SKYLOTEC Sports Freeride Athletes' Team

Why does SKYLOTEC support freeriders? It's very simple. Freeriding as a sport has become more and more extreme during the past years; the conditions have fundamentally changed. During many descents, you don't just have to stand securely on the skis, but prove your mettle when climbing. SKYLOTEC would like to provide more safety here.

To give our freeriding team an opportunity to present itself, we created a questionnaire. And here are the answers.

Johannes Hoffmann on Tour.



Johannes Hoffmann in Action.



Thats it!

Johannes Hoffmann

Date and place of birth: 28.07.1987 Rum
Residence: Innsbruck
Freerider for: Approximately. 7 Jahren
My highlights: Several first ascents in the Austrian Alps, 2009. Traversing seven partly active volcanoes in Chile
Additional sponsors: Daleboot, Adidas Eyewear, Wintex

Sponsored by SKYLOTE. How did it start?

I accidentally happened upon Mountain Wave Ski from Markus “BamBam” Steinke in the Internet. I was so taken in by the design, the dimensions, and the history behind the skiers that I sent him an email right away and he immediately referred me to SKYLOTEC.

What does it mean to you?

Always having a partner at your side that you can depend on when it comes down to it. Whether it’s the deepest powder; the widest ski; the edge with the most grip in a steep, icy coulier; or the right safety equipment in an exposed climbing passage.

How did you get started with freeriding? What is the most fun for you about freeriding?

I used to do a little snowboarding, and a little skiing now and then on the slopes, but over time, it got too boring for me. Then I got the Ski Movie 1 from a friend and after that, I wanted to do it too. Shortly after that, I got my first freeride ski, which was, at the time, super wide (84 mm). When I freeride, I get the most fun from the total freedom and the high amount of variety; no line is like the next.

What is your greatest/highest goal when freeriding?

The goal is to freeride as much as possible and always to have a lot of fun doing it, and to enjoy it.

What do you consider the challenges in this sport?

The challenge is in finding your limits and then pushing these further to get better when you’re doing it.

Danger/risk—a decisive situation? How do you personally deal with it?

I always talk about my actions with my friends on the mountain and when one of us has a bad feeling, then we just turn around. No line is worth a life!

The danger of avalanches—a hotly discussed topic. Which precautions do you take?

An avalanche transceiver, spade and probe are always along with me! On a couple of days in the wintertime, I practice searching with the avalanche transceiver and I only go riding or skiing with people that I am sure know how to use these devices in an emergency and that I can depend on.

Favorite freeriding areas/regions—what are your favorites?

Five minutes away from my home, Seegrube Innsbruck (Austria).

Which tips and tricks do you have for those new to freeriding?

Go out and freeride a lot and always have a lot of fun doing it.

Freeriding in winter. What else do you do in your free time, especially in summer?

Inline skating, climbing, swimming, football/soccer, traveling and working on my go-cart

Protecting nature—a critical topic for freeriding? How do you see it?

I am definitely into protecting nature. I can’t stand trash on the mountain! Leave the mountain as you found it! However, I am not of the same opinion as many environmental protectors that nature is destroyed when a forest is skied through.

Bernd Krainbuchner in Action.

Bernd Krainbuchner

Date and place of birth: 12.04.1982 Friesach/Ktn.
Residence: die wunderschöne Steiermark
Freerider for: 25 years
My highlights: Trips to New Zealand, Canada, Alaska, Norway and all over the European Alps
Additional sponsors: Northland

Sponsored by SKYLOTEC. How did it start?

I was a Mountain Waver right from the start and was chosen by SKYLOTEC in a draft, which was a great thing.

What does it mean to you?

Shredding on the planks that we test, develop, and build for this together. Logically, it is simply excellent to put the skis you helped develop through their paces and so to make the best skis on earth available to the rest of the world. Not surprisingly, I also use all the other mountain sports products from SKYLOTEC to be able to move through the mountains outfitted the best possible way in summer as well.

How did you get started with freeriding? What is the most fun for you about freeriding?

Even 25 years ago, we definitely preferred to be on the trails through the glades and the “off-piste passages” in the famous Oberbergalm rather than on the slalom course on the groomed slopes. Not a lot has changed in the past quarter-century and therefore, from a purely ideological standpoint, we are still there where we have been for a long time. Where the fun is concerned, it is really hard to put it into words. It is, simply said, the best thing on the planet, and with the further developed materials, a lot of brand new opportunities open up.

What is your greatest/highest goal when freeriding?

Fun for me and for everyone doing the same!

What do you consider the challenges in this sport?

I am not so much of the opinion that everything always has to represent a challenge. With the right material and the right instructors, it is possible for every average skier to experience an unbelievable day in the backcountry. The challenge depends on the respective ability. For me personally, the biggest challenge is not to overdo it and to survive every season more or less undamaged….

Danger/risk—a decisive situation? How do you personally deal with it?

You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs. Freeriding is the same way. Of course, if I were to, say, play chess or checkers, I would not be as exposed to the Alpine dangers nearly as much as with freeriding; but in return, the experience on the face is exponentially higher … Personally, despite powder blindness that comes up frequently, I try to make my decisions in the backcountry according to certain schemes to indulge in the most beautiful things in the world as safely as possible.

The danger of avalanches—a hotly discussed topic. Which precautions do you take?

There are more and more sides and opinions about this topic. My opinion is quite clear: That as long as no other person is endangered, each person ought to be responsible him- or herself for his or her own decisions. Too many rules here tend to hurt more than they help. When it comes to freeriding, I try to get an idea of the make-up of the snow surface using ski cuts and/or short snow profiles and tests, to get a basis for a decision for continuing on.

Freedom—what does that mean for you in connection with freeriding?

Freeriding is pure freedom with a few rules to be observed—which only serve one’s own health and sometimes that of the general public too!

Favorite freeriding areas/regions—what are your favorites?

Actually, there aren’t any, because with the right conditions, just about everywhere, it can be epic. Nevertheless, of course I have to highlight Obertauern—first of all, because I know my way around there like nowhere else and second, because the area is simply a dream. Of course, it’s also beautiful in Alaska—only there, my wallet (budget) has to play along.

Which tips and tricks do you have for those new to freeriding?

Take a guide for a week and let yourself really get into the subject. With everything that goes along with it.

Freeriding in winter. What else do you do in your free time, especially in summer?

In summer, too, I’ve headed to the southern hemisphere a couple of times to get the skis out for a ride, for example, in New Zealand. Of course, I also love the European summer with climbing, mountain biking, and the rest of the infamous actions that you get around to doing.

Protecting nature—a critical topic for freeriding? How do you see it?

I don’t see it as a critical topic in freeriding. As long as everyone follows the few rules that there are and then behaves accordingly, there shouldn’t be any big problems with regard to protecting nature. Of course, the urge of many lift companies for more development should be looked at critically. Here—this is my view—we are at the limit of what can be accepted and should be satisfied with the possibilities given to us at the moment. After all, there are touring skis from Mountain Wave and SKYLOTEC with which you can enjoy the mountains fully stress-free and in an environmentally friendly way.

Many operators of ski areas are reacting to the increasing interest in freeriding with special slopes that are controlled but not groomed. What do you think of this development?

I don’t really have an opinion on it. Like I just mentioned, the word “free” is in “freeriding.” That means it is up to each person to do what he or she wants in the backcountry as long as the obvious things are paid attention to and no one else is endangered. And for absolute beginners, there are numerous opportunities for instruction or to get a guide.

What experiences have you had with this?

I can only ask everyone to take to heart that they should get instruction or put themselves into the hands of a professional. Because as I said, the most insignificant matter in the world is wonderfully gorgeous when, after a sensational day in the snow, I can also enjoy my brewski. In this spirit—CU out there!

Michael Bauer - Photographer:
Klaus Polzer

Michael Bauer

Date and place of birth: 16 Dec 1981 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Residence: Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Freerider since: I was a little tyke…
My highlights: Being happy in the mountains…

Danger/risk—a decisive situation? How do you personally handle it?

Of course, we accept a certain risk for ourselves to be able to do this sport. However, I try to sensibly weigh things, size up the conditions right, and resist the temptation again and again.

Freedom—what does that mean for you in connection with climbing?

In the mountains, I can be free, let my creative juices flow, and have fun. The mountains can give us so much and you can recharge your batteries and free your head. How you do it actually doesn't matter, whether by climbing, mountaineering, or just freeriding.

What are your favourite freeriding areas?

Here, I have to of course mention Wettenstein and Karwendel, as a person living in Partenkirchen. There are good opportunities if you know the region. But as a proper skiing region, that's hard. In good snow, it's super everywhere and I am happy to be traveling around in Austria, Switzerland, or sometimes Chamonix.

 

Nico Zacek.

Nico Zacek

My highlights:

1st Engadinsnow 2004/2007
1st Orage Masters 06
1st Nine Knights 08
Only German participant in the X-Games

What is your biggest/highest goal in freeriding?

I think the journey is the reward. In my career, I have already discovered so many wonderful moments, travels, mountains, I'm actually pretty satisfied with how everything has gone. 

Danger/risk—a decisive situation? How do you personally handle it?

Injuries unfortunately don't make you harder, but they make you cleverer. Avoiding danger means all the world to me. In the backcountry just as much as in the park, ski jump, or avalanche. I always try only to do thought-out and not daredevil actions.

Which tips and tricks do you have for newbies to freerider sport?

Avalanche courses are really important and a guide can always tell you what works as a route and what doesn't!

Jürg Graf.

Jürg Graf

Day of birth: 22 May 1976
Residence: Teufen, Davos, Switzerland
Freerider since: 2004
My highlights: The unbelievable time in nature

How did you start freeriding? What's the most fun thing about freeriding for you?

From skiier to ski instructor to off-piste guide... from skiing the run to skiing in powder snow to freeriding.
I experienced this evolution in a microcosm before the big trend. I talked about freeriding before the turn of the century, and even as a skiier... The entire thing didn't happen to me as a trend movement, but from an inner urge. Surely my love of nature and the mountains were the important driver.

What do you see as the challenge in this sport?

Pushing the limit without losing your head.
Enjoying little things and reaching big ones.

Which tips and tricks do you have for beginners to freeriding?

Ski, ski, ski. And you can do it best with other freeriders. Don't settle for what you can already do. Only those who fall get better!