Seven-year-old Steve Fisher loved the board instantly — and it loved him back. As a snow-loving Minnesota youth, Steve took to snowboarding with ease, finding it an easy transition from the Vans-soled world of skateboarding. This was the first indicator that he was destined for great things in what has become one of the world's most popular winter sports. That's because most people who have ever gone boot-to-board on the bunny slopes for the first time have walked — or limped — away from the mountain with the knowledge that snowboarding can be hazardous to your health. First-time riders, aching bones and busted shades in hand, often grow an immediate and profound appreciation for the big-air acrobatics of the sport's most talented athletes.
A full 20 years later, Steve is thriving in the sport that was once his winter hobby. Fisher is a two-time Winter X Games champ (2003, 2007) and has the distinction of having beaten Shaun White. A self-professed "low stress," que sera sera kind of guy, this highly touted practitioner of the halfpipe is taking it all in stride, while still maintaining his focus on doing what he loves the most: making art out of earth, air, and snow — one jump at a time.
THE FISHER FILE
• Steve Fisher
• Nickname: The Fish
• Born: September 21, 1982
• Birthplace: Olathe, Kansas
• Hometown: St. Louis Park, Minnesota
• Residence: Breckenridge, Colorado
• Height: 5'7"
• Weight: 157 lbs
Q: What do you remember about the first time you went snowboarding?
Steve: I was about seven and I had this Target-bought, plastic snowboard. It was nothing fancy at all, no metal edges, nothing. I remember riding down this hill only being able to go straight. But I took to it a bit quicker because I had skied on two skis and I had done a lot of skateboarding. I definitely fell in love with it right off the bat. I was fortunate enough to get a season pass most of the time and I would do it all day and all night. My parents would tell me to be somewhere at a certain time, so they could pick me up, and I wouldn't be there.
Q: You're in a young man's sport, but you're coming off of a fantastic year. Do you feel like you can still get better from here?
Steve: This is a tough question. Yes, I had a phenomenal year. But the kids are starting to do double flips and such, which I'm not necessarily interested in getting involved in. But that's where the sport's going and you've got to keep up. It's hard to say, but I think I still have room to get better. I think I have another good two to three solid years of competition left.
Q: What have you done differently this past year? Were you surprised with how well you did?
Steve: It was just one of those things where I stopped caring so much. I really got back to the fun of the sport. I had a really great time competing last year and didn't have a whole lot of stress or pressure.
Q: Did you do anything differently training-wise that may have helped?
Steve: I took up running to keep me in better shape in the off-season. I would run 4–10 miles per week, depending on my mood.
Q: What is your average training day like?
Steve: I am usually on the hill by 8:30 in the morning and I try to simulate a contest day through my practice. Outside of snowboarding, I'll do other things like play basketball or get in a good stretch — other activities that are really more about recovery.
Q: How is nutrition playing a role in your job as a professional athlete?
Steve: Well, it's playing a bigger role now than it used to, simply because we know more about nutrition. We know that we are athletes, whether or not some people like to admit it. Of course, we spend a lot of time traveling, a lot of time in airports, so the healthiest choices are not always available, but I do my best.
Q: What is your diet like?
Steve: It's pretty much the same year-round. I'd say it's fairly healthy — a lot of chicken, rice, and salads. I try not to do a whole lot of red meat, but I love it! I don't eat out too much. When I do, it's usually as a reward for a hard ride.
Q: What are your thoughts on the Dew Tour, which runs through February?
Steve: The Dew Tour is an amazing example of how action sports events should be run. These guys actually care about what the athletes think, and it's so much more pleasing for spectators than some competitions. It's definitely a show.
Q: With the Dew Tour and the Grand Prix coming up, how are you staying focused?
Steve: I'm doing okay. I try to keep it fun. I have had a great career that I'm extremely happy with.
STEVE'S PRE-WORKOUT MENU
• 1
PowerBar ProteinPlus® protein bar
• 1 bottle of Vita Coco (coconut water)
STEVE'S POST-WORKOUT MENU
• 1
PowerBar® (Steve eats a variety of PowerBar products, depending on his mood, to ensure that he gets complex carbs and protein after a workout)
• 1 bottle of Vita Coco
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