Keeping It Simple With Professional Snowboarder Elena Koenz : A Weird Little Interview
Planting hands with Elena Koenz. pc: Manuel Döbeli
Hailing from the Swiss village of Vná, Elena Koenz grew up amidst a swell of mountains and stars and atmosphere. And when you look at both Koenz’s riding style and her art, you can see that same swell and expansiveness reflected in them. The lines and the undulations—the pulse, the definitive power, and the aqueous yet solid movements—it’s all there whether Koenz is slipping a rail, planting a hand, cutting through sky, or painting the side of a storage container. Join us for a short, weird little interview with Elena Koenz.
***Update! Here’s a link to the full Il Dat Alb!***
A Handful of (Wise) Words From Elena Koenz
Into the ether with Elena Koenz. pc: Gregi Roethlisberger
Us: If snow were a feeling what would it be?
Elena Koenz: Hype.
Us: How is it that you have come to breathe?
EK: Ask my parents (wink).
Us: When and where were you happiest?
EK: Just now.
Us: You traveled to Lebanon with Nikita in order to work on the snowboarding film Spirits of the Cedars. Tell us about your time in Lebanon with the crew.
EK: The trip to Lebanon was one of the most intense trips I’ve ever did. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster. One day we were sitting in Tripoli on the top of a ruin and I caught myself thinking "this is for sure one of the most exciting days of my life." But there were also other moments when I was more like "what the fuck am I doing here?" For example, when we arrived around midnight in Beirut and Vale and I couldn't find our apartment. Still… the snowboarding and the evening we went surfing felt really special, and the sunlight particularly in the evenings was really nice. It was also such a nice experience to meet the people from Lebanon.
Us: Who did you last talk to?
EK: My boyfriend.
Us: Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
EK: Niiice.
Us: What is snowboarding to you?
EK: Snowboarding helps me to get out of my bed each morning with a smile on my face.
Us: Why is this important?
EK: It's probably not.
Us: Hehe. Love the honesty of this.
Snow creatures and storage bins in Switzerland. pc: @peakframes
Us: Pow and trees or Park laps?
EK: Pow and trees.
Us: Mornings or afternoons
EK: Depends on the snow conditions ;)
Us: Storm days or bluebird?
EK: Both.
Us: Favorite snowboarding film?
EK: The Eternal Beauty of Snowboarding by Jerome Tanon.
Us: Ummm, YES. One minute and thirty-seven seconds in. Already loving it. Oh, wait. Hold up… finished out the trailer and it’s a little bro-heavy (though, the narrator also uses bro-life as fodder for satire). We’ll have to watch the full film and see where it takes us. Either way, thanks for the recommendation!
Us: What's your favorite song from the 90’s?
EK: R.E.M.’s Losing My Religion.
Us: Great song. Great music video. Tell us about your morning/evening rituals.
EK: I like to have time to eat a healthy breakfast. Evenings are always different.
Us: Tell us about your art-making process?
EK: When I have an idea I like to do a lot of research, like who did similar stuff before. I also like to experiment with materials, including which materials were maybe used to do this back in the day. I like to work on special backgrounds, sometimes the characteristic of a material helps me to find new ideas.
pc left to right: Daniel Conrad Loosli, Nicki Antognini, and Kuno Egli.
Us: Why is art necessary?
EK: Art is useful in many ways, and has always been important throughout human history. Despite these facts, though, art is and always will be unnecessary—a product of luxury.
Us: Describe your style (of dress) in a single sentence.
EK: The kids I was coaching told me "your clothes always look so comfortable." I think that explains it pretty well.
Us: Goals for your riding this winter?
EK: As I injured my shoulder a bit, my goal is to be back on my board in March, ride some pow and be able to go splitboarding.
Us: Cheers to that. Nonessential essential for a day on the hill?
EK: Sunscreen.
Us: We love sunscreen. How would you like to die?
EK: Peacefully.
pc left to right: Kuno Egli (x2) and Philipp Ruggli.
Us: Describe your hometown of Vná in one sentence.
EK: A place lost in the alps, where stars at night shine the brightest.
Us: First snowboard you owned?
EK: Blue Nidecker board with stars and a Rocket on it.
Us: What is your compass?
EK: I think Nature is my compass.
Us: YES. Favorite Trick and why?
EK: Spray in fluffy pow because I can do it all day long...
Throwback Elena Koenz. What a fuckin’ sweetheart. pc: Duri Koenz
That’s all for now, folx. Be sure to peep Elena’s blog and IG. Say hello and definitely let her know we sent you.