Interview with Carlos

During the Air+Style event we met up with Carlos Gerber for a fun interview. Carlos is a 24-years-old snowboarder in the Swiss team and lives in Ovronnaz.

Here you are at the Air+Style having been riding since you were 19. I heard you started on a plastic board at the age of 5, is that true?
Yes that was the first snowboard I had in my life and I learnt to ride it in the field next to my home. It’s pretty amazing to be here at the A+S in Innsbruck after all these years. At the beginning it was really not my goal to become a pro snowboarder. Before I was more into moto-cross but I started winning a couple of snowboard regional competitions and that’s when I realized that I really liked it and decided to pursue it. Since then I’ve been riding more and more and that is what brought me here today, which makes me super stocked.

After being invited at the A+S in China, here you are in Austria. How do you find the event?
It’s great! Last year, in China, I was already sick when I was invited for the fist time, which I wasn’t expecting. And this year I got invited again in China and in Innsbruck, so I’m really happy. Especially because Innsbruck is THE Air+Style, the main one where everything started. To be here in this stadium is just incredible, it has great vibes and… It’s hard to explain! You have to experience it to feel it.

How is the competition going for you?
The competition started well even if I’m having some issues with my ankle, having injured it last weekend in Russia. The fist day I made a great first run and got a lot of points but unfortunately I had some wind on the second run, which didn’t go as well as I was expecting, and during the third run I decided to change trick, which I didn’t land because of my ankle. But it doesn’t matter, it will be luckier another time.

Have you worked on some new tricks for the occasion?
For a while now I’ve been working on the triple cork front side. Unfortunately, here in Innsbruck I haven’t been feeling at my best because of my ankle to be sure to land a triple. Anyway, it’s a challenge I’m keeping up with. Next week I’m going to Kreischberg for the big air competition at the World Championship and then there is the Los Angeles A+S where I may be invited as well, fingers crossed. We will see about the rest of the season…

Being one of the only nigga dude in the scene, do you get some funny jokes?
Ha-ha, yeah, for sure! There are always people making fun about this and I always take it in a good way. It’s humor and it has followed me since the beginning. In the changing rooms there is always someone throwing a silly comment which I find amusing and it is part of my personality.

I know you like surfing. How did this love story begin?
I was on holiday with my family in the south of France a few years ago. We all took a surfing lesson and I liked it straight away. Now I’m crazy about surfing and it’s for sure my second passion. Actually, if right now I could choose between surfing and snowboarding… I would go for surfing for sure.

Your future goals?
Becoming world champion! Ha-ha, no… I wouldn’t know… Maybe winning the A+S someday. Just going on riding and having fun!
Nice talk,
Nicole Antognini

Pictures: Nicole Antognini
Location: Innsbruck, Austria
Thanks to: Air+Style, Carlos Gerber
Links: Air+Style