AS SEEN IN THE DECEMBER 2011 ISSUE OF FREESKIER.

INTERVIEW BY LEAH FIELDING.
PHOTO BY NATE ABBOTT.

AGE: 20
AFP OVERALL WORLD RANKING: 3RD
AFP MEN’S SLOPESTYLE RANKING: 1ST
AFP MEN’S BIG AIR RANKING: 3RD

THERE WERE A LOT OF EXPECTATIONS FOR YOU GOING INTO LAST SEASON. DID IT TURN OUT THE WAY YOU WERE HOPING? The season was awesome. There were a lot of ups and downs but overall it was pretty amazing.

WHAT HELPED YOU ACHIEVE ANOTHER OVERALL SLOPESTYLE WIN? I just had fun. When I’m having fun is when I ski my best. Mixing in the filming was a good release from all the pressure of contests. I also had an awesome crew of people with me throughout the season.

WHAT PARTICULAR TRICK THAT YOU THREW LAST SEASON GAVE YOU AN EDGE? I think it was the right-side double variations. Either the switch right dub nine or the forward right double cork 10 and 12. Everyone was coming out with unnatural doubles this year, upping the ante considerably from the previous year.

WHAT NEW TRICKS ARE YOU WORKING ON? Just trying to make the tricks I have smoother and diversifying the grabs.

WHICH COMPETITORS DO YOU LOOK UP TO? Tom Wallisch, for sure. he has such a diverse bag of tricks with flawless style. he's super fun to shred with.

WHICH COMPETITORS DO YOU ENjOY SKIING AGAINST OR WITH? My good friend Gus Kenworthy. He is always fun to ski with ’cause he will just pull something crazy out of nowhere.

WHAT WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE TOUR STOP? Killington Dew Tour. I was in last place going into my second run in finals. And, oh yeah, I was last to drop. I took a spill in practice the day before, and my hip was killing me. Somehow I made it to the bottom with the run I wanted and ended up winning the contest. It was fun being on the podium with my good friend Elias Ahmbühl.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SLOPESTYLE LINE ON THE TOUR? X Games. It’s big, tight and gnarly. You have to be on point to make it to the bottom of that course.

WHAT WAS YOUR BEST MOMENT OF THE SEASON? WSI. It was my contest of the year, and I went in super-relaxed. I ended up winning slope and big air. My dad was there. It was awesome to share that experience with him.

WHAT SEQUENCE OR TRICK STANDS OUT IN YOUR MIND AS NOTEWORTHY LAST SEASON? Sammy C’s X Games run. It was incredibly technical and so smooth. He’s really fun to watch ski.

INTERVIEWS: KEVIN ROLLAND | ELIAS AMBÜHL | GUS KENWORTHY

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