At the Nippon Open, I chewed a huge McTwist from the first shot, and the audience cheered and unintentionally heard a voice saying "It's hard!".The cameraman and staff who were with me also groaned, "He's coming."That was Espen from Norwegian.Still 20 years old.He has been on the Norwegian national team since he was a junior, and was with an Austrian television cameraman who came here just to shoot him this time. An exclusive interview with Arvensen ESPEN and SBN, the stars who are expected to fall in love with Daniel Franck!
– Data –
name: Arvesen ESPEN
birth: Apr. 25,1980
sponsors: Salomon, Bonfire, Arnette, Ericsson, Milita Survival
home: Oslo, Norway
SBN (hereinafter S): Is this the first time in Japan?
Espen (hereinafter E):Yes.I'm not sure because I haven't been to various places yet, but Tokyo is a big city for the time being.I got the impression that it was very clean with no trash on the road.And it's great to be able to come to a ski resort with such a nice pipe in just 3 hours from Tokyo.The scenery is beautiful and it has a completely different culture (from Europe), which is also what makes me excited.I've always wanted to come to this country, so I'm very happy to come.
S: Espen is from Norway, right?
E:Yes.Immediately after I was born in Oslo, I moved to the suburbs and grew up there.But I plan to rent an apartment with my friends and move to Oslo again.I have a lot of opportunities to travel to different countries this year, and in fact I haven't returned to Norway this season yet. After a month, I went home and spent a couple of days, then I felt like I was flying to another place.The trip is fun.It's cool to be in Japan now, even though it was Norwegian just a few days ago.
S: How about a stone-beating pipe?
E: It was a little crumbled because a lot of riders slipped in one day (qualifying day) today, but I thought it would be nice to have a bigger size.I think all the other riders like it too.
S: Do you think Espen is a competitor?
E: Everyone is like that, so it's not (laughs).I won't deny it.I've been fighting in other sports I've done so far, so maybe I'm originally a competitor?Knowing yourself by competing with other people ... I don't think racing is a negative thing at all.It's a positive thing because if you see a rider who is better than you or someone does a better trick than you, you push yourself to be better and you actually improve.And it doesn't feel as good as winning a good tournament like the World Cup.Of course, I also like free riding.When I was young, I didn't participate in competitions at all, and I used to make and play kickers myself.Next year, I would like to try not only the tournament but also various different things.
S: Tell us about your battle history in major tournaments so far.
E: I started snowboarding for the first time in two seasons, and in the first year I went to 2th place in the Norwegian tournament, and in the following year I won, runner-up, and 9rd place in several series competitions. Became.From the following year, I started to appear in the World Cup, and although I remained until the final, I was in 3th or 15th place.The following year, he participated in the Junior World Championship, and although he wasn't feeling well at first, he finished 16th in the ISF tournament and 4rd in the FIS World Cup from the second half.So, it can be said that last year was a breakthrough year.
Two runners-up and one runner-up in the World Cup in Europe, yes, Daniel was runner-up at that time, so I was doubled in joy.He's one of my best friends ... this year he's runner-up and fifth in the first ISF tournament in Europe and won the FIS tournament.It also appeared on the X-Games for the first time this year.It was a strange tournament, but it was a judge, and now it's the Nippon Open.
S: Which tournament has left the most impression on you so far?
E: I think it's the first ISF World Cup to win.The pipe was good and the rider's level was very high and it was very good.Dani Olmo ... I think I was able to make a big step up by winning that tournament.
S: What was the winning prize?
E: Only money, no, I got a really good trophy, but when I arrived at the Norwegian airport, I dropped it on the floor and broke it.I had brought it back safely for dozens of hours until then ... but I managed to repair it.
S: That was good ... By the way, as I mentioned earlier, Daniel is a good friend of Espen, isn't he?
E:Yes.When I started snowboarding, he and Terrier were longing for it.I first joined the junior national team and then the national team, and from there I started skating with him.I'm always having a good time with him, pushing each other.
S: What kind of person is Daniel as seen from Espen?
E:Daniel? (Laughing) ... He's a very active man.Really amazing guy.Energetic, relaxed and interesting.You'll always have fun talking, so you won't get bored with him.You can always get something from him even if you skate together.
S: Do you always skate with Daniel?
E: The Norwegian team is divided into two, and the team I'm on has a lot of travel expenses and many opportunities to go on a trip together.That's why I often skate with Daniel.However, I often skate together in private with two Norwegian riders of the same age.It's very positive, powerful and inspiring. I have a team called PERMIT.
S: A TV cameraman from Austria is coming all the way to cover one Espen, but Espen is pretty big in Europe.
E: Come on.Many people may know me because they often appear in competitions and have good grades.I still have a lot to study and I have a lot of other things to try, but I feel like I'm at the top level in Europe, at least in the halfpipe.
S: What do you like other than snowboarding?
E:surfing. I just started it two years ago, but it's a challenging and pleasant sport.I also love the sea.Diving is also fun.I do a lot of sports like squash and skateboarding, but now I'm addicted to surfing.I also played guitar and drums, and I also wrote songs seriously.But I haven't been in Norway lately, so it's best to play with my friends when I get home.I don't have a chance to go into a cafe and talk all the time, and I don't have a chance to meet ... Of course, I love parties.
S: Did you play any sport before you started snowboarding?
E: I played soccer for 13 years and hockey for about 5 years.I played a lot of sports, but I was tired of team sports and was looking for something else interesting.Something that I can compete with my own power.So when I was skiing, I saw snowboarding in the mountains and wanted to do it.I asked my parents to "buy me" for about two years and finally bought it.That was the reason I started snowboarding.
S: Do you have any interesting stories such as the mistakes you made when you came to Japan?
E: I went to the public bath for the first time today.It was my first time to take a Japanese style bath, so I didn't know how to take it.For the time being, when I put on my pants, I got everyone's attention.Once I'm naked and re-entering, I don't know how to use a small chair and bowl.When I was absent, there was a man who came in later and sat next to me, and I imitated him while looking at him.I almost started laughing alone.
S: Then, please give a special message to everyone who is watching SBN at the end.
E: I like Japan so much that I will come back again.There are a lot of good Japanese riders and I'm doing my best, but be careful of the Vikings from Terrier, Daniel, and us Scandinavia.We won't lose either.I'm coming to Japan again so I'm looking forward to it! Peace out!
