Halldor Helgason Interview

Halllor is a lot of fun and his Snowboarding skills are from another planet (Iceland maybe?)!

Where are you from, how old are you, how did you get into Snowboarding, please just introduce yourself.
My name is Halldor Helgason, I’m 21 years old and come from a small town called Akureyri in the North of Iceland. My sponsors are Nike, Monster Energy, Lobster Snowboards, Oakley Eyewear, Neff Gloves, Hoppipolla Headwear, Skullcandy, Bluetomato.com, Frontline, Kaleidoscope Skateboards, Techrider, 7/9/13 Belts. I started Snowboarding when I was nine years old, because I saw how much fun my older brother Eiki was having. I tried Skiing before with my mum, but I never figured out how to brake properly and always sent it straight until I crashed, so I really started hating it. Snowboarding was way easier for me, because I only had to think about one thing instead of two at the same time, haha! I started competing when I was about 13 and took the Icelandic national titles in Slopestyle, Big Air and even Boardercross, which is the title that means the most to me, haha!

How was your season, Halldor?
Until I hurt my ankle the season was really good actually! I started off filming rails in Iceland and got into the Real Snow 2012 competition, which earned me a nail-biting second place finish and the best memory of this winter! After that I went to compete in the X-Games Big Air in Aspen, where I missed the finals, but had a lot of fun riding in that sick contest. Next trip was straight to Japan to score some powder for a week and compete in the Toyota Big Air. After Japan I hopped on a plane to Oslo to do the World Championships where I unfortunately sprained my ankle doing a Double Backside Rodeo on the very last jump. I’ve been recovering and chilling since then.

Where does your focus lie at the moment?
Right now I enjoy filming a lot, because you can basically do whatever you want. Especially with my own project, which will be a bit like “Sexual Snowboarding”, I like it, because you’re on your own plan. Yet I like to mix it up with some competitions, because the level is so high right now and that’s a good way to keep up with the top guys out there. I usually go to contests without pressure, I just want to enjoy it and everything else falls in place by itself.

Since you said your focus lies on filming, what should a good snowboarding movie be like?
I think the perfect length lies between 20 and 25 minutes, it should not be longer. I prefer a lot of street riding, because there are so many opportunities in the urban space and you can always do new stuff. Some powder shots are ok, but only a few, because it often gets boring fast and it all looks the same. I’d like mix things up with some random funny clips instead of using lifestyle shots and all kinds of annoying fillers. I’d like to keep it simple and easy to follow, a snowboarding movie should make you want to go out and shred. I really enjoyed “The Art of Flight”, it was crazy, like a Hollywood movie, but it’s so far off! It’s done for the broad mass, the mainstream, but it actually doesn’t make me go out there and try to do the same.

You’re doing a couple of TTR Events every year and some Invitationals, what’s your opinion on the battle between the FIS and the TTR?
I don’t know, I would say I’m not really stoked about the FIS actually! They started off with running Skiing events and then they got into Snowboarding, because they saw the money in it. I’m just not happy with one organisation running these two totally different sports, it’s like rollerblading and skateboarding. In addition they have a rule book which is like a 100 pages thick and I think snowboarding should be as free of rules as possible! Still I gave competing in the Olympics a thought, but only if I can do it on my own program, I don’t want anyone to tell me what to do in that whole process of qualifying. Right now I can’t really see me doing it though.

Let’s talk about the Nike Chosen Sessions here at the Silvretta-Montafon, what do you think about the whole thing?
The park is crazy, man, everything is just perfect! I’m just annoyed that I can’t ride it properly because of my ankle. I haven’t been riding for quite some time now and it still takes some time to get into it again, but I already had a lot of fun just cruising around doing some handplants and stuff. It is a perfect mix of sick stuff and fun stuff, it just has everything!

What are your plans for the rest of the season and next winter?
I don’t know, I just try to get fit again and let my ankle heal. Maybe I go to the Superpark event, but it all depends on my foot. I also try to focus on filming for the Nike movie and do a couple of contest, that’s enough plans for the near future anyways.

Wordrap

What’s the meaning of life?
Just enjoy it as much as possible!

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
I think being a construction worker was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I did it for a whole summer, but it was good, because it makes you realise how lucky you are. Everyone should make this experience, because a lot of people take too many things for granted.

What do you first notice in the opposite sex?
Pretty much the whole body and the face, the combination is important!

If you were immortal for a day, what would you do?
I would jump off highest buildings or drop off the biggest cliffs, being in the air for a long time is just the best thing in the world. I really want to go skydiving as soon as possible.

If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what would you grab on your way out?
My computer!

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?
I would want Charlie Sheen to do the job, he’s just a cool guy.

Halldor, thanks a lot for the interview! Have a good summer, we wish you a speedy recovery and good luck for next season!

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