Startalk

Vinzenz Lüps started with snowboarding at the age of 10. When he was 14 he rode his first contest and got 2nd. Afer that he had his first sponsor deal. Now almost 10 years later the 23 years old Vinz from Munich is one of the best snowboarders of the world. We talked with Vinz about his passion snowboarding an his outlooks ...

Okay Vinzenz, let's start with some basics. Tell my something about your place of birth and your current residence.
I was born in Munich and lived my whole life close to Munich at the beautiful Ammersee.

First time you ever rode a snowboard and when did you start riding contests?
I was 10 years old when I first tried it. With 14 a friend and I went to a Junior-Cup in Spitzingsee. He won and I got second. That was motivation.

Who did inspire you to do snowboarding?
I was skating and windsurfing before, and we had a professional Windsurfer in our Village. His name is Björn Schrader and he pushed me a lot.

How important is snowboarding for you in your life?
At the moment 80% is about snowboarding. So it’s my current life. But I am sure in a few years there are other things coming into my life.

Tell me something about the actual snowboarding scene in your country ... how many pro-riders and how many hobby-riders are there?
In southern Germany is a lot snowboarding going on. Mostly between Garmisch and Munich. We are about 10 pro-riders and we have as many snowboard Magazins as all the rest of Europe.

Does your country have a kind snowboard Federation or something like that?
There is the SVD (snowboard federation Germany), they are well organized and are most of the time doing a good Job. Like organizing competitions, or being the official Olympic-Dealer.

Is there a combination between the lifestyle of other extremsports for example Skateboard, Freestyle Motocross?
Let’s say somewhere in between skate and surf.

Is it important for you to ride with your buddies and is there a good cohesion between the world cup riders?
On the mountain you need friends or buddies you can trust especially in backcountry. At the comps is easy going with the other competitors, but not everybody is into “we are family”.

What would do you when snowboarding not exists?
Studying some arty stuff.

What do you like more Contests / Fun riding?
Riding with fun is what it is all about. I love going out with a good photographer in powder.

What are your goals for the future?
Staying a good snowboarder, and producing great photo and film stuff. Becoming a good person.

Did you ever have a bad crash and did you break something?
Couple of times bad crashes like 5 m chest to the cooping of arctic Challenge quarterpipe. But I was never really hurt, only little things like broken rips and stuff.

Have you ever thought about the life after snowboarding?
I am into photo, film and some arty stuff.

Does music push you to go bigger? What kind of music do you prefer?
Usually I am not listening while riding but at competitions is always sound around. I like it. Rock is perfect for snowboarding.

What is more important for you - the sport or the industry?
I am living the sport with the money from my sponsors. My current life is not possible without industry.

What do think about the current situation of the global and the European snowboarding scene?
It’s cool.

Any other comments or do you want to say something to your fellows, sponsors & fans?
Thanks to Scott, Mammut, Vans and Nixon for supporting me.

Last words … please give the kids some basic tips, how they could start with snowboarding easily, if they want to?
Ask mom or dad to go for ski-vacation, or ask if your school has a ski day, or write a cute letter to a German snowboard-magazine and tell them I sad that you want to learn snowboarding, it works.