Nathan Johnstone

Details

Category: Ski & Snowboard

How did you become involved in your sport?

I got involved in snowboarding through my dad and one of his good mates Ash muller. I started skiing at a young age and once i was strong enough my dad put me on a snowboard. At 13 joined the winter sports program out of perisher and started riding with kids my own age and had access to coaching. Since then i have moved through the ranks to where i am now on the Australian Olympic half pipe team

Who is your sporting hero?

Kelly slater, travis rice

Age you started in your sport?

I started snowboarding around the age of about 10.

Height, weight, age?

Im  5'7   68kg   21 years old 

What is it about your sport that you love?

Everything .. the feeling of being out in the mountains. The freedom of being able to catch a chair lift to the top of a resort and explore the mountain or hiking out into the back country building natural jumps. The feeling of being weightless when doing a air out of the half pipe or a big jump. There's no feeling quiet like it.

What motivated you to start your sport?

I grew up surfing and skateboarding at a young age so it felt natural for me being on a board. And my dad has done the same is whole life, and at that age all you want to do is follow in your dads footsteps so as soon as i was strong enough i jumped on a board and the rest was history.

What is your current business/job?

At the moment i am a full time professional snowboarder.

Where is your favourite Ski Slopes?

Breckenridge Resort in Colorado United states. And Cardrona Ski resort, Wanaka New Zealand

People that have inspired you both in sport and life?

My Parents because without them driving me 6 hours down to the slopes every weekend i would have never had the opportunity  
My coach's over the years without there hard work and knowledge i wouldn't of learn't the skill set i have today.

Great experiences that have happened in your life?

Winning the world champion ships in La Malino Spain last year. It was a huge highlight in my career and personal achievement of mine.

Your interests and hobbies?

Surfing, eating, travelling, fishing.

One tip or quote that continues to inspire you?

Success doesn't come easy, Push through the hard times and you will come out the other side better and stronger

Family Background(where did you grow up) and Current Family

I grew up in mona vale on the northern beaches of Sydney. There's my parents and i have a younger sister Lauren.

What is your happiest memory?

Surfing down the south coast with my dad when i was a grommet and getting my first barrel right in front of him.
Getting my P's and being able to drive by myself.

Who did you idolize growing up?

Kelly slater, mick fanning, shaun white, nicolas muller.

Were you always one of the better athletes growing up?

I was defiantly lucky having some natural talent and feeling for being on a board just because i surfed and skateboarded. But i also worked hard at a young age to learn new things. And always was energetic and couldn't sit still for to long.

What is one thing you would share with the children wanting to follow in your footsteps?

Firstly you have to enjoy what your doing and really have fun with it and also You gotta work hard at it and never give up as tuff as it can be sometimes, fear is just a feeling and don't let it control what you.

How has being involved/playing your sport changed your life?

It has taken me place's that i know i definitely wouldn't have the chance to see otherwise. Its made me some of the best friends i could ever ask for. It has kept me fit and healthy, and has provided me with one of the best upbringings and has taught me to respect people and see the big picture in life.

Who has been your biggest supporter?

My Family and friends.

Who has been your best coach?

I have had the same coach Ben Alexander on and off for most of my career so i owe a lot to him for my success so far. Without his great understanding and love of the sport i wouldn't of been where i am today.

Sporting Background?

I played a lot of sport when i was a kid i grew up playing soccer, baseball, indoor hockey , surfing, skateboarding swimming that's just some of the sports i grew up doing.

Favourite Foods/Diet you follow?

I love sushi i think i could eat Japanese food for the rest of my life. And i don't follow any diet i just try to eat as healthy as i can, but it can be tuff when your always on the road travelling and competing .

Your typical training split and favourite thing to train?

In the off season we'll do a lot of weight lifting and endurance to build up strength for the upcoming season also I do a lot of surfing for cross training when I'm off the slopes. In competition season in the gym we do quiet abit or core and explosive exercise's to maintain strength but keeping it light so we aren't tired for when we need to compete snowboarding.

Worst injury you have suffered?

So far my worst injury has been a broken ankle where i did a spiral fracture and had surgery and a metal plate put it.

What is the ultimate prize in your sport?

An Olympic gold medal or a Xgames gold medal. If you achieve either one of those in snowboarding you are the best in the world

What do you find to be the toughest aspect of your sport?

Pushing past the fear of learning new tricks. for example doing a double flip 1080 in the half pipe for the pipe is 22ft high then you are going another 10ft+ out of the pipe its a long way to fall. So preventing injury and being safe, wearing a helmet is a big aspect of professional snowboarding.

What is your favourite movie?

probably the harry potter series. law abiding citizen and the hangover.

What one lesson did you take from your parents?

Hard work pays off.

What is your favourite music/band/song?

It changes all the time i like to listen to a whole lot of different music depending on what mood I'm in at the time.

What is your biggest fear?

growing old. injuring myself where i cant snowboard or surf ever again.

Do you believe "never giving up" is the difference between making it and not making it in any sport?

For sure. I think that's a big key in sport. To be successful in sport you really need to believe in yourself and your abilities. Or you wont get far.

Have you ever failed at anything? If yes how did you overcome this?

I fail in things all the time. Learning new tricks can be really tuff at times and for sure you get frustrated and wanna give up at times. But you just have to remind yourself why your here doing it and its because you want to be the best and win. And to be the best means you gotta get back on the horse and learn that trick no matter how scared you are at times.

What inspired you to succeed?

The feeling of standing on the podium in front of all your friends and fans. And the feeling of achieving something after you have worked so hard at it. That's what inspires me to want to try harder and succeed.

What did you want to be as a kid growing up?

I think i really wanted to be a professional surfer but once i found the mountains and fell in love with snowboarding my priorities shifted.

Your future goals in your sports, and goals when you finish your sport?

My goal is to compete at the Olympic games and be successful in my sport and to inspire the younger generation to get into snowboarding. Id like to have some form of degree to fall back on after snowboarding. But at this point in my career all my focus is towards snowboarding and being successful.

Achievements/results so far?

1st 2010 la malina World championships
Overall FIS World Champion

What is one item you cannot live without?

My surfboard quiver.

People you would like to thank?

My friends and family, my sponsors Ripcurl, Nitro snowboards and Red protection. The OWIA and AIS without all these people it would be extremely hard to do what i do.

Any further comments

go to my website nathanjohnstone.com

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