Gigi

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Name: Gigi RüfBirthday: October 9, 1981Home Base: Diedamskopf, AustriaGoofy or Regular: RegularNo matter what the conditions, Gigi “Smalls” is all about fun, bringing a positive attitude in any situation. Once again, the 2004 season was pretty hectic for Gigi. After the 2003 Burton World Tour in November he attended the 2003 Air & Style and several other contests, including the 2004 Burton European Open. Straight after the Open he filmed with Absinthe and his crew of friends from home, the Pirates, for their new flick “Pirate Radio.” On top of that Gigi worked very close with the designers on the Ronin,, outerwear line and devoted a lot of energy to his UnInc model, which has possibly the most stand-out graphics of the entire board line. One definite highlight of the 2004 season for Gigi was riding serious powder with Jake at his home in Diedamskopf, Austria, in the middle of his very own backyard. Gigi even runs his own grassroots snowboard camp at his uncle’s remote Austrian cabin, where riders from all over enjoy a laid-back atmosphere, creative terrain features and the chance to easy style it with Gigi and his crew.What three adjectives would you use to describe your personality and riding? Magical, humble and dally.Who were your first heroes in snowboarding? Three of my heroes are dead. That is not why they are my heroes, they were inspirations to life.What are the best and worst parts of your job? There is something that makes you turn and laugh about it all. There are fuck-ups such as promotions, flat landings, injuries, a cold nose, no lunch, yellow snow, mountain hazards, mainstream, big bags, expensive insurance, shitty flights, bad conditions, high taxes, interviews and that’s it.What would you be doing if you weren't a pro snowboarder? I would have studied more, then maybe I’d have an answer.How did you come up with the graphic for your 2005 UnInc board? Was the process similar to the creation of your first UnInc board? To make this year’s board, I chose to work with a different artist. For 2005, I worked with graphic artist Noah Butkus who again gave me the chance to show a condemned world. The color compound I chose even gives the three little pigs a voice.What is the most exciting thing about filming? Getting a shot that did not take any work.What has been the most memorable experience in your snowboarding career? The love for Jeff.What is more important to you than snowboarding? Love, peace and happiness.You see a lot more kids wearing helmets these days — what's your opinion on that? If you lose your landing gear and bonk an obstacle in the park, it might save your life. Parks are icy and slippery. You could land on your head and get hurt. A helmet is not landing gear or a bonk obstacle. So you don’t get overwhelmed with fear and you can charge hard on icy parks anyway.Do you think snowboarding is presented the right way in the mainstream? The pleasure of snowboarding is exclusively individual. I have a traditional concern with the mainstream.What place has left the biggest impression on you? Probably sitting in the back seat of a police car in New Zealand. That pig broke my nose.What films are you working on that will release for the 2005 season? Absinthe films new release “Pop” and Pirates Movie Production’s “Pirate Radio.”What 2005 Burton products did you help develop and what was the process like? To make UnInc there probably is a recess in the process. DCP, JP, RDM and I actually learn, work and create together. All of us have already painted and built our own boards. It is a privilege to ride it. Knowing that gives us the responsibility to create UnInc. Us being DCP, JP, RDM and Billy as riders. King, John and Crazy Pete from Burton work on the inside and shape of the boards, whereas Lance Violette, the design director, is the heart of UnInc. Not to forget the Canadian wood and the factory workers. Cheers to you all.