Anne Valvatne
/
Germany
FOLLOW ME
Date of birth:
1998.08.21
Hometown:
Flims Laax, Switzerland
Sponsors:
Völkl,
LAAX,
Protest,
Giro,
Dalbello,
Marker,
EVOC,
Emmi Energy Milk,
Hobbies:
ski, skate, surf
Favourite athletes:
Bobby Brown and when I was younger I was a big TJ Schiller fan
BIO
I grew up in Flims with my mother and my two siblings Gian and Christina. We are a skier family so it was nothing special that I started skiing at the age of 2. I joined the local race team and was already very successful. Then a friend (Armada Switzerland representative at that time) got us free Armada skis (all three of us – as a deal we did some advertisement) so we started to jib and jump around.
We liked it so much that all of us stopped ski racing and joined the freestyle academy (http://www.freestyleacademy.com/). We went to every Saturday training and I did my first contest when I was 7 or 8. I was not even old enough to compete, so we lied about my age and acted like I was 10. We got quite good and started travelling around Europe speaking German for contests, so then Swiss Ski started the Swiss Freeski Team. Since then I travel around the whole world for contests.
I remember that my first world cup in new Zealand was in Summer 2013, two days after my 15 birthday, I was finally allowed to ski it (I was qualified the whole time but still too young). Since then my life has changed and I ski in different places and do a lot of important competitions. In Winter I’m not often at school, which is OK because I am at the Swiss snow Sports school of Engelberg, so this is normal. It will take more years to graduate than normal. Sometimes we also have training camps in LAAX, which is super cool as it’s my home. Love to come back home after a busy time and chill with my family and my lovely two cats.
INTERVIEW
What are you looking for to accomplish?
My Goal is to become a Pro Freeskier and ski as much as I can.
What would be your greatest achievement?
Definitely to win the winter X-Games one day!
What kind of difficulties does your sport’s performance involve?
The weather is always an important thing for freeskiing, but also to be fully concentrated on what I do when I ski competitions for example.
What makes you feel satisfied when performing your sport?
When I land a new trick which I was dreaming of before.
Where do you practice your techniques when being alone?
When I have a day off, I ski at home in the ski resort LAAX. They have the best park and after skiing I sometimes also head to freestyle academy for some trampoline or skate training. But I usually never practice alone, there is always a friend on the mountain or I ski with my brother.
What do you do during your training which is key to your success?
Never ever give up and try till it works. Head is about 52% the key to success.
What are you most nervous about when competing?
If I can land my perfect run and if the judges will like it.
Who would you say is your biggest fan and why?
Hmm I’m still very young… but I think my biggest fans are the next Generation of the Freestyle Academy Kids (That’s where I started to practice freeskiing). And of course my family and friends support me a lot and share my social media content.
What is the best piece of advice you have been ever given?
To stay focused and never give up. Last year 2013/14 I had a tough year with ups and downs and it just didn’t go the way I wanted, but I knew I just had to be patient. So this year it all turned around with my very first invitation for the Dew Tour.
What are your future plans?
To graduate from my school in Engelberg and then maybe study marketing communication. And of course ski as much as I can, have a lot of fun with my friends and win some contests J
What are your tips for those who begin now?
Never do it because you just want to be the best, do it because you love it and my main tip is to never give up, as I said before. Success will come if you stay focused.
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