Amoretti, Matthew

Aka: Mamo

Age: 23

Hometown: Jozi

School/varsity: Amoretti school of excellence

Snowboarding

History: Started snowboarding with the wits ski club long before any resorts were open, went on a winter trip to Lesotho and luckily enough there was enough snow to be able to strap on a board and learn.

Years snowboarding: 5 years

Where: Afri-ski(Lesotho), Tiffindell(eastern cape), Aspen mountain-Aspen Co(usa), Park city mountain-Park city(usa),DC mountain lab-park city(usa),canyons resort-park city(usa), Heavenly resort-Tahoe(usa), squaw valley-Tahoe(usa), Northstar-Tahoe(usa), kingvale resort-Tahoe(usa), mammoth mountain-California(usa), Alpbach mountain-(Austria), mayorhofner(Austria), Bardonechia(Italy)

My first time on a snowboard was like… in Lesotho on a patchy half snowed over slope, with rocks and grass sticking out. It was the sickest time ever, got me so stoked that I have never looked back. The stoke keeps coming every time I strap into my bindings.

What set-up do you ride: A 156 endeavour colour series twin tip park board, with Salomon xlt bindings and Salomon f-ltd boots. Stance +15 degrees, -15 degrees and wide as possible.

Favourite trick: My favourite trick I can land is probably a front side 360 nose bone, my favourite trick to watch is a front side 9 spinning off the toes.

Favourite park feature: The new flat bar rail at Afriski.

Default (safety) trick: On a kicker front side 360, on a rail front side board slide

Trademark trick: Front side 360 nose bone

Trick you aspire to pull off: Cab 720 and front side 900

Sickest trick you ever pulled off by mistake, explain: I pulled of a front side 720 in the park city park riding with rob, was going for a front side 540 but halfway through my rotation I realised I could throw in a few more rotations!! Pulled it off, so stoked!

Where is your favourite place to ride: Afriski Park locally and mammoth internationally

What is your highest competitive snowboarding achievement?
Being crowned kings cup champion in 2007, placing second overall at the South African championships 2007

Sponsors: Oakley, Dakine, skull candy, snowboarder.co.za, Amoretti designs

What’s the best thing about snowboarding: Just hanging out cruising with your mates, lapping the park just riding!!

What is your ultimate goal in snowboarding?
To be recognised on an international stage one day, maybe even got to the Olympics!

Social

When I’m not boarding I… design snow parks and knew features to put in the Afri ski park.

Music: Ratatat, ming and ping,

Last good movie I watched: No country for old men

Favourite food: Hamburgers

Favourite city: New York City

Favourite fashion brand: Analog

Best trick you ever pulled on anyone: Stole kats wallet out of his shopping basket in Spar a couple weeks ago, told him not to leave it in the basket.

I don’t go anywhere without my: Glasses otherwise I’m blind

Favourite series: Flight of the concords

What is your favourite would you rather: Would you rather stand all the way on a flight to America or not go snowboarding at all.