Mathieu Crépel
Encyclopedia
Mathieu Crépel is a French professional snowboarder
and World Champion based in Anglet
, Northern Basque Country
. Crépel rides regular stance
. He has also surfed
competitively in the multi-discipline Quik Cup.
(Hautes-Pyrénées
) on a customised board specially designed for a small child with ski bindings, soon earning the nickname 'Little Monkey' for his agility. His family attended many major winter sports events due to his father's occupation as a ski instructor and consequently Crépel was present at the birth of snowboarding in France and the Pyrenees
.
When he was 10 years old, Crépel was spotted by Terje Haakonsen whilst on a Quiksilver
photoshoot in Greenland
and invited to take part in the Arctic Challenge
and by the age of 15 he had been runner up in the Youth World Championships. He went on to win the snowboarding title in the Quik Cup of 2001 and 2002, took third place in the 2001 Half Pipe Junior World Championships and second place in the 2003 Quiksilver Slopestyle
Pro in 2003.
In 2006 Crépel represented France at the Olympic Winter Games
but failed to win a medal however later in the same year he became the first Ticket to Ride (TTR) World Snowboard Tour
champion.
In 2007, Mathieu Crépel became world champion at both big air and the half pipe at the World Championships in Arosa
, Switzerland. During the big air he became the first ever person to land a switch backside 12 in competition.
. The event is notable for its unique format - each rider nominates two tricks and the set trick list is created by drawing five of the nominations at random.
He also a supporter of the environmental organisations the Mountain Riders association and the Surfrider Foundation
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
and World Champion based in Anglet
Anglet
Anglet is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in Aquitaine in south-western France. The town's name is pronounced [ãglet]; i.e...
, Northern Basque Country
Northern Basque Country
The French Basque Country or Northern Basque Country situated within the western part of the French department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques constitutes the north-eastern part of the Basque Country....
. Crépel rides regular stance
Footedness
Footedness, similar to handedness, is the natural preference of one's left or right foot for various purposes. While purposes vary, such as applying the greatest force in a kick or stomp, footedness is most commonly associated with the preference of a particular foot in the leading position while...
. He has also surfed
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
competitively in the multi-discipline Quik Cup.
Early life
Crépel began snowboarding at the age of six in the Pyrenean resort of La MongieLa Mongie
The village of La Mongie is at 1800 metres altitude. There are also residences at 1850 and the Tourmalet building at 1900. It lies below the Col du Tourmalet . It is in the Midi-Pyrénées region of France and around 20 km from the Spanish border...
(Hautes-Pyrénées
Hautes-Pyrénées
Hautes-Pyrénées is a department in southwestern France. It is part of the Midi-Pyrénées region.-History:...
) on a customised board specially designed for a small child with ski bindings, soon earning the nickname 'Little Monkey' for his agility. His family attended many major winter sports events due to his father's occupation as a ski instructor and consequently Crépel was present at the birth of snowboarding in France and the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
.
When he was 10 years old, Crépel was spotted by Terje Haakonsen whilst on a Quiksilver
Quiksilver
Quiksilver, Inc. , is an American company based in Huntington Beach, California, one of the world's largest manufacturers of surfwear and other boardsport-related equipment...
photoshoot in Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
and invited to take part in the Arctic Challenge
The Arctic Challenge
The Arctic Challenge is a snowboarding contest arranged for and by the riders themselves. It was started by Norwegian professional snowboarders Daniel Franck and Terje Haakonsen. The contest was established as an alternative to the former competitions that had become streamlined and run by...
and by the age of 15 he had been runner up in the Youth World Championships. He went on to win the snowboarding title in the Quik Cup of 2001 and 2002, took third place in the 2001 Half Pipe Junior World Championships and second place in the 2003 Quiksilver Slopestyle
Slopestyle
Slopestyle is a popular type of competition for winter action sports; which originated as a snowboarding competition format. Today, there are many sports that are considered to have this style of competition, of which skiing and snowboarding are two of the most common...
Pro in 2003.
Senior snowboarding career
In 2005 Crépel won the Crystal Globe and was the first ever French winner of a half pipe world title.In 2006 Crépel represented France at the Olympic Winter Games
Snowboarding at the 2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympic Games Snowboarding competition consisted of men's and women's Halfpipe, Parallel Giant Slalom and Snowboard Cross events.-Medal table:-Men's events:-Women's events:...
but failed to win a medal however later in the same year he became the first Ticket to Ride (TTR) World Snowboard Tour
Ticket to Ride (World Snowboard Tour)
Founded by Terje Håkonsen and industry innovators in 2002, the Ticket To Ride World Snowboard Tour is a rider-driven organization that aims to represent the progression of snowboarding...
champion.
In 2007, Mathieu Crépel became world champion at both big air and the half pipe at the World Championships in Arosa
Arosa
Arosa is a town and a municipality in the district of Plessur in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is both a summer and a winter tourist resort.-History:...
, Switzerland. During the big air he became the first ever person to land a switch backside 12 in competition.
Mathieu Crépel Invitational
The Mathieu Crépel Invitational is a new annual event (inaugural meet February 2008) which will be held in the Ayré Forest in the Pyrenees and will form part of the TTR World Championship seriesTicket to Ride (World Snowboard Tour)
Founded by Terje Håkonsen and industry innovators in 2002, the Ticket To Ride World Snowboard Tour is a rider-driven organization that aims to represent the progression of snowboarding...
. The event is notable for its unique format - each rider nominates two tricks and the set trick list is created by drawing five of the nominations at random.
Media and business ventures
Crépel has appeared in several snowboarding videos and is the subject of a book published in France by Editions Rival.He also a supporter of the environmental organisations the Mountain Riders association and the Surfrider Foundation
See also
- Snowboarding at the 2006 Winter Olympics - Men's halfpipeSnowboarding at the 2006 Winter Olympics - Men's HalfpipeThe men's halfpipe event in snowboarding at the 2006 Winter Olympics was held in Bardonecchia, a village in the Province of Turin, Italy. Competition took place on 12 February 2006.-Medalists:-Results:...
- France at the 2006 Winter OlympicsFrance at the 2006 Winter OlympicsFrance competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. France is represented by the National Olympic Committee of France .-Medalists:- Alpine skiing :MenWomen...
- List of snowboard tricks
External links
- Mathieu Crépel's official website
- The official website of the MC Invitational
- Crépel winning the 2007 World Championships (photo number 5)
- Mathieu Crépel’s profile, on the Quiksilver website.
- Mathieu Crépel's profile on the X Games website
- Mathieu Crépel's interview on the website of the TTR Tour
- Mountain Riders Association
- Surfrider Foundation Europe