Monster Army's top snowboarder killed it on the competition scene this year, now gets to back it down and do some backcountry filming with his buddies in NorCal

CORONA, Calif., (April 15, 2009) - Monster Energy snowboarder Torstein Horgmo had quite the rippin' competition year, winning the AST Dew Tour Slopestyle event at Mt. Snow (Vt.) over the heavily-favored Shaun White, then again topping White for good measure at in Horgmo's adopted hometown here in the States (Lake Tahoe, Calif.) in the Dew Tour's Slopestyle stop at Northstar-at-Tahoe.


Horgmo took two of the three Dew Tour events in 2008-'09, then added a couple noteworthy 2nd place performances. At Winter X 13 (Big Air) in Aspen, Colo., Horgmo got 'homered' by DC teammate Travis Rice, but was cool with it saying: "Travis has more fans!" (regarding the X Games' text-voting process that, arguably, cost Horgmo the gold). And the Red Bull Snowscrapers in NYC, which Horgmo topped Red Bull-backed boarders White and Rice in head-to-head heat events - only to get beat by Cinderella story rider from New Jersey in the finals.


Enjoying his second winter in America, the humble Norwegian was more than happy to field a few questions for the Monster Army enlistees in between helicopter rides and post-holing hikes, filming some killer backcountry parts and more or less just hanging out with his friends in Tahoe.


Monster Energy: Hey, man, you're a regular 'local' now here in the States. And Monster couldn't be more pumped to have you on board!


Torstein Horgmo: "Thanks!"


Monster Energy: So what's you favorite place to ride over here?


Horgmo: "There's many of them, but I think Tahoe's my favorite so far. You can ride everything there and the weather is usually good."


Monster Energy: What's the hardest thing to get used to living here in the States versus Norway?


Horgmo: "Well, I don't exactly live here yet - I just travel from spot-to-spot in my truck, crashin' at friends' places and random condos. But it's good livin'."


Monster Energy: Right on. We can relate to that - and we're from here! (Horgmo laughs). When your friends back home ask you what it's like over here, what do you tell them?


Horgmo: "It's just like the movies!" (more laughter)


Monster Energy: You could probably walk around a mall in suburban Los Angeles and not get noticed. Is that the same in Norway?


Horgmo: "It sure feels like it...I don't notice people noticing me that much at all. Maybe at some of the clubs in my hometown (Trondheim) when I go out."


Monster Energy: Some in the snowboard industry have drawn comparisons between you and a young Tere Haakonsen (also a Norwegian). Are you cool with that?


Horgmo: "I'm cool with that. There's no way I would look at myself like that, but it's an honor for sure."


Monster Energy: Your Dew Tour credentials are huge - you've gotta be pumped with beating White straight up - twice - on the Tour this year. Before the season started did you think you had a pretty good shot at the title, or were you thinking you'd be pumped to make the overall podium?


Horgmo: "You are right on the last part. I wanted to do good - at least at one of them and would have been stoked with that alone. So winning two of them was crazy to me!"


Monster Energy: A bunch of Monster Army enlistees ride are keen on snowboard stances. Can you give up what you're running you're running these days?


Horgmo: "Sure. I ride a DC PBJ for everything pretty much, a 149 for rail mission, 157 for backcountry and pow and a 153 for everything else. 22.5 inches wide, +15/-12 (angles). DC Judge boots and DC Test bindings."


Monster Energy: Yeah, Torstein! Thanks for your time.


Horgmo: "No problem. See you again when the snow flies."


Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it snowboards, SX, rally, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, rock crawling, wake, mini bikes, surf, ski, BMX - name it - the athletes are rockin' Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the types - Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault, Monster Khaos, Monster's fruit juice hybrid dubbed "M-80," the party-friendly MIXXD, the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend, along with the new Monster Energy "Hitman" energy shot. Torstein Horgmo digs 'em - so will you. On the 'Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com