Elias Elhardt, a 24-year-old snowboarder and surfer from Oberstaufen, Germany, notes that “Snowboarding is the best way to be how I am.” Elhardt has been featured in a few snowboarding movies—most notably Pirates’ “Jolly Roger” in 2009. He’s also won several competitions, including Relentless Big Air Stuttgart (2011), Pleasure Jam (2009 & 2010) and the Freestyle Berlin Cross-Over Championship in 2009. He was named German Rider of the Year in 2009 and again in 2010.
We caught up with Elhardt early in the year and he shared some insights on gear, riding and videography with us.
Gear Institute: Guten tag. Thanks for sharing some of your time with us. What’s on the schedule for you this season.
Elias Elhardt: I’m super motivated for this upcoming season. I’ll be mostly traveling the world for powder with my friend Gigi Rüf and the Pirates Film crew. Out of those trips, that we’ve planned so far, I’m definitely most looking forward to heliboarding in Alaska in all of April and after that splitboarding in Norway till the end of May.
(Photo Credit: Daniel Tengs)
Gear Institute: Sounds like fun. When you head out on these jobs/adventures, what gear always goes along with you?
Elhardt: I always have a Thermos at hand to keep me warm and stoked in the backcountry. When I’m hiking up, I use a variety of snowshoes, to keep me from drowning in powder. And when I’m riding, I always—always—wear an avalanche transceiver, to keep me alive.
Gear Institute: Simple plan. Stay warm, stay afloat, and stay alive. But you have a lot of other gear choices, too. Your sponsors offer a ton of great products. What items from them are you most excited about?
Elhardt: I wear my Dakine Balkan Jacket on every trip. It is a super good two-layer Gore-Tex insulated jacket for rough conditions. And of course, I’m also always having my Dakine Elias Elhardt Team Baron Mitts with me. I am super stoked on how warm and water resistant they are.
Like the gloves, my backpack is also a Dakine Elias Elhardt Team product—the Mission. This pack has the style of a nice handmade product. It’s a great all around backpack for snowboarding in the backcountry as well as for skating in the city.
Gear Institute: When you’re loading up that gear for travel, are there any special packing or gear-protecting techniques/tricks you use?
Elhardt: I use a Dakine Boot locker 69L to keep all my snowboard stuff in one bag, when I’m going to the ski resort by car. For my backcountry backpack it’s super important to have it light. So I’m only taking with me what’s really useful and necessary. Here’s what I’ve always got in my bag: my avalanche gear (snow shovel and probe), something to eat and drink, a binding tool, and sunscreen.
