Interview by Jim Borchardt
Whats up Ethan!
Tell me a little about your background, your home mountain, and the beginnings of your ski career.
What’s up?!
I’ve been skiing since I was 3 years old and Breckenridge has always been my home mountain.
Living near the ski areas helps so much!
I think location is definitely a huge factor.
Ever heard of the 10,000 hour rule?
I heard you placed 5th at the Aspen Open this past year.
What was that experience like?
Getting fifth at Aspen Open was absolutely crazy!
I was honestly in shock the entire time of the competition.
How did you end up choosing your run for the course?
Did other competitors influence you to ski differently than you normally do?
I always have a go at spin as many different ways in my run.
I spin switch unnatural better then I can switch natural, so that helps a lot.
When I do my comp runs, I only do tricks that I know I have on lock.
I was talking to a friend the other day who competes a lot.
I guess you could say his run isn’t finalized until the last second.
What I have found interesting over the recent past is the format of judging at contests.
It seems that whoever can huck their meat the most places on the podium.
Judging seems to really discourage creativity and style, while cookie cutter runs with doubles galore are highly rewarded.
I was curious what your thoughts were on this?
Are you going to be trying doubles next year?
Well judges are really looking for technical tricks with good grabs.
Doubles are obviously more technical then single flips so they’re going to beat them most of the time.
It’s just the way it is I guess.
I definitely plan on doing doubles next year.
I can tell your a competitor.
You think like a judge.
I wasn’t trying to downplay the skill and talent it takes to throw dubs.
My coaches are judges for dew tour, xgames, etc.
I was basically taught to be a comp skier haha.
I know that you are also busy with school at Summit HS.
Walk me through a typical week.
Do you get out of school early?
Does the school cater to your competition schedule?
I go to Summit High School.
On Wednesday and Thursday I usually go to Woodward or go night skiing at keystone.
I ski a lot haha.
The school is pretty understanding with missing large chunks of school, so that’s pretty cool.
Have you begun to make plans for after you graduate high school?
I haven’t really made any plans yet.
But I definitely plan on going to college.
I would definitely recommend taking a year off after high school.
I took a year off and it was one of the best years of my life so far.
What are you going to be doing this summer?
Any plans to ski?
Ill mostly just be hanging around and working.
Hopefully Steamboat helps out with those doubles we were talking about earlier.
Its been nice catching up with you.
Anything else you would like to say?
https://www.newschoolers.com/watch/633835.0/Get-to-know-Ethan-Swadburg?c=11&o=3&t=6
