my best friends. I also want to thank my current sponsors: Roxy, Monster, MINI and Dnb Nor and everybody that has supported me up till now. The Norwegian national team has been and is still a big part of my snowboarding, so they deserve a big thanks as well. And last but not least I want to send a big Thanks to the One Life girls! They are amazing and inspiring humans!
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