On The Rise: Giovanni Rizzi
Jump in to learn more about Giovanni Rizzi hailing from Switzerland with proper jump fundamentals and plenty of time on board.
Name: Giovanni Rizzi
Age: 25
Social Media Handles: giovanni_rizzi_ on Instagram and giovanni_rizzi on TikTok
Hometown: Lugano, Switzerland
Home Mountain: LAAX
Sponsors: Nitro Snowboard, Oakley, LAAX, JBMC clothing
Stance: Regular
Setup: I usually rock the Nitro Team pro 157cm with Nitro Team Pro Bindings and Nitro Team Pro Boots with stance width 54cm and angles at +21 and -3
Year You Started Snowboarding: I started snowboarding around 2012/13, but I only got into it seriously around 2016.
How You Got Your First Snowboard? When I was a kid, I used to build my own little boards out of wood. I always wanted to snowboard, but my mum wanted me to ski, so for a long time I never got a real one and had to make my own. The first actual snowboard I ever rode was a rental, and I don’t really remember what brand it was.
What or Who Got You Into Snowboarding? Can’t really tell, snowboarding has always fascinated me, but I got into it most likely because I grew up skateboarding + I thought it was the coolest sh*t you could do! But later on in 2016 my coach Mitch Buvoli showed me what snowboarding was all about and I fell in love with it ever since.
A time where you should have died but made it out unscathed? When I was a kid, I was playing football with my sister in a parking lot. She threw the ball a bit too hard, and it ended up rolling into the street. I ran after it to grab it, and a car almost ran me over. Luckily, the driver saw the ball and was already braking, so I just ended up on the ground with the car nearly on top of me. Somehow I was completely fine. I picked up the ball, ran back to my sister, and said, “Please don’t tell Mum, she’s going to be pissed.”
Best Contest Result: Second place at a FIS cup, won a couple of banked slaloms and regional competitions!
Favorite Video Part of All Time: It must be the SHREDTOPIA ‘Ozzie’ section, I used to watch that every second day, haha Especially the big hip session where Torstein Horgmo does that massive backside 5 all over it. Yeah and also HEAVEN by Rene Rinnekangas.
Monumental Snowboarding moment that you’ll never forget? Kaishu Hirano’s method at the Olympics. Had to double-check it just now to see if it was actually impressive… turns out it’s insane.
Biggest Inspiration: So many, but Ayumu Hirano is definitely an absolute goat together with Mons Roisland, Takeru Otzuka, Kevin Backstrom and Judd Henkes. But growing up and for the longest time Ståle Sandbech was (and still is) definitely my biggest inspiration.
Steel or Powder? Can’t really beat the powder feeling with some steel 😉
Most Underrated Rider: The first name that comes to mind is Finn Finestone! The guy is just soo smooth and has that G style. Also Johan Nordhag or dr.nordhag on Instagram
Dream Sponsor (Doesn’t Have to Be Snowboarding-Related): Porsche, Swiss Air Lines, and any type of energy drink!
Go To Tricks on Jumps and Rails? A big ol’ SB5 tail is my go-to, it just feels smooth and natural. Same with a FS hardway 720. There’s something so satisfying about taking off on the toes, and you always seem to have enough speed for it. On rails, I’ve been loving shifty BS lips lately, or a nollie FS boardslide. For more technical setups, my go-to is either a BS blunt 270 out or a boardslide. I’ve never really been a big 50-50 guy.
Least favorite trick? Don’t really have a least favorite, but I’m definitely struggling with BS and SB spins in the halfpipe… can’t really wrap my head around them, and I’ve had way too many crashes trying to figure them out. The battle is still on tho!
I see too many kids coming up that can spin big, but barely know how to actually snowboard. They can rotate, but can’t carve. They can throw tricks, but struggle to ride with flow, control, and confidence. Snowboarding isn’t just what happens in the air, it’s how you approach a feature, read the terrain, how you ride away, how you link turns, and how comfortable you look doing it. Style and board control are the foundation. Spins come later.
Biggest Fear? Wake up at 80 and regret not going all in on what I love!
Interests Outside of Snowboarding:
Fortunately or unfortunately, I have a big crush on cars and, in general, machines and motors. Whenever I have the time, I enjoy spending it with my friends fixing or modifying cars and bikes. I’m also passionate about woodworking; during the summer I work as a carpenter, and there’s nothing more satisfying than creating something from nothing with your own hands. I love staying fit and strong for obvious reasons, so you’ll often find me at the gym as well.
Words to Live By:
Shout Outs: Biggest shout out to Mitch Buvoli, thank you for always showing me the way since day one! Shout out to all my sponsors and team managers, Knut Eliassens, Peter Pistole, Joos Caviezel, Dries Meesschaert, Marco and mellowparkcrew, Steve Zdarsky, Andy Aurhammer, Stefan Cahenzli, Jonny Kriesi, Karli Kriesi and so many more for all the support and love! Also big shout out to my family and friends, you are all the best!
Watch Giovanni in LAAX’s The Crap Show
