Interview: Lisa Wiik

Age: 31, still very young wink
Hometown: Oslo at the moment (originally from Trondheim)
Home Mountain: Tryvann and Vassfjellet.
Sponsors: Roxy, Skullcandy, Dakine, DC

Congrats on your high TTR rank last year - were you excited when you found out you’d made the top 5? I was very happy to get 4th, even though I was aiming for a podium.  I dislocated my elbow right before the US Open and entered the two last competitions with lots of pain and a brace, to try and at least hold on to top 5.

What was your favorite competition last season? I have to say that X -Games was pretty fun. The biggest jumps I ever hit, but so smooth! I also enjoyed US Open very much. I landed my 720 in a comp for the first time (with a dislocated elbow). It was awarded with “best trick of the day.”  I really enjoy the setting, atmosphere, format and judging at all the TTR events.

I saw you’re about to go in for knee surgery, hope it goes well! How did you injure it? Well, I seem to have some injury issues :( I landed deep on a jump in Breckenridge in the end of December. A flat landing with all my weight over the front leg damaged both my meniscus and the ACL!

How have you been dealing with being off the snow? I was very bummed to realize that the whole season was over. I was in good form and very ready to ride. I have never missed a whole season before and of course it’s sad. All my plans had to be changed.
But when something changes its seems like other opportunities comes to light. Me getting injured is for sure the best thing that could have happened to my bachelor’s degree (physical therapy).  So I’m using my time on that and the gym at the moment. I’m also able to see my boyfriend and my family more. I also happy to be home in my new apartment for a while.  I’m staying positive and are really motivated to start the rehab and get back on my board for summer riding.  Injuries will never be appropriate, but its a part of being a professional I would say.

Pirates or Ninjas?
Ninjas! Have you not seen my Ninja moves in one of Torahs Roxy podcast?

Do you feel like things have changed a lot for women since you started competing?
Yes! I’ve noticed more courage and commitment among girls these days. I think that pushes the progression a lot. There are also more girls riding now, which give us all bigger competition. That pushes the level as well. I’m stoked to see girls stepping it up. But still annoyed that we get compared with guys all the time! Let girls be girls and compare us to one another! That’s just fair.

How do you prepare for a big competition? Do you feel nervous?
I used to be more nervous, but I still get more adrenaline in front of a crowd. It’s just good, it make me focus even more, which I need in a competition. I prepare by riding a lot, learn my tricks with different grabs, train on a trampoline to get the good self-confidence that is so important.

What do you pick to do when you get a chance to snowboard just for fun?
I’m always riding just for fun. I like the rush going on at competitions too, but I love to cruise through the park with no pressure on and just pay more attention to how lucky I am to be able to snowboard every day. Just really enjoy how much fun snowboarding is.

Where is the coolest place you’ve traveled to ride?
The coolest place must be Africa. Cause its kind of weird to go to Africa for snowboarding! I went there with Roxy, they always go to exotic and different places on the photo shoots. (Argentina this summer was epic too) Morocco was so different from any other place I’ve been. We even caught a hike with donkeys up to the mountain, and jibbed of a roof with 50 sheep waking around. Snowboarding has brought me to so many exciting places and given me so many unforgettable memories:) It’s quite hard to pick one actually.

The Roxy Podcast from the trip to Morocco.

Have you met up-and-coming Roxy girls that we should look out for?
Well, yes there is a bunch of young Roxy rippers these days.  I still have to mention 13 year old Katie Ormerod form England. I met her in Breck this winter and this girls can do EVERYTHING. Watch out for her! And Ty Walker is an American, same age, and has already proven her skills by being in finals in many major events.

Anything else I missed?
I guess just me at all the competitions this season?! smile

Make sure to follow all of Lisa’s adventures at http://lisawiik.com/

Posted by Kelly Vance on 02/11/2011