Blue Tomato rider Vanessa Waldenhofer interview with QParks
Yes, there are pro-girls too!
She learned to freestyle on the Dachstein glacier and moved to Schladming to be right at the foot of the mountains. Now, the Austrian freestyle icon Vanessa Waldenhofer spends most of her free time with shredding. The pro-girl has already won several contests, works for the international snowboard shop Blue Tomato and has founded the “Kit-Girls”, the first real female snowboard crew of Austria. Due to her connection with the Dachstein we wanted to know what she likes especially about the Horsefeathers Superpark Dachstein, what’s the difficulty of girls’ riding and how she came to snowboarding. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Vanessa Waldenhofer…
Hey Vanessa, how are you?
Great, thanks! After the rainy weather in May I really enjoyed the first summer days and now I can’t wait till the summer season at the Horsefeathers Superpark Dachstein starts!
How did you get started in snowboarding?
I’m riding since 9 years now. My friend Lisa (Filzmoser) brought me to freestyle snowboarding as she already was in the middle of the snowboard happening and one day she dragged me on the Dachstein glacier. There „it“ all started and I couldn’t even do controlled swings, but was totally motivated to drop in switch at the small kicker. Back then there was only a small provisory park at the glacier, but nothing in comparison to the paradise that you now can find on the Dachstein! So the Dachstein is to blame for my passion, so to speak…
What’s your drive behind snowboarding?
The moves are so diverse, which allows your creativity run wild and to let slip in your personality into your motion-sequences. Snowboarding is as individual as the humans are: you see 10 people doing the same trick and they’ll always look different. That’s amazing!
Where do you see the differences between male and female riding?
Girls often act with more caution… I think it’s a pity that the female gender is not taken seriously by many people when they go for a snowboard career. Sure men and women differ in style and tricks at snowboarding, but wouldn’t it be strange if it wasn’t so?
Nevertheless, has the level of girls riding changed in the last years?
Definitely! Nowadays you find girls of all levels in the parks. Girl-crews shred the parks together rather than just hanging around in the chill-area like it was the picture some years ago. This really makes me happy! Also that some friends of mine who haven’t rode for very long are coming along in the park and we are having fun together there! I think that’s because of the various obstacles in the parks that allow to practice from the beginning on and try new tricks. The beginner park at the Dachstein and the small obstacles there are just perfect for doing the first steps! I can only admire the beginner girls of today because I can’t remember that there hardly were boxes when I started snowboarding!
What are you doing in summer when the snow has melted away?
Well, if it’s possible I go surfing, but as I’m also working in the online marketing for Blue Tomato temporarily it’s not always that easy. But this summer I’m off for 4 weeks to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Bali – that’s the way life should be!
Are you going to visit the Horsefeathers Superpark Dachstein regularly in summer?
Sure! It’s a must for me and to be honest, I’m waiting longingly for the summer-shred-time! It’s just great: sun, slush and good mood! It’s the perfect time for trying out new tricks as the landings of the kickers are soft! And after the sessions I go right to the lake!
How did you decide to move here?
The „Dachstein“ is unique, the park is always perfectly shaped and every season we find new obstacle highlights! The relaxed atmosphere in the park is another reason why people keep coming back to the Dachstein! As I’ve already mentioned, my snowboard beginnings are strongly connected to the Dachstein and so am I by now! So I finally moved to the small town Schladming at the foot of the Dachstein and it’s damn fine here!
Thinking back to the last season, what comes to your mind?
Perfect kicker- and rail lines and a very cozy chill-lounge to relax after riding. Only the weather wasn’t so over-the-top! But luckily this year it all rained out already in May and so this won’t happen again. 
What are your further plans?
I try to stay healthy and not getting injured.
Your last words…
Girls, head to the Dachstein and see how much fun we will have!!
The Interviews are published on: http://www.qparks.com/news/1/14225/3474/ & http://www.dachstein.horsefeatherssuperparks.com/news/1/12685/3474/
Blue Tomato Team, Snowboard Team
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blue tomato team, blue-tomato, dachstein, shred, snowboard, Summershred, teamrider, vanessa waldenhofer, www.blue-tomato.com
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