RIDER OF THE YEAR: Wolfgang Nyvelt
crust
- November 16 2008
- 17,803 views
- 75 comments
2008 RIDERS POLL RIDER OF THE YEAR:WOLFGANG NYVELT
INTERVIEW EXCERPTS from TransWorld Dec 2008 Issue
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Here’s some random questions pulled off the original interview tape. For the complete interview, grab the new issue on newsstands now.
… Snowboarding seems very focused on the next young kid, yet you won this award at 30 years old. What do you think about the age factor?
The bar is getting raised all the time, but snowboarding has so many different paths. There are so many ways to ride what the mountain offers to you. I guess I started snowboarding when I was 15 or 16 and started with kids who were 5 or 6 years younger than me. I just saw footage from Mark Schultz, this guy who is our guide for sledding. His kid is one-and-a-half and he has his first filmed run already. Look at Terje—he is breaking world records. How old is he? That air obviously woke people up. You have guys like Shin Campos in Whistler; maybe some guys get lost in the backcountry—you don’t see what they are doing, but it’s going on. They don’t call that guy the Wizard for no reason. You have to put in a lot of time in a place as big as Whistler to know the terrain, like that. Look at surfing, guys like Mark Occhilupo, guys like Danny Way. These guys prove you can you can step it up after 30. No problem. But the creativity, the whole movement of snowboarding depends on the youth. Its so cool now to see kids like Kevin [Pearce] and Scotty [Lago] coming up to AK—its really sick to see them ride and see the flavor they bring into snowboarding. The best heat ever this year, was watching Danny [Davis] and Kevin at the Air & Style riding together. Such good friends, throwing down back-to-back frontside 10s and then chest-bumping in the landing. It’s rad, man.
… And now kids start and get go straight to a perfect park, first day.
I’m telling the kids at home, you’ve gotta leave the park at one point. You see all those natural talents like Nicolas Müller and Freddi Kalbermatten and Gigi—they all started in parks, not well maintained ones, but then they left. Some Whistler crews and crews in the Northwest, Mount Baker kids, some of them still don’t give a shit about the parks! It’s just different skills. Like, to ride as good as Temple [Cummins], how old is he? Kids would need to train their whole life and would be lucky to ever reach that level of board control. With jibbing coming back and the whole progression thing— it’s not pushing something out of the sport, its actually adding more to the sport. It’s all just creating more paths for everybody to go on. I rode with BJ [Leines] for the first time, he was a big-time hero for me and the crew—you know him from the Forum movies. To see him ride ride, I think he is a year older than me, and he blows my mind, and Terje. Its important for the kids to know, to know that you have to take care of yourself, eat good, take care of your body—especially your knees, and you can shred a long time.
Is that how you’ve stayed healthy?
When you’re young, you’re just drinkin’, smoking cigs. At one point I started traveling and eating fast food—especially when I came over here to North America, and then thought, I gotta change something and that is when I started to become a vegetarian—been a veggie for like 8 or 9 years. I didn’t really start it with any belief, you know? I think it just has so many positive effects if you think about it after. But at first I just thought it was a healthier way to be and it just cut out all the fast food for me. That’s when I started being more conscious. When I first became a vegetarian, I had some people around me who were totally poison-free, who were just kind of an inspiration—they showed me some books … there are lots of different strategies, but what’s important is being conscious about your body and finding out what’s best for you. Not to sound too proud about it, but these days with so many people living on the world, vegetarians can feel good about this choice. The stuff going on with genetics is scary— if you see some movies like We Feed The World and Our Daily Bread and see whats really going on with companies like Monsanto, who are seeking patents on genetics—there must be some natural things that are better for us. The best advice is maybe local food and organics.
… It seems like among riders, the most popular contests right now are events like the Arctic Challenge, this Natural Selection. Contests organized by the riders themselves.
The rider driven contests just have that personal touch to them, where you feel like its real. If there’s a riders meeting and Travis jumps in, and asks, “How do you guys feel about that?” and he sees some faces that don’t look stoked, he’s like “lets solve this problem. In these types of events, you feel taken care of.
… And what about mountains you haven’t ridden yet—where do you still need to go?
Well, one place I really want to go is like Kyrgistan and Uzbekistan. Maybe go for fun to India, shred one day in the Himalayas. But the last frontier will always be Alaska. Even though I’ve been there so many times, there are so many mountains still to explore. That’s always a big goal—hoping for a good winter.
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See Wolle’s full part in the new Absinthe release Ready. http://www.absinthe-films.com/
»
November 13th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Nice
November 13th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
There are way too many brahs and bettys that could learn a thing or two from wolfgang. This guy knows his shit and it shows in his riding.
November 13th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
so dope
November 13th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
congrats to wolle for sure
November 13th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Travis Rice??
November 13th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Nah, not such a Jock as Rice
November 13th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
WOW i should be rider of the year! Compared to this guy i’m SO epic Walle or whatever your name is suck it i’m comin after you and takin your title! HA
November 13th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
sick shots for sure cant wait to ride those type places
November 13th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
he’s sick, eff parks!
November 13th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
tits
November 13th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
sweet slow motion back country ftw sike
to be honest i have never heard of wolle nyvelt
November 13th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
anybody who ride WITHOUT binders in the pow (& well) deserves props…
November 13th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
i wouldnt call trice a jock
November 13th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
you just did by calling him Trice
November 13th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
What’s the name of the song?
November 13th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
sooo good
November 13th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
that was super sick editing and steez, nicely done mr wolfgang.
November 13th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
he didnt do a single rail trick or anything greater then a 7, how the fuck is he rider of the year i know 16 year old kids that are better then that.
November 13th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
great powder runs.
congrats wolfgang, but is pow all he can do?
never seen him before this so i have no idea but im wonderin
If so i didnt know solid pow lines could make you rider of the year
i think it should be torstein horgmo….
NOT A HATER bitch
November 13th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Travis rice anyone?? triple cork? switch back side double cork 10?
November 13th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
THIS GUY IS THE COOLEST DUDE WHEN IT COMES TO POWDER MAN.. LOVE THIS GUYS STEEZ.. TALK ABOUT GENUINE
November 13th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
wow dumbass the sheer ignorance of this comment almost loses its justification of a response but i think something needs to be said in Wolfgang’s defense. Basically this was one of the sickest trailers for a part to ever hit tws. there isnt a 16 year old in the world that could spin like that into those deep pow lines. Grow some balls
November 13th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
torstein horgmo…HAHAHAHAHA
November 14th, 2008 at 2:18 am
wolle is definitly dope but i think there are some other guys that have put in the hardwork and dedication that deserve this more than him, oh and i love travis n all his new movie is hella dope but he is totally a jock, pink lacose shirt with a popped collar? trippin
November 14th, 2008 at 2:20 am
I know right!? Nyvelt straight kills it don’t get me wrong, but in my opinion no one can even touch Trice this year. THis is pretty much bs! No one deserves this award more than Travis, 7 different double corks and a triple cork back 12! COme ON!
Wolfgang is legit no doubt though.
November 14th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Agree with Cuddy
November 14th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Rice should’ve won this.
November 14th, 2008 at 9:53 am
i cant watch these vids cause tw had to go change the video format for no reason at all what the hell tw im on your website every day supportin this shit tellin everybody how gnarly it is then you go and screw me over common dudes
November 14th, 2008 at 10:08 am
man have u see that’s it that’s all travis rice is the best snowboarder
November 14th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Ha good call there.
November 14th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
all you are is some deuche with opinions and a keyboard. opinionated idiot
November 14th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
shut up
November 14th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
funny.
November 14th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
shouldnt the rider of the year be well rounded like i didnt see 1 spot tat was even anywere close to a hand rail.. im not saying that hes not good or any thing just hit a rail or 2.. or 5
November 14th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Are you kidding me????? Rider of the year. What???? Travis Rice proved he is the best rider ever with his movie this year. No question. No debate. Ridiculous tricks, style and balls. Wolle is alright but he has to know he has nothing on Travis. Why would you call him a jock? You just hate because he is miles ahead of everyone else….I think him and transworld must have some issues, because he is the obvious choice. But don’t take my word watch his movie, That’s it That’s all.
November 14th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
One thing for sure, rice and wolle dosen’t have anytime to lose hitting handrails…
November 14th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
anyone can bind in a sled and huck onto a rail, that style is jv and played - you young thundercats with your profess dreams holler much to hard at dem rails - thats why all yer parts look the same and you jock skating too hard - you want to shred rails then do it on a skateboard, otherwise your practically a rollerblader
surf style on a sled needs to make an aesthetic comeback, IMHO - so congrats on putting up someone who makes it happen on that level
travis rice is offi-shal, no question, but red bull gear? chill tony hawk
November 14th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
HARD BOOTS FTW
November 14th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Why should guys who are killing it and pushing big mountain freestyle be expected to throw in a rail trick or spin more than a seven just to have a ‘well rounded’ part and satisfy little punks like you? Did you not see the front 3 cornice tapper, the boneless off the shed and the skate/surf style big mountain shredding? Sick!
November 14th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Wolfgang is the fucking man , back country is where its at. And I’m so glad to see someone out in the open talking about the issues of Monsanto , he knows his shit.
November 14th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
you trying to watch the vid’s on your typewriter? Works fine for me
November 14th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
fuck yeah i dont know how he did not win again, he came out with the best snow vid ever and he alone pushes the sport more than any other rider
November 14th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
dont get me wrong but travis killed it this year, what he do 12 NEW tricks? BUT Wolfie got some smooth backcountry shit for sure..so props to the winner
November 14th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
anyone getting paid to snowboard better shred the FUCK out of every terrain there is…rail, pow, jump, tress, pipe, your moms backyard, cousin eds couch and the dingleberry….
otherwise your just taking up space on the budget son. ungghhhh.
but i like this guys rooosters broohhhh!!!long live jp
November 14th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Sick! Congrats Wollie
November 14th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
thats b.s. dude…..the rider of the year is the rider who is doing some sick stuff…..and not necessarely everything…so he deserves it i think…
November 14th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
I AGREE WITH EVERYONE TRAVIS RICE DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE WON. wolfgang is really good but noone can touch trice right now
November 14th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
powder surfing.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
whatever guys…
main thing is that WOLLE is AUSTRIAn,
and thats where snowboarding originated.
not some U.S. jake burton in the 70´s
not some U.S. sherman poppen in the 60´s …
in the Tyrol,Austria in a museum there is a historic wood-stitch showing a group of skiers in the 1800´s and among them is a single guy riding on “1 ski” standing sideways.
honor who deservers it, WOLLE is one of the true riders out there. no attitude, no posing - only great riding in harmony with his environment. he also progresses the sport in new directions, not only staying hooked and the last big thing…
thats a rider of the year. not some guy who lives self-destruction for the quick fame.
compare METH to WEED, and you see what most of nowadays pro´s are in relation to WOLLE. wolle being weed
November 14th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
most def he deserves it and btw this is rider of the year from last season. Trice’s flick is just come out so chill everyone. Wolle is by far one of the most natural and talented boardsports guy and you haven’t even seen his skills on a skate or surfboard yet….
November 15th, 2008 at 5:24 am
Obviously this recognition for Wolle is long overdue, and he should definitely have been rider of the year at least once, but still… i think travis rice should have taken this year
November 15th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Fuck big spins….its all about your STEEEEEEZ
November 15th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Actually Rider Of The Year is voted on by all the top Pros
November 15th, 2008 at 10:59 am
So you also agree hes a Jock by calling his trice
November 15th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
too much of a jock? what would that matter anyway? it’s not the artsiest hesher of the year award.
November 15th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
grow some balls? are u fucking kidding me i would way rather fall 20 feet into powder then smash my head off a staircase, fuckin retard think before you type.
November 15th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
fuck you, get good
November 15th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
It’s a vote decided on by the top pro riders
November 15th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
well dummy i think only one pro voted then and it was for himself
November 16th, 2008 at 4:38 am
wtf are binders?
November 16th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
If you had a choice to ride rails or endless knee-deep powder all season what would you choose? Rails are like fat chics compared to the powder he rides.
November 16th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
this was moderately disappointing.
i saw a lot of back fives… and… yeah thats about it. He had some sweet grabs for sure, but the other arm was rolling down the windows all over the place.
I’m not saying hes not good… but Travis is better. I’ve never heard of him before he got rider of the year, does he do comps?
November 17th, 2008 at 8:08 am
they are not gonna put his video part up that is worth money you are all idiots
November 17th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Dose he do comps? Why?
This is voted by the top pros, which means Rice probably voted for him. This is the second year in a row Wolle won it. Good for Wolle, true to himself and the sport, no tall tees here.
great flow great riding.
All you little park rats need to calm down
November 17th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
i wish i had pow like that near me
November 17th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Any body who said they have never heard of Wolle should have no say in this comment blog. Watch any Absinthe film and you’ll see first hand the abilitys of this shredder. So open up those narrow minds of yours and educate yourself before you comment and look like a fool.
November 19th, 2008 at 8:45 am
to all haters -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYspbjYcV-8
November 19th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
SICK. everyone needs to stop comparing this to Trice or saying he need rail tricks. Riders like wolle are the dudes deserving rider of the year. Its not just this past part he made but , year in year out, KILLING IT.
plus he reps aesthicker or w/e its called
November 20th, 2008 at 11:18 am
lil jon should of won that shit
November 20th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
since when is calling him “trice” agreeing that he is a jock?
that’s just stupid fucking logic
November 20th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
you are just an absolute dumbass… absinthe is definitely NOT one of the worst film companies out there, seeing as they have been consistently having one of the most rounded teams and good videos
oh and fuck jake blauvelt, thinking he’s the shit because he doesn’t build jumps… oooooh!!
i hate when people have commentary in their video parts… no one fucking cares, i wanna see some god damn snowboarding!
November 25th, 2008 at 12:34 am
This guy won the price cos he has built new school into his old school tricks.. Good speed and hight on all the tricks + style. To get a name you need to do it your own way and have fun.
December 4th, 2008 at 6:28 am
yeah nyvelts sick no doubt
but theres other people tht i think deserve the rider of the year award that are killin it way harder than him
but nonetheless hes dope
December 9th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Its nice to see some style out there
December 24th, 2008 at 6:49 am
europeans rule!