CYRIL NERI - SNOWBOARD
PRESENTATION
INTERVIEW
When did you first start snowboarding and how did you discover freeriding?
I started skiing at age of three in Morgins, Portes du Soleil. In 1988 at the age of 14 I tried snowboarding with a friend. A few days later, after my first successful powder turn I knew I would ride sideways for ever… The sensations were just amazing.
What is the best memory you have from the Freeride World Tour?
My two best memories linked to the Freeride World Tour and the Nissan Xtreme are clearly my two victories. In 2008 I won the Nissan Xtreme in Verbier for the 3rd time, exactly ten years after my first victory. The second is my victory in Sochi, Russia, during the first lap of 2009 Freeride World Tour.
Do you do any specific training in the off-season to stay in shape and get ready to compete again?
During summertime I do bike, mainly downhill MTB. I do also some bouldering and surfing when I have the opportunity to go to the sea.
According to you, what would be the best quality/value of a freeride?
It’s always better when you share those very particular moments with good riding mates.
What about your last season?
Last season started like a dream with tons of snow early November in Cervinia and then we got a meter of layer in Leysin. I rode like a kid every minute I could. Then I went to Sochi to take part in the Nissan Russian Adventure. I had no pressure and that’s how I won that first Freeride World Tour stop. Coming home after Russia I found the Alps covered with masses of snow and rode every day. Then we went filming and that is when I crashed and crushed a vertebrate. That was the end of 2009 season for me.
What are your main goals for the coming season?
Lucky enough my back is strong again and I have already been riding a few weeks. I will take part in Freeride World Tour events and also go to Freeride World Qualifier events all over Europe to supervise those events. Of course I am also planning to film and shoot all over the Alps, wherever the good snow will be. No doubt my X-trail will bring me there…
What are you hoping to achieve in your next competitions?
Now that I am back from such injury, I realize how short life can be. Therefore my goals are to enjoy every second of my life and go with the flow. I like to achieve perfect lines with freestyle tricks and show that Nissan athletes can excel in any snow conditions.