Additional Information
Highlights
| Rank | Event | Year | Location |
|---|
| FIS World Championships |
| 26 | Snowboard Cross | 2011 | La Molina, ESP |
| FIS World Cup Rankings overview - displays all rankings from 2010/11, top three for earlier seasons |
| Season | SBX | ASP |
|---|
| 2013/2014 | 13 | - |
| 2012/2013 | 12 | - |
| 2011/2012 | 27 | 56 |
| 2010/2011 | 18 | 40 |
| Best performance per season in FIS World Cup events from 2010/2011 |
| Season | SBX |
|---|
| 2013/2014 | 1 x 3rd |
| 2012/2013 | 1 x 2nd |
| 2011/2012 | 1 x 10th |
| 2010/2011 | 1 x 5th |
| Rank | Event | Year | Location |
|---|
| Ten best FIS World Cup performances in current season |
| 3 | Snowboard Cross | 2013/2014 | Lake Louise, AB, CAN |
| 10 | Snowboard Cross | 2013/2014 | Vallnord, AND |
| 39 | Snowboard Cross | 2013/2014 | Montafon, AUT |
| 48 | Snowboard Cross | 2013/2014 | Vallnord, AND |
| X Games |
| 4 | Snowboard Cross | 2012 | Aspen, CO, USA |
| 27 | Snowboard Cross | 2014 | Aspen, CO, USA |
LegendALL-Overall, PGS-Parallel Giant Slalom, PS-Parallel Slalom, PAR-Parallel Overall, SBX-Snowboard Cross, ASP-Parallel and Snowboard Cross overall ranking, HP-Halfpipe, BA-Big Air, SBS-Slopestyle, AFU-Freestyle overall ranking, BA/SBS-Big Air and Slopestyle overall ranking, DNS-Did not start, DNF-Did not finish, DSQ-Disqualified
- Nickname: Diabolical (espn.go.com, 2012)
- Occupation: Athlete
- Languages Spoken: English, Italian
- Coach: Jeff Archibald [national] (USA) (ussnowboarding.com, 04 Dec 2013)
- Injuries: In March 2013 he required surgery after separating his shoulder. He was unable to compete for the rest of the season. (Twitter profile, 12 Apr 2013)
In March 2011 he shattered one of the bones in his left hand into 13 pieces after it was run over by another snowboarder. During surgery the pieces were too small to insert screws, so doctors pushed the pieces of bone together and pinned both ends of the joint. He was able to return to training three months later. (sportsillustrated.cnn.com, 27 Feb 2013)
- Hobbies: Surfing, cycling, rock climbing, rafting, playing golf. (Twitter profile, 23 Apr 2013; ussnowboarding.com, 20 Jan 2010)
- Education: University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Club Name: Stratton Mountain School, United States
- Position Style: Regular (ussnowboarding.com, 19 Feb 2013)
Additional Information
Start of sporting careerHe began snowboarding at age four after his mother gave him a snowboard for Christmas. He loved doing jumps, and entered his first slopestyle contest at age eight. (ussnowboarding.com, 20 Jan 2010)
Reason for taking up this sport"Snowboarding is fun. When you compete, you're pushed to improve whether you want to or not." (ussnowboarding.com, 20 Jan 2010)
Most memorable sporting achievementWinning a World Cup medal for the first time, a silver at the 2013 event in Sochi, Russia. (sportsillustrated.cnn.com, 27 Feb 2013; Twitter profile, 27 Feb 2013)
Sporting philosophy / motto"I don't take what I do for granted any single day. I worked hard to get here and now, how great is the opportunity I have in front of me?" (sportsillustrated.cnn.com, 27 Feb 2013)
GeneralSACRIFICES
He has made sacrifices in order to pursue a career in snowboard, but he believes it has all been worth it. "A lot of people put their money towards things I can't, like cars or vacations. I'm happy to sacrifice that stuff. I'm incredibly lucky to be doing what I'm doing. When you make sacrifices to chase a dream, it doesn't always feel like a sacrifice." (ONS, 18 Feb 2014)
VANCOUVER EXPERIENCE
Although he wasn't selected to compete at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver or listed as an alternate, he still attended the event to support his teammates. He ended up working as a wax technician, which he described as hard work but enjoyable because he got the Olympic experience without the pressure of having to perform. He went on to fulfill the same role at the 2013 World Championships in Stoneham, QC, Canada, which motivated him to improve. Three weeks later in February 2013, he won his first World Cup medal. "I was so motivated to never be there [as a wax tech] again." (sportsillustrated.cnn.com, 27 Feb 2013)
FIRST WORLD CUP MEDAL
After 30 World Cup starts without a podium finish, he won his first medal in February 2013 at the event in Sochi, Russia. He credited his silver medal in part to inspiration gained from riding with snowboarders half his age in Colorado, United States, where his girlfriend is a halfpipe coach. "It just reminded me of what snowboarding is about and helped put me in the right frame of mind. It wasn't a 'no fear' thing [with the younger riders], it was more of a 'no care' thing. The reason I snowboard is because it's fun. Spending the time free riding, being out with those kids, has definitely helped." (sportsillustrated.cnn.com, 27 Feb 2013)
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