Chris Southwell is a professional freeride
snowboarder, sponsored by Oakley, Dare 2B, Allian Snowboards,
Bayer, and Demon Protective wear. He is currently ranked 33rd in
the world and is the highest ranking Brit. He has been based in
Verbier for the past 6 years and over the past years has been
following the freeride world tour quest events.
How did you get into
snowboarding?
I was very lucky because from a young
age my mum was based in the alps during the winter. I was lucky in
the fact that I got to go skiing every school holiday so I really
grew up in the snow. I still had to work very hard to get to where
I am but I had a very lucky break thanks to my mum's job...... My
brother is also a pro skier so I guess it runs in the blood.
And what do you recommend for others that what to get into
it?
There are quite a few snow domes in the UK now
and if I was just starting the sport I would go and have a few
lessons. This has many advantages in the fact that you will be
learning on snow, not plastic and it will give you the chance to
see if you like the sport before taking the more expensive option
of going to out to the mountains. If you have booked your trip away
and have never skied or snowboarded before, it is essential to get
lessons out there. This will give you the chance to get the most
out of your holiday. If you have never tried it, you have simply
not lived......
Have you ever skied?
Yes I use to ski and I
love to get a pair of skis on during the season. I think it's very
important to be able to do both. As my brother is a skier we quiet
simply swap over sometimes. I'm always looking for new challenges
and have just started to learn to telemark.
Favourite snack for a lunch on the
mountain
I love rostie, bacon and egg, or else maybe
a croute with a local cheese, bacon and egg... But if I am filming
or competing then I normal have a sandwich in my pack.
Favourite resort?
I love
Tignes in the summer. They have such a good park and it's a huge
area to ride on. Also it does not take all day to get up the
mountain un-like some other summer skiing resorts. Tignes in the
summer also has so much to do in the town with a water jump, golf
course and a number of skate parks and mountain bike trails.....
But in the winter I prefer Courchevel. The 3 valleys is such a
massive area and it has some amazing freeriding. I have spent a lot
of time filming there and I am always finding new lines, bigger
cliffs. Even if the powder has gone there are so many runs that I
never end up doing the same one twice and it has some great places
to eat so I guess you are spoiled for choice.
Favourite Apres Ski
Stop?
That's got to be the crazy kangaroo in St
Anton. This place is crazy, live bands, drinks I have never heard
of and everyone is in great spirits. I have never had a bad après
ski in there and you will not be disappointed.
What can't you live
without?
I can't live without powder, can you imagine going skiing and there
not being any powder..... Would drive me crazy and ruin my day on
the mountain.......Saying that, I also can't live with out my
sponsors because they pay for me to be out there........
Have you ever broken
anything?
I always get asked this, right here is the list: broken right ankle
twice, left ankle once, both ankles at the same time once,
dislocated my right elbow, ligaments in the right shoulder, broken
my collar bone, knocked myself out 5 times, drip from my kidney
because I compressed it so badly and a few broken fingers....
That's all... But I still love the sport and still find myself
jumping 100 foot cliffs so it's not all that bad.
Scariest moment?
Had a few
but last season I was stuck in the middle of two avalanches. I was
doing a photo shoot in Verbier and had just done a few shots and
stopped on a ridge. As the photographer went down to join me the
whole slope below him went. Below me was a 200-foot drop and if the
slide had got me I would not be writing this. I am just glad that I
had the forward thinking to stop in a safe zone. If you ski or
board off piste it is essential yo do an avalanche course. It could
save your life.
What do you like to do in the summer
months?
In the summer I run my Company, Southwell Enterprises. We
specializes in ski/snowboard event management, school lectures on
their careers in extreme Freeride, organization of extreme
skiing/snowboarding expeditions, Ski and Snowboard consultancy work
and Filming and Production work. Please check out our web site
www.southwellenterprises.com.
What's next?
This season is shaping up to be my busiest yet as I am doing a lot
of traveling. I will be following the World tour again and also I
am planning a really exciting trip to Kosovo. They have some
amazing mountains over there and I have heard some great stories.
My real love of the sport is exploring new freeriding terrain,
nothing beats riding fresh powder and I guess that's why I feel I
have the best job in the world.