Gian Simmen

Gian Simmen

Biography:

Gian Simmen really knows how to pick 'em. A relatively unknown rider in 1998, Simmen came from nowhere to win his first ever halfpipe contest. The contest in question just so happened to be the 1998 Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan. From relative obscurity, Gian was propelled into the limelight from one day to the next, not only in the snowboarding world but also on a national scale in his home country of Switzerland. Originally from Chur, Gian began riding at the age of 12 and immediately fell in love with the sport. From an early age, he knew that a career in professional snowboarding was the ultimate goal. Fast forward a couple of decades, and Gian has achieved everything he set out to accomplish, including a couple of World Halfpipe Championship titles and several other major accolades along the way. The three-time Olympian has forged his own brand of progressive riding that is defined by its versatility and unique style. To this day, Gian boasts one of the most creative arsenal of tricks in the game and continues to bank results at the highest level of international competition. In recent years, Simmen has also played an important role in the shaping of the Ticket to Ride (TTR) World Snowboard Tour, ensuring that the future of snowboarding lies in the safest of hands.

Photos:
Doku '08
Latest on Gian Simmen: related products: Interview

Q: What has been the biggest highlight of the past 12 months for you?
A: Commentating on the Olympic Games for Swiss TV, hosting my own TV show on Swiss Sports TV every Sunday night and of course my 11th place at the O'Neill Evolution and 9th place at the Burton European Open in Laax, Switzerland. 

Q: What's the best thing about riding for a living?
A: You can go out and ride every day! No matter what the weather does, I just get out there and have fun while trying to progress every day on the board. 

Q: Who do you enjoy riding with the most, and why?
A: I really like riding with Markus Keller and Iouri Podladtchikov and my brother. They all have a unique approach to snowboarding and it's always fun to ride with them on the mountain. 

Q: Other than home, where is your favorite place to ride, and why?
A: That's a tough one. I think Northstar in the USA is really good for park riding. Andermatt in Switzerland has some really good terrain as well. 

Q: What are your main goals and plans for the next 12 months?
A: I'm looking forward to the birth of my second kid, and I'm also going to be finishing work on my house pretty soon. In terms of snowboarding, I'm just hoping to shoot a lot of good photos and film a good video segment for www.dedicated-project.com 

Q: How do you see your sport evolving in the next few years?
A: It's hard to tell right now, but I think double corks are here to stay and will most likely be stomped by more and more riders. With regards to pipe riding, I think style and height will start to matter even more than they do now.  

Q: Have you got any plans to film a new video part, and if yes, with which film company?
A: We'll be filming a new video with www.dedicated-project.com. Then we might shoot a pipe section for la famigla and of course I'll also be filming some snowboarding for the TV show I'm hosting. 

Q: What do you do for fun when you are not riding?
A: I skateboard, ride my bike and chill with my family. 

Q: What achievement are you most proud of so far in your career?
A: I've been a pro rider for more than 10 years now, and I'm pretty stoked to have left a mark on snowboarding's history during that time. 

Q: If you didn't ride for a living, what would you have liked to be doing now for an occupation?
A: Maybe some kind of marketing job, or maybe I'd just be working a regular job in an office. 

Q: What trick do you enjoy the most?
A: A simple powder turn has to be the best feeling ever. 

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