Snowboarding
Snowboarding’s Renaissance Men: Gigi Rüf
Who are the ultimate All Terrain riders? Part 2 of our new series
Gigi Rüf in Arlberg
© Matt Georges
Once upon a time, there were no contests and no videos – just snowboarding. But as snowboarding has evolved, the riders have become increasingly specialised. Which leads us to the All-Rounder – the snowboarder who kills it on all terrain. These are the true stars of the sport – the ATVs, the Renaissance Riders.
So, who are they? Well, the perfect all-rounder would dominate everywhere – collect Slopestyle and Superpipe Gold in Sochi, take it to the streets, and send it in the backcountry.
But… such a rider does not exist, and the gap between contest riders and video stars is always growing. So, we need to look at riders who tick almost all the boxes – Backcountry (natural terrain freestyle/freeride), Snowpark (jumps and obstacles), Transitions (Halfpipe/Quarterpipe), and Urban (street rails, architecture).
In this instalment, we’re looking at Gigi Rüf, a rider who is known almost exclusively for his backcountry riding, and has never won a major slopestyle, big air or halfpipe contest in his life. And yet…
Gigi Rüf
Backcountry 5/5 As he proved by winning the 2013 Ultra Natural, Gigi’s ability to adapt freestyle moves to steep and deep natural terrain is unsurpassed, as is his flow, spontaneity and light touch. That Gigi has just topped the TWS Exposure meter (again) is testament to the broad appeal of this enigmatic Austrian, and all the more mind-blowing when you think his video parts have been blowing minds every year since his 2000 breakthrough in Kingpin’s Destroyer.
Gigi Rüf – Backside Rodeo 7 in Switzerland
© Matt Georges
Park 3/5 OK, we admit it, the chances of finding Gigi riding a snowpark these days are pretty slim, but this doesn’t change the fact that when it comes to kicker skills and ability to ride absolutely any kind of obstacle, Gigi is fully legit. He almost pulled off the first-ever double cork back in Destroyer, has stomped plenty more doubles over the years, and his FS 1080 Chicken Wing is one of the hardest, most technical tricks in the book.
Not only the Method of the year…
© Perceptions
Transition 3/5 While Gigi isn’t likely to be sending it in the superpipe anytime soon, the fact remains Gigi has plenty of tranny skills – he used to ride Austrian cup pipe contests as a teenager and placed second at the Air and Style Quarterpipe Challenge back in 1997. Still, these days he’s happier shaping a quarter hit in the backcountry… or, better still, busting a Method on the most stunning natural quarterpipe ever photographed, ever.
Smile if you like rails – Gigi at the 2004 Jibfest
© Jason Horton
Urban 2/5 Once again, rails aren’t exactly Gigi’s forte – let’s face it, if you were born and raised in the powder paradise that is the Vorarlberg backcountry, you wouldn’t be in a hurry to take it to the streets either. That said, back in 2004 Gigi built a bunch of rails at his uncle’s mountain hut, hosted the European leg of the Nixon Jibfest contest… and won it. Not bad for a powder hound, huh?
Gigi Rüf
© Matt Georges
Y Factor … As in, “Why This Guy?” What makes this rider stand out? Here’s the reason Gigi needs to be on our all-rounder list: when it comes to riding the backcountry, nobody else has his versatility. When Gigi straps in, trees become jib lines, pillow lines become manual pads, Alaskan spines become funparks and icebergs become quarter pipes. Gigi Rüf is the ultimate all-natural all-rounder.
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