Marie Desandre Navarre
/
France
FOLLOW ME
www.elenakoenz.com
Date of birth:
1987.09.12
Hometown:
Vnà, Switzerland
Sponsors:
Völkl,
Marker,
Nikita,
Deeluxe,
Doodah,
Hobbies:
Skateboarding, art, music, playing the guitar, drawing, surfing
Favourite athletes:
Kazu Kakubo
BIO
Since I started snowboarding with 12 years, snowboarding is my biggest passion. I was born in the city of Chur. When I was five years old we moved to Vnà, a small village up in the Swiss mountains. There I grew up with my two brothers and my sister and learned how to snowboard. In 2011 I completed my diploma at the F+F school of art and media design in Zürich. After I had finished my studies, I decided to follow my dream and become a professional snowboarder.
Since 2012 I’m part of the Swiss snowboard team and I travel to competitions in Slopestyle and Big Air all around the world. I took part in the Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi and made it to the podium of different international competitions. I’m still really motivated to improve my snowboarding and I’m looking forward to the next steps of my career.
INTERVIEW
What are you looking for to accomplish?
I’m looking forward to start at the World Championships in slopestyle and big air and to accomplish a good place. Also to ride the World Snowboard Tour Elite competitions, I qualified last year and the FIS World Cups. Next year I would love to ride at the Dew Tour and the X-Games as well.
What would be your greatest achievement?
My greatest achievement would be to accomplish a good place at the Olympic Games 2018 in Pyeong Chang in South Korea.
What kind of difficulties does your sport’s performance involve?
Slopestyle contains rails and jumps which are technical pretty different to ride. In slopestyle this is for sure a challenge to train and improve in both. Also to know how to adapt at snow- and weather conditions is an important issue in snowboarding.
What makes you feel satisfied when performing your sport?
To go outside and snowboard just feels right to me. As soon as I stand on a board there is nothing to question. I also like the challenge to learn new things and the feeling afterwards, when accomplished.
Where do you practice your techniques when being alone?
I often go to Laax, an amazing winter resort nearby where I live now. There is also a Freestyle Academy with a skate bowl. In summer I like to go skateboarding in Zürich or surfing somewhere.
But I also do yoga, fitness and endurance training to be fit for snowboarding. The city where I live is small, so I can easily go running or do other sports out in nature.
What do you do during your training which is key to your success?
I’m going with a lot of motivation and fun to my training. I set goals I want to accomplish in a certain time.
What are you most nervous about when competing?
I think the whole situation makes me feel a bit nervous. It’s just different riding in training on your own. In competition I use to tell myself, this is training. So I don’t feel any pressure.
Who would you say is your biggest fan and why?
My good friend Lisa, because she’s always so excited about what I do.
What is the best piece of advice you have been ever given?
Get moving!
What are your future plans?
To ride some more years competitive, go to the Olympics and then do more filming and photographing projects.
What are your tips for those who begin now?
Feel the rhythm and have fun!
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