Marcus Kleveland would be the first to inform you he’s not match within the conventional sense. The snowboarder prefers freshly groomed snow over a cramped and sweaty fitness center. Even arising with new methods whereas taking part in video video games is healthier than the considered pushing and lifting iron. Given all he’s achieved at simply 24 years outdated, it’s arduous to argue along with his philosophy.
Recognized for his creativity and magnificence, Kleveland can be a favourite in Huge Air, Slopestyle, and Knuckle Huck this weekend on the Aspen X Video games, which runs from Jan. 26-28 and can televised on ESPN.
Muscle and Health caught up with the Norwegian star to debate why he’s not sweating the fitness center at present, how he overcame a probably career-ending harm, and the way he’s been capable of make the most of his gaming to land methods.
From The Sticks to the Snow
One in every of Kleveland’s favourite video games is I-Phantasm’s Shredders. The studio says the sport is their love letter to snowboarding and was created with a “for riders, by riders” ethos. Given the absurdity motion sports activities video games can have, Shredders is life like in its method to the main target being on touchdown methods.
“I bear in mind taking part in SSX and doing these loopy methods that I believed have been undoable,” Kleveland says. “However now we’re principally doing the methods that we thought have been undoable, which is sort of loopy as a result of video video games ought to be loopy. And it simply tells that the extent of snowboarding is loopy proper now.”
All it takes is viewing a loopy trick from a number of angles on the online game for Kleveland to switch that over to when he’s truly on his board. He additionally enjoys taking part in Name of Obligation to assist take his thoughts off of snowboarding and even likes to follow on a System 1 simulation rig. With one other ardour being automobiles, he says he’d like to someday get behind the wheel of a car to compete.
No Fitness center, No Drawback
Marcus Kleveland recollects 2020 being the final time he was routinely coaching within the fitness center. It had nothing to do with testing his deadlift or bench press max. It was all a part of programming to assist return energy to his proper knee after he had shattered his kneecap whereas practising for the 2018 Dew Tour. It’s not that Kleveland is averse to the fitness center. He simply feels the one means for him to get higher on the sport he loves is to proceed doing it and luxuriate in it as a lot as potential.
“I by no means actually checked out snowboarding as a typical job or one thing that I have to do,” he mentioned. “I really like the game. I’ve all the time had tremendous enjoyable after I exit. You are able to do it with family and friends. “When you begin considering of one thing as a job, it’s simple to lose the enjoyment in it.”
Marcus Kleveland By no means Actually Processed How Dangerous His Knee Damage Was
For any athlete, listening to that you simply may by no means have the ability to compete once more from a physician must be even scarier than any potential harm. This was Kleveland’s actuality in 2018 when his kneecap was “crushed into loads of items.” Perhaps it was youthful defiance or that snowboarding had been his love since he began on the age of three. However when Kleveland heard these phrases, he went about getting his physique ready as a way to be able to compete once more.
“I feel I by no means actually processed how dangerous it was,” he mentioned. “For me, I didn’t need to let that sink in. It was like, I’m for certain getting again and I’m gonna be 100%. I didn’t care regardless of the medical doctors have been telling me.”
Marcus Kleveland says he by no means doubted himself or received to a spot of melancholy throughout his rehab. His household and buddies helped hold his spirits excessive. He additionally performed loads of video video games and saved his thoughts busy. He missed the subsequent two years earlier than making his return on the X Video games in 2020. That 12 months he took dwelling silver in Huge Air competitors. Given the harm occurred earlier than he may even step foot right into a bar, when he speaks on coming back from an harm, he sounds clever past his years.
“I really feel like when you get injured, you simply gotta suppose constructive,” he says. “No matter’s occurred has occurred already and there’s nothing you are able to do about it. You simply must be constructive and look ahead.”
Nerves Include The Territory
The X Video games is likely one of the greatest occasions of the 12 months. Rivals need to placed on efficiency and present their greatest. Even with being a 13-time X Video games medalist, Kleveland says he nonetheless will get nervous. The nerves are extra so a results of being hyped as a result of crowd and making an attempt to high himself. His confidence by no means wavers as he’s actually already ready from the work he places in earlier than approaching the beginning gate.
“I simply attempt to trip loads of snowboard earlier than the competition, simply to have the ability to actually do the essential issues and actually visualize the runs that I’m about to do,” Kleveland says. “That lets you imagine in your self since you’ve accomplished these methods 1000’s of occasions earlier than. It’s only a matter of placing them down when it counts.”
Music from Travis Scott and Don Toliver normally additionally helps Kleveland mellow out and give attention to the duty at hand.
Comply with Marcus Kleveland on Instagram @marcuskleveland. Additionally tune into reside protection of the X Video games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.
