Team Athletes
Flo Orley
Snowboard, AT
Flo Orley is a master of board sports and is well known as one of the best snowboard free riders in the world. Flo spends his winters snowboarding unbelievable lines down the big mountains and his summers surfing incredible waves all around the world. Flo is an amazing multi talented athlete and role model who manages to combine competing in free ride snowboarding at the highest level with a lifestyle that most people just get to dream about. Flo took the spot next to Mitch on the podium and got the silver medal in the Freeride World Tour.
About
Nick Name:
Flo
Date of Birth:
13.10.75
Height:
188cm
Weight:
75kg
Residence:
Innsbruck, Austria
Marital status:
Single!!
Major interest/hobby apart from snowboarding:
My life evolves around sports. I am out in the mountains, in the air or on the water as much as possible.
Other sports:
Hanggliding, basejumping, surfing are my favorites. Mountain biking keeps me fit and i really like soccer
What, in your life is most awarding:
The tiredness in the evening after a good day out in the nature performing high level sports with friends
What gives you energy and lets you think about other things than skiing:
It is my passion to give myself a challenge and trying to master it as perfect as possible. It’s pretty much the same in most aspects of my life, be it sport or other things
What do you do to unwind:
I have this blue hammock which i have benn travelling with all over the world on my surf trips. It is my chilling retreat, and when i am laying down in it nothing can touch me any more
Best idea of having good time:
Flying my hangglider at 4000meters. Surfing a big wave. Being wasted with friends at a good party. Chilling at a romantic barbecue for two at the beach
Favorite reading:
Anything about sailing. makes me dream....
Favorite food:
Indonesian padang padang food, which is rice with a big coice of veggies, fish and so on
Favorite music:
Depends on my mood. right now i like Mana, a Spanish band
Favorite place to travel to:
Impossible to tell. The world is so big and beautiful, so much to see and discover
What is your favorite city to visit and why:
I do not like cities
Favorite spots and resorts:
Madagascar is one of my favorite places. But the eastern Indonesian islands are great too
Where do you preferably spend your time off:
Time off?? My life is a constant mix of work and leisure.....but my grandma has this farm in the Austrian lake district, that is were I go to recharge my batteries if I need it
Snowboarding since:
1986
What started you snowboarding:
Just saw friends racing down the hill with this.....thing. Had to try it
Why do you ride:
It enables me to play with the nature, be creative, enjoy the feeling of a workout and finally - discover and get close to my limits
Best part of snowboarding:
Biiiig and looooong lines in Alaska. Unreal. Unbeatable for the intensity of the experience
Hardest part:
Making money by snowboarding. But hey! otherwise it would be too easy!
Weakness:
Freedom is my religion. Makes it hard if not impossible for friends to stay close. But some understand
Most important people in your life and career:
The guys from Duotone snowboards, Stuart Knowles and Gilby Wager enabled me to start a career as a a pro in 2000. My family keeps me grounded, attached to the normal life...
Worst moment in career:
Breaking both legs with open fractures at a photo shoot in Morocco in 2003
Best moment in career:
Winning the riders award at the Verbier xtreme in 2000, being the first ever international snowboard contest i ever entered
General career goals:
Keep riding and winning comps as long as I can. Keep traveling the world with my board meeting good people
Year 2008 Highlights:
Placing 3rd overall on the free ride world tour with a victory in Russia was pretty cool
Objectives for 2008/09:
World champion. Tough goal but hell why should I compete if don’t wanna win????????
Most respected snowboarders:
Xavier Delerue. He is the fastest and most complete rider I know
Other most respected athletes:
Everyone who doesn’t forget the lifestyle over his ambitions
Advice to beginners:
Love what you do and do it all the time. Then you will become better then the others
A training week:
Training?? well I go riding all the time, preferably with other good riders like Mitch Tolderer here in Austria and we just push each other to go hard
Training "secret":
Fun! Free riding is a creative sport after all, so it makes not sense to be too focused
Occupation If I was not a professional snowboarder:
Tough question. Maybe selling snowboards. Or being a full time free ride guide. Or working as a skipper on a surfing yacht in Indonesia. Or both
