About our collaboration with Ride and K2
For the upcoming season, Reverse teamed up with K2 and Ride snowboards in order to offer a 360 degree view of the multiple sport options in the mountains. No matter the terrain or condition, our mission is to deliver a monthly article following Swiss athletes through parks, backcountry and streets.

Introducing Mika

Saas Fee is in full winter mode, encircled by white peaks, and with freezing wind whipping all around the village.
After being warmly welcomed by Mika’s family in their beautiful flat in the nearby village, we set the cameras and hit the road to paradise.
After an anticipatory ride on the red gondolas, the glacier is waiting for riders to destroy it — we spy kickers, rails and a perfectly shaped pipe.
Kids nowadays aren’t afraid to send it on crazy kickers; Mika Andenmatten is a 14-year-old youth full of promise for the Swiss national team. Born and raised in the heart of the Saas Fee, this hungry talent is known park riding and stylish tricks.

Parks are getting bigger features every year: how do you feel when it comes to hit huge kickers and steep pipes?
I’m really not too scared of them. The right feeling comes after a few tries; it takes a couple of runs to get the speed and the right mentality to hit them. I remember the biggest one I have ever tried, a twenty-two meter kicker at the Corvatsch Park.
Pipe riding, on the other hand, gets me really tired so I usually ride it just for fun.

At only 14 years old, your bag of tricks is quite impressive. Aren’t you afraid of trying new tricks?
Since I’ve never broken any part of my body bailing around, I’m not afraid to send it.
Trying new tricks involves the approbation of my coaches; they give tips about the best ways to do them. Before trying tricks on the snow, I go trampoline jumping three times per week; it keeps me ready for the winter season and gives me a solid base.

Managing school and snowboarding is the ultimate deal for young riders: What’s the best part about being a part-time snowboarder?
I think the best part about it is the freedom our school gives us. We don’t have to take classes every day all year long. In wintertime, when we need to train, we can take many weeks off for competitions and camps. Managing my school duties is not too stressful. I can easily study via Internet when I am away from classes.

As far as style matters, do you prefer heavy rotations or clean tricks?
Clean tricks for sure! I have to take my personal progression step by step. When I learn a new rotation I keep on trying it with different grabs in order to get it close to perfection. It’s better to acquire some basic tricks with tons of style instead of throwing random spins on jumps.

Park riding gives you a stable base, but will we ever see you hitting backcountry kickers or urban rails?
I don’t know yet. Probably for the next four years, I’ll get more solid skills in parks. Once I feel able to translate my riding in different scenarios, I will try more powder riding and backcountry kickers.

When did you realize snowboarding was more than a hobby in your life?
About two years ago things got a little bit more serious. I started enterting competitions around Switzerland and Europe and got onto the young national team. Nothing beats the feeling of riding comps!

Our conclusion
Saas Fee did not disappoint, as usual: Nice slopes and lot of fun cruising down the park! Keep an eye open for this young bomb because you’re gonna hear more about him soon!

Pictures: Nicole Antognini
Text: Alessandro Pellanda
Location: Saas Fee, Switzerland
Thanks to: Ride Snowboards, Saas fee, Mika’s family for hosting us during our shoot!