At only 24, Mathieu Crepel is considered one of the snowboarding’s most successful competitors.  Having won the inaugural Swatch TTR Tour and represented his country in the Olympics has cemented his reputation as a true shredding superstar.

Crepel disappeared off the competitive radar last season, but in 2009 he has stormed back onto the scene.   At the recent 6Star Burton European Open in Laax, he lined up against the cream of the Swatch TTR crop and demonstrated why he is still a definite force to be reckoned with.  Although he had not been competing at the top level, it was evident that he has been training hard and after placing 4th in the Halfpipe, and 5th in the Slopestyle, it’s obvious he is back in business.

During last season Crepel took time out to shoot with Standard Films and also logged a tonne of photos.  At the BEO he revealed that he had intended to compete to get an idea of where riding had progressed and what he had to do to catch up.  His insane Pipe and Slopestyle runs would suggest he is still up there with the like of Pearce, White and Co and in 2009, expect to see a lot more of the all round French shredder.

INTERVIEW AT CARDRONA IN 2009

TTR: You were the first TTR Champion to be crowned 05/06. What did it mean to you?

MC: Jumping back in the history of the TTR , there were a few contest that if you would win you could go to the final, which was the Arctic Challenge. In 05/06 this changed a bit and it was more about being a tour with a champion at the end. It was the first year I started to do a lot of contests and trying to do good. And at the end I won the first crown and I was pretty surprised. It came down to the last contest of the tour which was the Slopestyle at the US Open and the battle was between Risto and me, and I had no clue if I could make it or not, and I got 5th in Slopestyle, which was what I needed, If i would have been 6th it was Risto. It was crazy, it was just about one spot. I just didn’t know it until they called me on stage. I was stoked cause it was the first time, so it’s kindo of weird to say, but I was the first TTR Champion in history. It was a battle all year season long, which made it interesting. 06 was a good year for me, I went to the Olympics and fucked up there and coming back on the TTR and winning was pretty sick.

TTR: Do you think the meaning winning the TTR Tour has changed? Not just a paper, but a trophy..

MC: When I won it it was the first time ever, and it has been growing a lot since then. Now there is some price money for the winner, I did not get a chance to get that, too bad. (laughing)  I don't know if it means more now when TTR is more established. I was pretty sure that TTR would do good, I think it is something that snowboarding really needed.
Back in 05/06 there were 5 contests counting for the final result and last year it was 8 which i was not too stocked about. Back to 6 this year, which is much better, becasue snowboaridng is of course about contests and there is a big part of it that is riding, filmin and shooting as well. TTR was made for those who those riders who wanted to do both. Back to 6 results agian I think it will bring a lot of riders on the tour again. All the guys who won the TTR guys like Peetu, Shaun and Kevin ale those guys are amazing riders and to be on that list with them is pretty amazing, I’m stocked.

TTR: The seaons plan for 2009/2010?

MC: The plans for the upcoming season is for sure the Olympics in Vancouver, which might be pretty sick. It’s good because I haven’t been riding much pipe, I was filming the year before and last year i got hurt in february, so I could not ride for 5 months. Then back in traingin in new Zealand and Mt Hood before. Just having a goal and training for it makes it interesting.

INTERVIEW FEBRUARY 2009

In an interview with you at the BEO you said you were there to get an idea how much riding had progressed and how far you needed to go.  By the looks of your riding, you are definitely still up there with White, Pearce and Co (and you have not been competing as much as them)...What are your TTR goals this season?

Well, I definitely want to get back on the Swatch TTR Tour and I want to have fun on some of the best events of the season.


You were the 05/06 TTR Tour Champion.  How did you get to that point? How did The TTR structure help you become the Tour Champion.

When I won the TTR, 4 results were counting, and that helped me to manage to do other stuff on the side, and that's why TTR respects the deferent aspects of snowboarding. When you want to be No.1, you pretty much have to kill every 6Star event, but it's good to have 1 and 2Star events for kids.

 
What do you think it is important for young riders to attend TTR events?

It's good for them to enter some events where they can compare themselves to others from other nations, get some results and see that they're moving up in the ranking.  To feel what it is like to be a pro.

Open events are good for kids as well because they can check out the top riders. It's also the chance to see the up and coming kids who are going to rip in the future.


How do you feel about the Swatch TTR?

TTR is something that fits with the roots of snowboarding.  It's still young and some small stuff to improve but it's something that all the riders are looking up too. All the biggest events are in the TTR calendar and all the best riders are in the ranking.

How do you feel snowboarding has progressed since you won your title in 2006?

Snowboarding is progressing everyday! So 3 years ago, it was different from today, and next is gonna be something else again! But all the riders are progressing, so the race to the title is still pretty intense.
 
After seeing the riders at the BEO, which guys would you keep your money on to take out the TTR title in 2009?

I would say that Shaun is pretty much up there as usual. Peetu is having a great start and is a really solid rider.  Chas is doing pretty good in Slopestyle, but I think if he wants to win the Tour, he needs to ride a bit more pipe. With the "Quarter Pipe season" coming up, and his recent win in the BEO Halfpipe, Kevin could be back on the top.

What did it mean for you to win the 05/06 TTR Tour Championship?

That means a lot. First, I think TTR currently helps progressing snowboarding. That was something missing before. It would have been sad to see only the FIS running snowboarding instead of us. So it’s nice to have such a Tour, respectful for snowboarding with passionate people running it, involved riders. Then winning such a Tour, being respected by the riders, with the top world riders taking part in it is huge. And being the first rider winning it is quite…”historical”.

The level of riding at contests this season, like the Nokia Air &Style, has gone through the roof. Why do you think it has risen so much?

I think It’s normal, snowboarding is still a young sport and is consistently evolving. There are more and more contests, more at stake. So the riders are more motivated to success in contests. For sure, it will keep on evolving.

You surf goofy and snowboard regular – what did you start first? Which way do you skate?

I don’t really remember. Naturally I think I am actually goofy. It’s just that my dad put me on a snowboard for the very first time with a regular setting. Then since snowboarding has an imposed stance, I’ve kept on riding regular. Whereas, when I got on a surfboard and skateboard I naturally started riding goofy.

When you’re not in the snow, we can find you…?

In the water.