GERALDINE FASNACHT - SNOWBOARD
PRESENTATION
INTERVIEW
How did you get into snowboarding and what drew you to the freeride scene?
I fell in love with the mountains when I was very young. I started skiing when I was only one and a half then switched to snowboarding when I was nine. It was actually my mother who encouraged me to try. I didn't really want to hang up my skis but she didn't want to learn to snowboard all by herself. As a result, she sort of pushed me to have a go and I never looked back. Freeride seemed a natural progression for me, because snowboarding is so much like surfing, and I've always been inspired by those big turns and water sprays. So, for me, snowboarding was all about carving wide lines in the powder, with snow flying all around of course!
What are your memories of previous Nissan Xtreme events?
Ever since I was 15, I dreamed of taking part in the Nissan Xtreme - Verbier. I watched it every year. It's the most beautiful event in the world. It's the most beautiful mountainside there is for a freeride competition and it's the event that all the riders attend. My fondest memory is of the first year I won. Naturally, I was over the moon to win the other two years but that first time changed everything for me. It give me the chance to live my passion to the full. I even quit my job in 2002 to become a pro freerider.
Do you do any specific training in the off-season to stay in shape and get ready to compete again?
I try to do some form of physical exercise every day but without falling into any specific training routine since that's not my thing. So I might rock climb, mountain climb or go on a long hike to do a base jump. That's really what keeps me in shape in summer: jumping off all kinds of beautiful rock faces.
Tell us a little more about your other passion: base jumping.
I always want to be up on the mountain in winter to explore the mountainside because I have my snowboard - I hate walking down. When I came across base jumping, I thought it was great: it made me want to climb up to cliff tops because I knew I could just jump off afterwards. It was really the perfect pursuit for me.
Does your love of nature help you overcome challenges?
Nature helps me grow every day because there is so much to learn, like respecting the elements and respecting animals. You end up sharing moments that really stay with you; you experience some really memorable times up on the mountain and share some really extraordinary experiences. But there are also sad times. It's people who give me the strength to always stay positive and forge ahead. The simple fact of being on the mountain and experiencing that rush, whether through the air or in the snow, is something I need. If I don't get it, I really miss it. It's like a drug in a way. The mountain is so huge that there are always things to do: once you've achieved one goal, there's always another waiting just around the corner.
Tell us a bit about your side projects.
From November 25 to February 2 we're heading to Antarctica to do the first base jump at the South Pole. That's never been done before, and we'll be christening some fabulous routes in the Holtanna region, then carving lines on skis and snowboards on the beautiful slopes around our base camp.
What are your goals for the coming season?
I'll be preparing well with the penguins in Antarctica so that I come back in great shape for the Nissan Xtreme - Verbier, where I hope to do well.