Gigi Rüf
Who brought you into snowboarding? Have you given him any thanks for his influence?
My brother Michael was the first to try it out. It looked scary at first but as soon as my friends from School started I had to try it out too. I was always trying to catch up.
Who was your local hero?
Oli Breuss RIP. He lived on my Homemountain and went to school with my sister. So I finally got to ride with his crew and was inspired by all the cool tricks they were into. Altogether it didn’t matter that I was four years younger. I saw the first magazines and videos through them. I also joined the snowboard Club in which we organized some important events for me.
Where and when was your first snowboardpic published? What trick was it? did you land it?
Yes I landed a Stiffy mute grab over a table top. It was shot at the killer camp in Sölden for a “Look at” article in MBM. At that camp in ‘96 I also met Basti Balser who is now editing the Pirate movies.
Where was your first video appearence with what music (local snowboardmovie...)?
The shop I rode for would put out videos and I rode in one of them in 1996 to the sountrack of mission impossible.
How did you get your first sponsor?
Attending my first competition organized by our Snowboard Club.
Would you still ride as much as you can, if no one would support you (no sponsors, no filmers and photographers) ?
From this point on it’s definitely Yes.
What is your favourite moment on the mountain?
Checking out the snow and some runs.
What is the worst time during the time on the mountain?
Getting dicked by the weather.
How important is the time on the mountain for you?
I can get a lot of things out of my system such as frustration from something. I enjoy the mountains and it’s fresh air. When riding with friends we push each others to do crazy shit.
How important is music for you on a snowboardmovie?
I should reflect a bit of the riders style and taste maybe even make it more likely to through it in and blast the music.
Favourite videopart, ever:
My first Kingpin production “Destroyer”.
why?
Lots of memories.
Have you seen the Whiskey movies?
Yes smashing whiskey bottles over the head then the guy in the chicken costume gets run over. They were the first like Jackass or Cky.
We know it´s hard to be a good father and pro snowboarder at the same time – how do you manage all this?
No more excuses. I plan my trips in advance and set goals. Now I have to accept snowboarding as a job.
How did you get in contact with the PiRATE project?
We started it together.
Are you playing any instrument or doing other arty stuff?
No Instruments but I always liked drawing.
How important is it for you to be a part of it?
It’s part of me and a lot of my friends are involved too. It’s a platform for the people around me to perform with their talent.
One word answer game (please just answer with the first word that comes to your mind):
Competition: me?
Powder day: turn
urban: turban
photo: analog
Sled: gas
wine: sip
beach: right now
injury: pain?
Terje : subject Haakonsen
Boozy the Clown: Whiskey
Credits:
Thanks to family and friends! Skateboarding, Art, Photography, Bmx to keep me going. Magazines and Videos plus all the beautiful people I’ve met.