Snowboarding
Part 1: Markus Keller on the evolution of halfpipe riding and progression in snowboarding.
Markus Keller, halfpipe world champion (2013) and Swiss halfpipe and slopestyle champion, is one of the best snowboarders in Switzerland. With the “CHAMäLEON“ movie he showed the world that even at the age of 32 he is one hell of a stylish and all-round rider. We met him to talk about the development of snowboarding, halfpipe riding, the BEO and progression in general.
What do you think about the state of halfpipe riding in your home country? It is a little sad to see that there are only half as many pipes in Switzerland today as there were 10 to 15 years ago. I guess the decrease is due to the snowparks fearing that they can’t keep up with the biggest halfpipes. Of course, it’s cost-intensive to maintain superpipes, especially when they are not used that much. But most snowboarders don’t really need a superpipe, as long as they can just ride a pipe.
However, it is also nice to see how much energy some people put into it and get a positive response, like in Grindelwald. So in general, I’m happy about the development of the sport here, and to still see pipes in many resorts.
Today many resorts offer snowparks and invest resources – although there are less snowboarders than in the past. How would you explain that? Nowadays, a lot of former snowboarders and freeskiers are in positions where they can influence the development of resorts. And a lot of resorts follow the footsteps of popular or famous ski regions all over the world – and those regions often offer great snow parks. It’s also helpful that the snowparks are used both by snowboarders and freeskiers.
During the BEO practice runs you rode the pipe with your Nitro Quiver Cannon. How does it feel to ride such an extreme swallow tail in the pipe? Pretty good, although it needs a little getting used to. I am always tempted to try old things in a new way and to look at things in a new perspective.
Did want to express something by doing that and where did you get the idea? There was no big message behind it. It was just for fun. When I saw the board for the first time, I knew right away that I wanted to ride it in the pipe and shoot a photo of a backside air. I liked the contradiction – the combination of a modern freestyle obstacle and an old-school shape.
What became the message was what people saw in it. But the big response I got just shows that everybody wants to see variety and not just the same old trick combos. Unfortunately, you need to show those trick combos in order to be successful in a contest.
You were an active contest rider and occasionally take part in contests now. How have contests changed? A lot has changed in the last 15 years. In the past, most riders were all-round snowboarders. Today they are mostly specialised athletes. They have to decide early on what discipline they want to compete in. That’s a pity. Teenagers should shred what they like and have fun. I’m glad I grew up differently and could experience the vast variety of snowboarding.
Stale Sandbech impressed everyone this year at the Red Bull Double Pipe event when he – as a “slopestyle rider” – could keep up with the best half pipe riders. In the past nobody would have noticed, but today he is one of the last all-round riders.
What positive changes have you noticed? The global supply of snowparks is unbelievable. Professional shape crews make sure that the jumps work. And the creativity as well as safety precautions make it possible for young riders to show an impressive level of riding. Also, the parks are open to pros as well as the public.
In the past you didn’t get the chance to ride such long runs with so many obstacles. That’s why the young guns show such rapid improvement. When I was younger, we had to build our own kickers and, maybe, “get” a rail from a construction site.
Do you think obstacles might get bigger in the future? No. The furthest jump from a kicker was landed ten years ago by Mads Jonsson. Also, Terje’s record for the highest air from 2007 is still unbroken. I think we’ve reached the limit. I mean, it would look ridiculous if the wall would be higher than the jump above the coping. But I am sure we will see further progression in the technical area.
What do you think about banked slalom contests? Is it a short-term trend or will we see more of it in the future? I am sure this development is due to the fact that especially many experienced riders aren’t as happy with the contest world as in the past and can’t identify with it. And even a lot of younger riders just want to ride and don’t want to participate in contests or videos with one triple after another.
I went to Japan this year for the first time and discovered the Happo Banks Snowpark in Hakuba. It was nice to just have fun on some nicely built banks – kind of like “back to the basics”. Ride turns, jump from the banks or do some transfers. No bad crashes and most notably no rescue helicopters necessary. It’s fun for everyone.
If someone in Switzerland wanted to launch a similar project, I would love to support it.
You went to the Red Bull Double Pipe a few weeks ago – a very special event in Aspen. We know it has two pipes, but what else is so special about Red Bull Double Pipe? It’s the spine and the features in the middle. It’s never been done before on such a high level. It shows what’s possible and brings a new dimension to halfpipe riding. This year, the mixture of slopestyle and pipe allowed for even more varied runs, which is probably the main idea behind this special event.
Stay tuned for the second part of the interview with Markus Keller here on RedBull/Snow.
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