Nicolas Müller

Image of Nicolas Müller
Nicolas Müller in Moscow on 16 October 2009

Nicolas Müller, (born 25 April 1982[1] in Switzerland) is a Swiss snowboarder noted for his smooth riding style and his ability to read different terrains and adjusting his riding to the terrain.[2] Muller's distinguished career and ability has led many critics and riders to hail him as one of the greatest snowboarders of all time.[3] Muller has been voted TransWorld Snowboarding's Rider of the Year on two occasions and was also Snowboarder Magazine's Rider of the Year in 2013.[4]

Müller grew up in the small town of Aarau, west of Zurich. He began skiing at an early age. He would skateboard in the summer which prompted him to move away from skiing and try out snowboarding - as he felt snowboarding was better suited to complement his skateboarding. Müller spent a lot of time at the nearby winter resort of Laax.[5]

One of Müller's earlier attempts at competitive snowboarding came in 1999, when he entered the Chiquita quarter pipe competition in Arosa. He won a cash price of 40.000 francs.

2005 brought Müller to the attention of the mainstream as he was voted TransWorld Snowboarder of the Year. Since then he has appeared in numerous snowboard videos and has placed in some of the largest snowboard competitions of the world - having placed first in the TTR O'Neill Evolution Quarter Pipe and the TTR 4 star Popcorn Snickers Classic Wallride, in 2007.[6]

In 2012, Nicolas Muller won a Winter X Games gold medal in the Real Snow Backcountry contest, which combines backcountry riding with freestyle skills.[7]

Despite these wins, Müller does not focus his time on competitions as do many other professional riders. He is better known for his appearances in countless snowboard videos - showcasing his style and ability.

Environmental awareness

Müller is a vegetarian and pursues a sustainable lifestyle.[8] In collaboration with Burton's Green Mountain Project, Müller has been raising environmental awareness amongst snowboarders. The Green Mountain Project product line focuses on utilizing recyclable material and eco friendly solutions to create a product that has minimal impact on the planet.

Part of the Green Mountain Project is the EcoNico snowboard, named after Müller, which has a FSC farmed woodcore and various recycled materials.

In an effort to reconcile his usage of helicopters and snowmobiles, he offsets his carbon footprint by donating to the SuddenRush Atlantic Rainforest Institution.

Sponsors

Gnu,Thirtytwo Boots,Nixon, and Oakley

References

  1. ↑ The Arctic Challenge.com | Nicolas Muller confirmed rider profile
  2. ↑ Snowboard Revolution.com | Rene Hansen Interview
  3. ↑ "Nicolas Müller - Whitelines Snowboarding". Whitelines Snowboarding. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  4. ↑ "Oakley Sports | Snowboarding | Nicolas Muller". Oakley.com. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  5. ↑ Quiksilver.com | Nicolas Müller rider profile
  6. ↑ TTR World Tour.com | Nicolas Müller rider profile
  7. ↑ "NICOLAS MULLER TAKES X GAMES GOLD IN THE REAL SNOW BACKCOUNTRY | Salad Days Magazine". www.saladdaysmag.com. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  8. ↑ Transworld.net | Nicolas Müller Interview
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