Matěj
Švancer
Austria
·
Freeskiing
Date of birth | March 26, 2004 |
|---|---|
Birthplace | Prague |
Age | 21 |
Nationality | Austria |
Career start | 2018 |
Disciplines | Freeskiing Big Air / Freeskiing Slopestyle / Freeskiing Street |
Matěj Svancer was born in Prague, Czech Republic, but he and his family spent so much time in Austria that they relocated when he was a young child. The family enjoyed both winter skiing and summer activities in Austria's Kaprun, and when the family found themselves visiting the area nearly every weekend, they decided to live there permanently. Matěj, who was aged 10 at the time, enrolled in a sports-focused school, Gymnasium Saalfelden, and was soon racing on alpine skis for Kaprun ski club.
Deciding he preferred freestyle skiing, Matěj showed great promise of future success. During his first year of freestyle, he placed in the top 10 of the European Cup and was soon offered a place on the Austrian Freeski Team.
In 2019, Matěj came first in the World Rookie Fest in Livigno, Italy, then in 2020, at 15 years old, he landed the Big Air gold medal at the Youth Games in Lausanne, Switzerland.
One year later he was crowned the junior world champion in Slopestyle in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, before securing his first World Cup victory in the Big Air competition in Chur, Switzerland. This was quickly followed up with another win in the same event, this time in Steamboat Springs, USA.
As Matěj's career progressed, he continued to impress at the highest levels of competition. In October 2024, he kicked off the 2024/25 season with a victory at the Big Air event in Chur, Switzerland. His impressive performances continued into the new year, where he claimed victories in both Big Air at Aspen, USA, and Slopestyle at Stoneham, Canada, in February 2025. Despite a heel injury that kept him out of the final Slopestyle event in Tignes, France, he secured enough points to win the overall Park & Pipe World Cup title for the 2024/25 season, making history as the first Austrian to claim this prestigious honour.
Constantly improving and racking up World Cup wins and podium places as he goes, what we've seen so far is just the beginning for Švancer and the future holds even greater potential for this talented athlete.
Matěj Švancer goes back to school
© Sam Strauss/Red Bull Content Pool
Striking a pose
© Chris Singer/Red Bull Content Pool
Taking the plunge at Unrailistic
© Adam Klingeteg / Red Bull Content Pool
Stomping the Stubai Glacier
© Syo van Vliet/Red Bull Content Pool