Snowboard Major Chris Corning is Athlete of the Week

Author: Robby Burleson

You recently competed in the Audi Winter Games in NewZealand this past week. Tell us a little bit about the experience, and how did the contest go?

I had an amazing experience at this contest. It was the first FIS world cup this year. I just squeaked into the finals grabbing the 10th spot. Qualifying day was the first contest I had since Nationals last year so I was pretty pumped up. I fell on the wall ride down rail feature because I went too fast. So for my second run I had to calm down a little bit so I could put the run down. The goal was to make it to finals. So I went cab 9, front 10, back 10. I was happy I put that run down because it was my first contest of the year. Then when finals came around 2 days later I was riding the best I had the whole entire time I was there. I had been there since August 4th which gave me time to learn a new trick for this contest which was a cab 12. I had only landed that trick a couple times before finals day. The rails were coming together really good. The jumps were working for me too except the cab 12. So my coach and I decided that we would do the same rail line that I did for qualifying but on the jumps cab 9, front 10, back 12. I dropped first because I qualified last. That run kept me in first for all of run 1 and half of run 2. On my second run I went same tricks on the top rails but I did 450 out of the cannon to front 10, back 12, cab 12 but I sent the third jump a little fast and so I was unable muscle out the landing. Coming into run 3 I was in third, if I recall right. I did the same run I did for run 2 but I was able to put the cab 12 down which I was super stoked on! All in all I am very happy with how the contest went and I can’t wait for the snowboard season in the States to start!

It's awesome to see you start the year so strong with a podium win! How does this help your confidence going into the 2015/2016 winter?

This helps my confidence a lot but it also really makes me want to push my skills to the next level. It’s going to help me with my next contest runs because I learned a lot from this contest and the way I was riding from qualifying day to finals day. I will have a lot of momentum coming into this next year and I want to make it transfer over and keep on the roll that I have started.

What have you been doing during summer and what other sports/activitiesdo you participate in, or help you train while not snowboarding?

During the times that I have not been snowboarding this summer I have gotten on the dirt bike a little bit. I have been able to do some trail riding around Colorado. I was also able to get on a wakeboard and have some fun on that this summer too. When it comes to training for snowboarding, I have really just focused on getting stronger and keeping up with my cardio.

You had an awesome year last winter landing on the podium at almost every event. What is your plan for this season and what event's will you be attending?

The plan this year is a lot like how last year ended up playing out. Hopefully I can bring home some more wins and not just podiums.

the plan is to attend all the Rev Tours, the international and domestic world cups(Like the Audi Winter Games). I also think I will be heading to China for Worlds. I think I will be hitting up Nationals again because there is points and money with that contest. I hope to hit up as many as I can and have a great year!