MY BIGGEST JUMP

Christian, where does your nickname "Gigi" come from?

I'm the youngest of four siblings and my sister couldn't pronounce my name properly as a child. Then she said something like "Kiki" and that became "Gigi". The name has stuck with me to this day. There is also a "Gigi" in Damüls, who, like the village itself, plays a significant role in my career. Christian Klocker was one of the friends of my sister, who is four years older than me, who introduced me to snowboarding.

What brought you from your birthplace Au to Damüls?

My mother is from Damüls. Her home village was known as a snow-sure area and was already doing more for snowboarding back then. I started there at the age of eleven and emulated the older kids. That was in 1991 - and snowboarding was a brand new thing for us. I was allowed to ride with my sister's "cool" gang for the first time. They were, as we say, "snot spoons" and couldn't sit still on the back pew in church. But they could skate and snowboard and embodied this new lifestyle that fascinated me so much.

The boys always had the best snowboards and the best bindings. They were sponsored by sports stores with the latest equipment and I heard about this career for the first time. I wanted the same thing and asked for support from the local stores. I then joined the "Soulsurfers Damüls" and was allowed to take part in the Junior World Championships as a 16-year-old. That's when I realized that I was one of the top riders in the country. But the races were never that important to me. As soon as I set foot in a company, it was more about marketing and product development for me.

Your grandmother also influenced you along the way. How so?

Yes, my Damülser "Äle" (Bregenzerwald dialect for grandma) knitted me a cap from the sacred Burton catalog, which I still have today. Through this "do-it-yourself" spirit, I also slipped into the commercial side of snowboarding. I worked with companies as a pro model and developed my own products. Later on, I launched entire collections with Burton and Nike and pulled out all the stops in terms of self-marketing. In the beginning, snowboarding was about getting to know people and finding out how things work so that I could get my equipment. In terms of competitions, I was already present, but so much has only just developed in the freestyle sector. When the international federation structure collapsed, it didn't really affect me because I was already an integral part of the team with the sponsors. I gave myself over to marketing and then ended up in photo shoots, video parts and catalogs.

Why has it worked so well with you as a brand ambassador?

Maybe because of my work ethic and because I grew up in the mountains. I have always appreciated working with the photographers and film producers. The way they do their work under the worst conditions in storms and snow impressed me and spurred me on to top performance. I was never too embarrassed to do a run or jump again. I simply loved snowboarding and couldn't get enough of it. I even acquired most of my skills at photo shoots. I ended up on the cover of the Burton catalog, which was printed millions of times - that was my breakthrough. I finished business school, but my parents also saw that I could earn a living snowboarding.

You feel most comfortable in powder snow, away from the parks. Why is that?

There's also a funny anecdote from Damüls. As young guys, we mostly skied the Uga lift. When someone asked where we were going, everyone said "Mir gli" (Bregenzerwald dialect for "I don't care"). After that, we christened the Uga-Run "Mir gli-Run". It runs directly under the lift, in powder snow away from the piste. Back then, I preferred to orientate myself on natural conditions and jumped over the edges of the lift tracks. Unlike today, there were no real snow parks.

I later found out that parks tend to limit me because the routes are already predetermined. I just like the snow drifts to be the way they are. That's why I've always stayed true to my roots. I didn't want to slide on railings, I preferred to use trees. That's how I became an all-rounder and was able to create my own style. My first film shoot in Alaska showed me back then that I wasn't a good snowboarder at all. Step by step, however, I was able to approach the huge cornices in this terrain, which made me a better rider.

You also need the right equipment for this. Is that why you founded your own snowboard brand?

Yes, I did too. I had a good run with Burton, but I wanted to reinvent myself. That's why I switched to Volcom from head to toe to develop my own snowboard together with them. However, as a listed company, they also have skateboarding, music and clothing in addition to snowboarding. The project never really fitted into the budget planning. As a result, I decided to simply go through with my idea myself. With my "SLASH ATV" model, I created a snowboard for all conditions that has set the tone for the last ten years. I didn't want to make a conventional snowboard with an anti-bend, so I took away the curve at the front, which you don't need for riding. A reactive board that adapts to the conditions of the slopes. I have channeled everything into SLASH that makes the perfect board for me. I've always been an active snowboarder who thinks beyond riding. Whether it's tricks or product development - I always want to create something new that hasn't been done before. Even the smallest doer can create the biggest wave.

In my own company, I am now a salesman and developer, all in one. I have the models produced in Europe, in Poland to be precise, and work together with colleagues and artists. Unfortunately, people today are under so many pressures from social media that this is valued less and less. It's the same in the world of sport - whoever makes the next hit is known for 15 minutes. With SLASH, however, I also involve my colleagues from the past and can give them something back. For years I traveled the world a lot, and now I can cultivate these friendships again.

The founding of SLASH was not only a driving force from an entrepreneurial point of view, it also took you to the next level in terms of sport.

Yes, exactly. I joined Nike after Volcom, shot another huge video project and took part in competitions again. In Alaska, I learned that even a simple jump can look gigantic against this great backdrop. It changed my perspective on snowboarding and I found out how I want to and can move in this natural environment. With the "Natural Selection Tour" came contests that were made for me. I came second at the first event and a year later I won the competition. That was a quantum leap that I owe entirely to my snowboard. My specially designed freeride board with the pointed nose, which didn't even exist in this form for freestylers at the time, helped me to achieve this success. As a result, I've become more frugal with what I've already achieved. I often ask myself how I managed it all.

You are now 40 and the father of two children. What are your plans for the next few years?

As a father, you do become a little more cautious. But the good thing is that powder snow is soft. I'm also preparing well for the season in terms of fitness with my cousin Philip as my personal trainer. It's also nice to see that my children have the same approach to sport. We go snowboarding, skateboarding, mountain biking or hiking together. I still ride a lot in winter and don't want to lose my connection to nature and the sporting side. I will continue to develop my snowboard brand and use my experience to promote new talent.

Snowboarding is simply still the greatest feeling for me. Surfing in deep snow and living out my creative potential. Feeling and appreciating nature and the conditions. The jump into my career was definitely my biggest jump. I've always tried to combine snowboarding with the values I learned as a young boy. That's why I want to keep making video parts and inspiring people with my stories. The next shoot will take place in Damüls Snowpark this year. They say the best is saved for last.