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| 1/27/07 - BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA | Back |
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1st - Michal Kubani |
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| GO TO THE SNAKE SESSIONS PODCAST PAGE | |
| Much like that of the US, the snow conditions throughout most of Europe have been pretty bleak this season. Therefore Forum's Youngblood
Snake Session in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia in Central Europe, had to be postponed from 1/13/07 to 1/27/07.
Originally scheduled to be held at Snowpark H20, in Predeal, Romania, the first installment of the European Snake Sessions became a part of bigger city contest held in Bratislava. Almost 60 riders from Slovakia, Hungary and Austria showed up for the urban rail/box jam. The course consisted of a long wide pipe on the stairs followed by a wrecked car to catch some air over. Event was hosted, partially organized and judged as well, by local European Forum rider Michal Darila was onhand to judge the event, but unfortunately couldn't shred with the others because of a knee injury. The contest concluded with a final 45 minute jam session, which was a tight match between three young guys: Kubo Brziak, Viktor Horvath and Michal Kubani. In the end it was Michal Kubani who impressed judges the most and walked away with a new Youngblood board and The Best Youngblood performance title. |
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| INTERVIEW WITH THE WINNER - Michal Kubani | |
Forum: So, as usual, tell us something about yourself..you know, the formalities.Michal: Hi, my name is Michal Kubáni, I am 17 years old and this is my 5th season that I am snowboarding. I am in 3rd grade on collage. Forum: Do you have any sponsors? Michal: For the moment I do not have any, but I would like to have one. Forum: So where do you get your money for riding? Michal: Money for riding , ”heh”, until now, my father was the one who gave it to me, but he said me a month ago, while buying me a new binding, that it is the last thing what is he buying for me for snowboarding, so it’s up to me now. Forum: How do you like the idea of the Youngblood Snake Sessions? What do you think is the best thing about it? Michal: I think it is very good idea, which will help young talents, who are not discovered yet, to get “visible”. Me personally, I like it very much and I hope, I could get some advantages out of it. . Forum: Do you like Forum Snowboards? Their team, movies, products, etc? MIchal: If you ask anybody for Forum Snowboards, they will certainly know what you are talking about. It’s much demanded snowboard trademark, which has high quality products and team, and of course really awesome movies Forum: These days a lot of attention is dedicated to young riders and on discovering new talented kids, like yourself for example. Do you think, in spite of this fact, that it is still hard for younger riders to get recognized? Michal: Quality of riding rises from day to day, from year to year…Someone has the conditions, the other doesn’t. But it will be always hard for the young riders, because I think, that just few people notice them and they are not considered as they should be. Forum: You have convinced the judges of your victory. What do you think about your victory, for example which tricks you did the best or why you may have beaten the other contestants? Michal: I was trying to pull out some “go-to” tricks and then something more difficult like fs 180 to ss 50-50, nollie lipslide to fakie. I was trying 270 to fs board as well, but I couldn’t land it properly. And why I think I have beaten the others? I think it is mainly because I was pushing myself more than the others, who were pulling out just 2 safety tricks. The reason I was pushing myself was the motivation of winning Snake Sessions, I saw in it, that I could finally make some breakthrough. Forum: What do you like more, jibbing or jumps? Michal: I do mostly jibbing, because the conditions for kickers are really bad in our country, they just don’t build them. Even though, I would like to change this, because I enjoy jumps as well. Forum: Where are you trying to go with snowboarding? Are you just riding and hanging out? Michal: I want to go somewhere with it, but you know I guess I'll go wherever God takes me. I just figure, have fun and whatever. Whatever happens, happens. It's all fun. Forum: What would you like to improve with your riding? Michal: As I said I would like to hit more jumps, especially the big ones and be more often in the “top 3” on the contests. Forum: By which riders have you been previously and by which you are mostly influenced now? Michal: Well, the person I most admire is probably Jeremy Jones, the one who rides for Burton, and the second one is JP Walker. Forum: What part of your life represents snowboarding? MIchal: I could say, that pretty much big part. I ride every time, in every conditions, whether it is raining or snowing. If you want to reach something, you have to work really hard. Forum: Have you been doing any other sports as much? Michal: I haven’t been involved in anything that much yet, therefore I have to say no. Forum: Do you have any goals to reach this season concerning snowboarding? Michal: Yes, I do have some, but I am not sure if they will fulfill when I’ll show them now, heh. I would be grateful for a sponsor and make some real breakthrough this season. Forum: Okay, so just say thanks and hi to whomever you want. Michal: My respect goes out to Marek Hlinian, who I appreciate very much, for the fact that I am snowboarding, then I am saying hi to Zello, from who I learned a lot and then of course to my dad. My message to all is that, they all should go their own way. |
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