We had a little interview with our Teamrider Halldór Helgason about the X Games and snowboarding in general… Enough of the preface. Here it is:
Portrait by Johannes Brenning
Blue Tomato: Hi Halldór! You and your brother Eiki have only been Blue Tomato team riders for a few months, but you both have already made some big sensations during that time. TWS and Snowboarder Magazine Rookie of the Year and now the X Games Gold medal – Congratulations! We are really proud having you in our team!!
How was it at the TWS Riders Poll Awards? Big party after Eiki and you both got an award? Or did the party started even before price giving?
Halldór Helgason: (laughing) Too bad I couldn’t be there. I had Big Air at X Games the next day so I was just chilling in Aspen, but Eiki sent it for both me and him (laughing).
Do the riders know who will win before the winners are announced on stage?
Yeah, because they have to know if we can be there or not, if not you have to make a video of your speech.
Which of the nominated Rookies would have won if it was your decision (Jed Anderson, Ben Bilocq, Seb Toots, yourself)?
Jed Anderson, I think his riding is cool because it’s so different
Did you plan on getting a medal when traveling to Aspen or was it just for fun at first?
Of course I didn’t plan on getting a medal, and I didn’t think that was ever going to happen. But somehow it worked out (laughing). So I’m stoked!
After your two perfect runs it was clear that you were going to win the Big Air but you kept on shredding as hard as before. Was it just as much about having fun as it was about competing?
I don’t take contests seriously at all. I look at contests as a good opportunity to learn new tricks, and get better at jumping.
Double-cork fs10 and double-cork bs12, pulled down perfectly… What is going to come next after the double-corks? How do you think snowboarding will develop in the future?
Don’t really know, I don’t think about the future too much. Just live at the moment!
The average snowboarder is never going to experience an event like the X Games. At least not as a rider… What is it like behind the scenes? Is the atmosphere more chilled or competitive? Did you party a lot? Let us know your personal impressions of the X Games.
The X Games was the coolest contest I have ever been at, the riders lounge was full with good food, drinks and sick sofas. All the riders were super mellow and not competitive at all, so it was good.
There is a really huge media output at the X Games – it’s completely different to European snowboard contests. Have you already noticed any differences while walking down the streets? Like people asking for autographs when they see you…
Ahh… A little bit, it’s been crazy with interviews after X Games. But it’s only been good and I’ve gotten a lot of new Facebook friends (laughing).
Do you think all the attention that snowboarding gets, especially shortly before the Olympic Games, is good for the sport? Or would you like to keep snowboarding a little bit more “core”?
I don’t care about the Olympics at all, just because I think it’s too serious for the sport. But I don’t really mind it either, if that’s what some people want to do then do that. I’m just more focused on shredding, filming and having as much fun as I can.
I saw your „helgasons.com-moustache“… Great marketing idea! Did you write that by yourself or did somebody prank you?
I made my DC team manager do it. That was probably the best idea we have done for the blog so far. Was Eikis idea!
Last but not least: Let us know, what’s coming up next? What’s your plan for the rest of the season, besides doing some more Helgason Hills Episodes and finding the perfect date?!
(Laughing) What’s next for me is filming as much as I can with Standard Films and the Pirates. I’m pretty stoked that the contest season for me is over! Now it’s just chilling and doing exactly what I want.
Thanks for taking the time. Have a good rest of the season!
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Demnächst sind wir dort sicherer unterwegs, dank ABS-Rucksäcke,juhu. Tobi wurde bei der Junior Open Rail Jam in Laax 2ter. Max wollte an den GromsOpen in Mayrhofen teilnehmen.Aber wegen den überraschend vielen Neuschnee- mengen wurde dies eine lustige Railsession.Den Rest des Tages steckte Max brusttief im Powder. Zu Hause auf der Zugspitze erlebten wir unglaubliche Wächten,Tiefschnee bis zur Hüfte und den Bau von Powderkickern.
Zusammen haben wir uns mit einem Freund zusammen für Wängl Tängl angemeldet und haben auch eine Facebook Seite erstellt: “BoarderBoys”. Dort könnt ihr auch unser Video checken!
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