Max Zipser
Austria
| Born: | 1984 |
| Team: | FreeSki Mountaineering |
There are not many snowboarders who are also top class climbers. Max Zipser is one of them. Like many of his fellow fans of the single board, he likes it steep and regularly descends slopes of up to 55° (Jäger Couloir/Mt. Blanc du Talcul, Pallavicini gully/Großglockner, Hochfeiler north face/Zillertal). But unlike many other riders, he likes to climb up the mountains he wants to descend. Without using a cable car, or snow mobile, or helicopter and thus with no extra strain on the delicate mountain environment. The 26-year old from Innsbruck sees himself as a discoverer - but he's also a preserver of nature and tradition. Together with SALEWA, he is widening the scope of Climb2Ski to include Climb2Ride. Using expert climbing skills to ascend through rock, ice, or snow crust. And then down again using experience, knowledge and skill. Across virgin snowfields and powder snow in high mountain terrain. It's the quintessence of Alpine sports during the winter months.
Max has trained intensively over the past 14 years to be ready for this new mountain sports discipline. "Whenever I am in the mountains, I am constantly looking out for a new line to use it at a later stage when I have the opportunity," says the Tyrolean. "Hiking is often the only viable way but also the most beautiful way to get up there." The young pharmacology student's mountain expertise was also acquired on the international freeride circuit (including first place in the "White Thrill"/St. Anton, first place in Engadin Snow Big Mountain/St. Moritz, third place in Overall Freeride World Tour 2009). More recently it was put to the test in Patagonia. He was there with fellow team members Björn Heregger and Martin "McFly“ Winkler on what they called a 'soul trip' through Argentina.
