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121: Terje Haakonsen/G.O.A.T.

Terje at the absolute peak of his powers at the 96 US Open. Photo: Nick Hamilton

“A lot of people think I’m negative. I’m just the messenger.”

Let’s not mess around. My guest this week is one of the action sports G.O.A.T.s, up there with Hawk and Slater as the greatest and most influential rider his discipline has yet produced.

Terje’s achievements are so legendary it is difficult to know where to start. Subjekt: Haakonsen? The Olympics boycott? THAT world biggest air record? That peerless string of early 90s contest wins that set the tone for a generation? The fact that he’s still charging as he approaches 50?

The classic Terje method, Argentina 2002. Photo: Jeff Curtes

And yet, such a CV also presents something of a challenge for the interviewer. After all, how do you avoid going over the same old ground, the questions that have been asked thousands of time before?

Luckily, I go back a long with Terje. We first met around in 2005 and have remained friends ever since. Which is why I approached this conversation the way I approach all Looking Sideways chats: with an open mind and no agenda other than to have a fruitful conversation.

Japan, 2020. Photo: Gabe L’Heureux

I’m happy to say that the result is as revealing an interview as Terje has ever given, covering his relationship with Jake Burton, the influence of Craig Kelly, those recent social media controversies and – yes – the Olympics.

Don’t miss this one. Listen below:

Connect with Terje

Show Notes

  • “Not a complete lockdown”.
  • Snowskating.
  • “I don’t think anybody knows”.
  • Friends in the Alps.
  • Theories from all angles.
  • Antibiotics like candy.
  • Potential symptoms.
  • “Let’s call it a long dinner”.
  • The new pace.
  • Meniscus scope surgery.
  • Routine.
  • Online school for kids.
  • Working from home.
  • Ignoring voicemails.
  • Banked Slalom, Laax.
  • Year of injuries and body pains.
  • Trip to Japan.
  • Shoot for Burton’s new movie in Baldface.
  • Pinched nerve.
  • Knee-to-lip injury.
  • Pain killers.
  • More time for the Burton movie.
  • On Jake Burton.
  • Curator.
  • Losing some of snowboarding’s greats.
  • Step Ons.
  • Learning from tributes.
  • CEO and Team Rider.
  • Hemsedal Bang Slalom.
  • Life lessons from Jake Burton.
  • No time for negativity.
  • “No one gives a shit”.
  • Meeting Jake aged 15.
  • The Smooth Groove.
  • Snowboarding with Einar Lofthus.
  • Meeting Craig Kelly.
  • ‘Snow Shredders’.
  • “That’s how low you ride?”.
  • First ride with Jake.
  • “I feel like I’m getting worse at things”.
  • New knees.
  • Self-care.
  • Being a jack-of-all-trades.
  • “I’d rather do a little boring stuff so I can do a lot of the fun stuff”.
  • Playing football.
  • “You can fix yourself really good if you have the discipline”.
  • VR gyms.
  • Instagram questions.
  • Terje and the Olympics.
  • “The winners are the IOC people”.
  • Taking care of action sports.
  • Being a spokesperson.
  • Stipulations.
  • Humour.
  • “I just fuck with people I like”.
  • Politically correct.
  • Mini-shredding.
  • Being too serious.
  • Snow skating.
  • Subdeck .
  • Powder surfing.
  • Magnets.
  • “There’s no cheating, it’s just whatever you want to feel like when you go down”.
  • Wax boards.
  • Subjekt Haakonsen.
  • Buttering.
  • Hokus Pokus.
  • Burton Balance.
  • Burton Haakon Air 1994.
  • 152.
  • “I don’t like my name written big”.
  • The Arctic Challenge.
  • “I’m sure Michael Jordan uses his own shoes”.
  • Playing with swords.
  • Collectible boards.
  • Meaning behind @chocorompe.
  • Fishing with English blokes.
  • Sneaky football question.
  • Snowboard vs football.

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