PowderGuide:
Hi Markus! You've been part of the MSP film crew since "Days of My Youth". How did the collaboration come about and can you still remember your first day of filming with MSP? How did you feel back then?
Markus:
Hi, about four to five years ago I started freeriding a bit more, took part in the Red Bull Linecatcher for the first time and was then invited to the Skiers Cup in Chile. I somehow got pretty much all my runs down there and then met Cody Townsend and Richy Permin, who had been filming with MSP for a few years at the time. They were both pretty stoked on how I was riding and then talked to MSP about taking me on a trip. Somehow it worked out and I was invited to Alaska with the two guys.
I didn't really know what to expect. I also didn't really have a plan of how everything would work, but then I was incredibly surprised at how easy it all went. I only had to give an interview in front of the camera at the end of the three weeks. The choice of lines was left 100% to us riders and nothing had to be set up in any way. All the pressure was really taken off your shoulders. I think that's one of MSP's secrets.
PowderGuide:
What was different about filming "Fade to Winter" compared to "Days of My Youth"? Are you more experienced now? In "Days of my Youth" we could still see Cody Townsend giving you tips for backcountry lines at the kitchen table. Have you had the opportunity to give tips to the rookies now?
Markus:
Everything was different this year. The rider field and sponsors were shaken up and unlike DOMY, this year we filmed outside of the US and Canada, such as in Italy and Iceland. I think that gives the trip a cool, more international feel because we were skiing in places that aren't on every ski map. In contrast to the filming of DOMY, I was definitely more experienced this year, but it's always cool to have someone with me who's been doing it for a few years. This year in Alaska I was travelling with James Heim and Tanner Rainville. James already has 10 years of AK experience and Tanner, with his freestyle past, sees the mountain with the same eyes as I do. I think we had a great team and you can see that in the film.
PowderGuide: After competing in Olympic slopestyle in Sochi in 2014, you skipped stops on the FWT last year. This year you're back on the Freeride World Tour. Why did you skip the stops last year and do comps still have the same significance for you as before?
Markus:
Unfortunately, I had to scrap my plan to take part in all the FWT stops last year at short notice as I got injured after Kappl during the first shoot with MSP. Actually, pretty much on the first test jump, when the camera wasn't even set up yet... Really stupid, hahaha. I dislocated my shoulder there
and was outside for about an hour and a half. I then had to take a break for about 5 weeks, do a lot of physiotherapy and training and then decided to devote myself fully to the film project with MSP for the rest of the winter.
I love taking part in contests in general. For the most part, they have brought me to where I am now and I definitely want to be at the top of a few more. I still have a score to settle with the FWT, as things haven't gone as I expected over the last three years. Now that I've had shoulder surgery and a long enforced summer break, I'm fit again and hope that it works out this year at the FWT.
PowderGuide: The Italian girls are strongly represented on the Freeride World Tour. Silvia Moser had an impressive first season last year and with Ariana Tricomi, another potential winner from Italy joining the tour this year. Do you follow the performances of your compatriots and when will we see another new Italian man on the tour?
Markus:
Normally I don't really follow the other categories on the tour, but Silvia's runs were too good not to watch! I'm pretty convinced that she'll give it her all this year too. I've known the Ariana for a few years now, as she used to ride more in the park, but I haven't yet seen how she skis in powder. I'll be surprised, but my fingers are definitely crossed! There are already a few guys like Davide Cusini, for example, who could definitely be among the front runners on the tour. I also believe that freestyle guys like Christof Schenk will end up in the powder sooner or later!
PowderGuide:
You recently mingled with the audience at the premiere of "Passenger" by Legs of Steel. At the park shoot in the Stubai, you kind of cheated and filmed with the guys from Innsbruck. Was that not an issue for MSP and what was it like to be part of the legendary LOS Train in the park?
Markus:
I was incredibly lucky that I was able to take part. I was still in Iceland with MSP when LOS started the park shoot in the Stubai. The guys from LOS then had to keep postponing the shoot because the weather didn't play ball. When I came back from Iceland, the LOS shoot was supposed to be over, but as there were still a few days left, I still had time. After a quick phone call with Tobi Reindl, I packed my park skis at home and travelled to the Stubai with Lukas Schäfer and Christof Schenk. We then had three bomb days where it couldn't have gone any better.
PowderGuide: Which of your parts in "Fade to Winter" should we be particularly looking forward to and which part of the other riders do you personally like the most?
Markus:
My favourite part in the film is probably the one in Alaska. This year was my first time in Haines, the AK mecca. I definitely had the best days there in the last three years with MSP. Iceland and Italy are also right up there for me! Unfortunately I've only seen the film once so far and I can hardly wait to watch it again at the European premiere in Innsbruck!
PowderGuide:
And what are your plans for winter 2015/16? Are you going to go filming with MSP again?
Markus:
Yep. Have something mega fat planned! Hopefully it works out ;)
PowderGuide:
Thank you, have fun at the premiere in Innsbruck and good luck for the FWT 2015!
Markus:
Thank you very much and enjoy the film!
