Photos: Markus Rohrbacher — www.markusrohrbacher.blogspot.com
Dominik Wagner is a professional snowboarder from Neunkirchen, Austria. Have you ever been to Neunkirchen? Me neither. But I think it’s beautiful there. Everything is beautiful in Austria. Well, minus Ischgl, DJ Ötzi and the fucking Arlbergtunnel maybe, but that’s another debate.
I have a really special connection to Dominik Wagner. He was the first guy I sent some interview questions and since then we’re like brothers. You know, like Eiki and Halldor; Nicki Minaj and He-Man; Romney’s chick and the Bride of Chucky; this shoe and Silvester Stallone. Honestly, I really do enjoy having Dominik Wagner as a brother, and some time ago, I felt it was about time to step up our brotherhood to the next level. Another interview. Just he, me, a chickenburger without that shitty red sauce, and the questions.
So here we are. My brother. A Snowboarder, a horrible joke teller, a guy who’s a bunch of other stuff, and, most importantly, a guy, kind enough to answer my dumb questions for a second time. Ladies, here’s Dominik Wagner. Your new favourite ex-blonde.
Wögna, you’re a snowboarder and a schnitzel lover.
Yep! I try to snowboard and I really do love schnitzel.
And you’re 24.
Yessir!
Happy Birthday! Do you know that you were the first guy I did an interview with?
Haha… really? That’s pretty cool. I’m honored!
But it was a horrible interview. Such boring questions.
Well, I just remember that I was pretty excited because it was one of my first interviews as well, I guess.
So we’re like brothers!
It seems so, yes!
Shot by Markus Rohrbacher — www.markusrohrbacher.blogspot.com
Awesome. What do you think about the usual rider interviews these days? Do you actually still read?
Actually I’m pretty lazy when it comes down to read an interview, but I do read the ones of my friends and people I’m interested in. The last one I’ve read was some Jed Anderson interview on Transworld; it was pretty cool I think! If the questions are good and the rider has something interesting to tell I definitely enjoy reading interviews.
Cool. I like people who read. But speaking of Jed, his online part is…
… amazing! I just love to watch him ride his snowboard. So much control and everything looks so effortless.
The guy’s is crazy. But let’s talk about you: it’s pre-season, what’s going on?
At the moment the first contests are dont and I’m looking forward to ride up at the Dachstein Glacier with my friends. Just having some fun! I’m always pretty stressed when I’m riding those contests at the beginning of the season… all those stairs and shit and I’m not having that many riding days before. To be honest, I’m always kind of scared. But now I just want to have fun, and I still have some time to go skateboard till the winter is coming. So, it’s all good.
You skate a lot, right?
I try to! It’s so hard and painful to learn new tricks and stuff, but I really enjoy it!
Do you have something like a “favourite skater”?
Phew, there are so many good skaters out there that I like to watch, but one of my all time favourites is definitely Heath Kirchart.
Shots by Flo Jäger — www.flojaeger.com
Good one.
Yeah, I just liked the fact that he was doing spots that no one did before…
Do you try the same with your snowboarding?
I’m for sure not the “I just want to ride stuff that’s never been done before“ guy but if I go out snowboarding and I see something new or creative I’m definitly down to hit it!
Do you still have blonde hairs?
Haha, no, unfortunately not, but you know what, I was thinking of making them blond again a couple days ago. However, then I remembered how stupid I looked and forgot about the idea immediately!
What about the ladies? Did they like the blond Dominik Wagner?
I think my girlfriend hated it… well, no, I’m sure she hated it! I don’t know about other girls, though. Maybe we should ask them?
Brilliant idea. You send a photo of the blond Dominik Wagner to me and every girl who reads this clicks here and sends an email to stefan@snowstoked.com if she likes you.
Haha, done. Just sent you mail. Man, I just had to laugh pretty hard everytime I looked in the mirror…
Let’s talk about Nitro’s new team movie. Hyped! is out since a couple days and you’ve got some sick shots in there. Hyped?
Of course I’m hyped! The whole movie turned out super good and to be a part of such an awesome project is the best! The movie really shows what snowboarding is about! It’s not about the hardest trick or the biggest jump, it’s just about having fun on your snowboard! I’m really stoked on what Knut, Per-Hampus and Andi produced right there.
Any good stories from the road while filming with the guys?
Oh man, there’s so many good memories. Just the fact that we sat in the car for thousands of hours is pretty amazing. We drove everywhere by car; Helsinki, Andorra, Belgrade, and so on. Even though we spent so much time together on such a small space I think everyone enjoyed it. It just felt like going on a camping trip with your friends.
Whose footage in Hyped! are you most hyped on?
I was pretty stoked on Markus Keller’s footy. The pipe section is sick! He just knows how to ride a transition and has such a sick style!
What’s up with Benny Urban? I heard you’re also quite impressed of him. Why’s the guy so smooth?
I don’t know man, he is just super talented… even his bails look good! He’s for sure one of my favourite people to ride and hang with. I’m always having a good time riding with him and we push each other which’s definitely good when you’re out there filming.
Yeah, you’re right. By the way, Toni Kerkelä, told me lately he’s so good on rails because he just rode shitty rails at the beginning. Would you agree?
Oh The Kerkelator…
Yeah.
Well… maybe… I mean I didn’t have the best obstacles either as I started riding so that could be a reason. Why not? But then again, he comes from Finland so he has to be good on rails, right?!
Shots by Flo Jäger — www.flojaeger.com
Yeah. But you know what, I rode a bunch of shitty rails and I still suck as hell at rail riding.
The exception proves the rule, dude! Nah, I don’t know. I think if you just have shitty rails you can’t really learn tricks, it depends on how shitty they really are. Either they are super shitty or just shitty, you know? There’s a big difference.
So you think if you’re a shitty rider it doesn’t matter if you ride on super shitty or just a little shitty rails. You’ll stay shitty. But if you’re not a shitty rider, shitty rails will make you help to ride not shitty on shitty rails and not so shitty rails?
Okay… I will try it like this: I think if you are not that talented and you need a lot of practice (like me) you need good rails to get better. If you are a talented rider and land everything on the first try (like Toni) you will also get better on shitty rails.
Alright. I have another one for you: “In some kind of way it is more a form of art than a regular sport and that’s where I want to take my snowboarding.” Do you have any idea who said this sentence?
I don’t know that sounds pretty stupid… maybe some hipster? Haha, just joking, I don’t know, man.
Alfred Einstein said that.
Oh, he was a snowboarder too?
Shots by Flo Jäger — www.flojaeger.com
Of course. Alfred was a true soulboarder.
Like that hang loose kind of snowboarder?
No, more like the Bozung kind of snowboarder.
Oh shit… that’s tight!
I’m talking shit, dude.
I know.
Really? So you know who said that?
Sure. I said that in my Method Ketchup.
Shit. Touché, Bärli.
Haha, I’m sorry!
No worries. What did you mean as you said “I just don’t feel the way snowboarding is going right now”?
For me, snowboarding is not about competition and like who’s the best and shit. I just wanna have fun and do what I want to do. Snowboarding nowadays doesn’t represent the same values as it did when I started snowboarding. That’s what I wanted to say, actually. I would love to see the importance of video productions would grow again and to be the main focus for the kids out there.
Second to last question: What time are you getting up mostly?
Usually I’m pretty lazy in the morning, in the summertime it even happens that I sleep until 12 o’clock or so, but if I’m going snowboarding I wake up between 8 and 9am… or let’s say around 7 and 9am. Depends on what I’m doing and where I’m going.
Shots by Flo Jäger — www.flojaeger.com
Last one: Do you think those „do you want to thank someone“ or „does anyone deserve a shout out“ enders are overrated?
Maybe we should change it to “who you or I don’t wanna thank?”
Excellent idea.
…and “don’t wanna shout out to?”
Even better.
Haha, but that’s pretty hard. Right now I don’t even know who I don’t wanna thank. Maybe some random people I don’t even know? No. That means I don’t know them so how should I not thank them?
I’m confused.
Me too! That was a stupid idea. I just say thanks to my family, friends and sponsors and let end this interview in a boring way.
No, you won’t. Tell me a joke!
A pig goes around the corner and falls over… that’s the joke… I think I’m one of the worst joke narrators ever. I don’t know any jokes and if I do I always mess it up so it’s not even funny anymore.
Shots by Flo Jäger — www.flojaeger.com
Don’t worry, I suck at joke-telling too. But here’s mine: A blond is watching the news with her husband when the newscaster announces that six Brazilian men died in a skydiving accident. The blond starts sobbing uncontrol-lably. Confused, her husband says, „It is sad, but they were skydiving. There were risks involved.“ After a few moments, the blond, still sobbing, asks, “How many is a Brazilian?”
…that sucked.
I know.
Dominik Wagner’s bills are getting payed by Nitro, Ashbury, ThirtyTwo, Etnies, L1, Raiden, Monster, Blue Tomato, Absolutpark, EMA Bandanas, Landing and Love. Also thanks to Flo Jäger and Markus Rohrbacher. Without you guys this interview would look like shit.
