Luke Wynen Interview From The Burton European Open

LW: It's crazy, I wish more of us had made it over here as this is a great contest. Laax has put on such an amazing event and the vibe here is super friendly. 

LW: For sure. It was a better opportunity for me. I came thinking I could do really well here. My main sponsor was bummed I wasn't at the X Games, but here I can get live podcasts, TV coverage and with all the media here it's huge. So that's probably better for me. I usually go to the X Games and I've been in the finals there for the last 8 years in a row, but I'm stoked to be here, and pretty confident about tomorrow. 

LW: You know I may go for that. I tried to do the Australian Open but it was cancelled, and depending on how I do here I may go to the Nippon Open, we'll have to see. It all depends on tomorrow. I'd imagine Shaun (White) is going to be pretty tough to beat at the US Open! I don't know, I'm feeling pretty good at the moment and my riding has been getting better and better each day. 

LW: Yeah it's going to be interesting tomorrow that's for sure. I think the two Markus's (Keller and Malin) are looking pretty good. I'd never seen either of them actually ride in person so it's cool to be in this contest with them. I don't know who else is up for it, there are too many good riders here to say. You know what though? I really like the way there are 16 of us tomorrow. It seems like a way better format than if there were only 8 riders. We get three runs too so there's a chance to land the run of your life you know? To really go for it and not have to worry about contest tactics or whatever. 

LW: Yeah I pretty much know what I want to do. Today I had problems with speed and I just couldn't get the height I wanted, so I want to improve on that, but basically I want to get that first McTwist super big, then into the front 10 melon, then the back to back 9's. If I land that with the speed I want, I think I've got a good chance of winning. 

LW: Oh yeah. But I'm pretty far down on that list right now. Last year was a tough year for me, so my ranking is pretty low right now. My goal this year is to take each event as it happens and to ride the best I can. I'm gonna try and get the back to back 10's down. Maybe if it unlocks tomorrow I'll get them done here. Right now I'm a little off, but I have the 9's so it's something I know is possible. 

LW: Oh there's a bunch of people here in town who are aquaintances of my church in Mammoth. They're all part of the SFC - Snowboarders For Christ. It's just snowboarders who love Jesus. 

LW: Er... I think I'm like home for ten days with my wife and my son, then I'm heading to Mt Bachelor for the slopestyle and pipe Grand Prix, then I don't know. Maybe the Nippon Open? 

LW: Thanks. It's much appreciated.