Marcus Kleveland would be the first to let you know he’s not match within the conventional sense. The snowboarder prefers freshly groomed snow over a cramped and sweaty health club. Even developing with new tips whereas taking part in video video games is healthier than the considered pushing and lifting iron. Given all he’s completed at simply 24 years outdated, it’s laborious to argue together with his philosophy.
Known for his creativity and elegance, Kleveland can be a favourite in Big Air, Slopestyle, and Knuckle Huck this weekend on the Aspen X Games, which runs from Jan. 26-28 and can televised on ESPN.
Muscle and Fitness caught up with the Norwegian star to debate why he’s not sweating the health club presently, how he overcame a probably career-ending harm, and the way he’s been in a position to make the most of his gaming to land tips.
From The Sticks to the Snow
One of Kleveland’s favourite video games is I-Illusion’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 real looking in its strategy to the main target being on touchdown tips.
“I remember playing SSX and doing these crazy tricks that I thought were undoable,” Kleveland says. “But now we’re basically doing the tricks that we thought were undoable, which is kind of crazy because video games should be crazy. And it just tells that the level of snowboarding is crazy right 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 Call of Duty to assist take his thoughts off of snowboarding and even likes to apply on a Formula 1 simulation rig. With one other ardour being automobiles, he says he’d like to at some point get behind the wheel of a car to compete.
No Gym, No Problem
Marcus Kleveland recollects 2020 being the final time he was routinely coaching within the health club. It had nothing to do with testing his deadlift or bench press max. It was all a part of programming to assist return power to his proper knee after he had shattered his kneecap whereas training for the 2018 Dew Tour. It’s not that Kleveland is averse to the health club. 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 doable.
“I never really looked at snowboarding as a typical job or something that I have to do,” he stated. “I love the sport. I’ve always had super fun when I go out. You can do it with friends and family. “Once you start thinking of something as a job, it’s easy to lose the joy in it.”
Marcus Kleveland Never Really Processed How Bad His Knee Injury Was
For any athlete, listening to that you simply would possibly by no means be capable to compete once more from a health care provider needs to be even scarier than any potential harm. This was Kleveland’s actuality in 2018 when his kneecap was “crushed into a lot of pieces.” Maybe it was youthful defiance or that snowboarding had been his love since he began on the age of three. But when Kleveland heard these phrases, he went about getting his physique ready as a way to be able to compete once more.
“I think I never really processed how bad it was,” he stated. “For me, I didn’t want to let that sink in. It was like, I’m for sure getting back and I’m gonna be 100%. I didn’t care whatever the doctors were telling me.”
Marcus Kleveland says he by no means doubted himself or received to a spot of despair throughout his rehab. His household and pals 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 Games in 2020. That 12 months he took residence silver in Big Air competitors. Given the harm occurred earlier than he may even step foot right into a bar, when he speaks on getting back from an harm, he sounds clever past his years.
“I feel like once you get injured, you just gotta think positive,” he says. “Whatever’s happened has happened already and there’s nothing you can do about it. You just have to be positive and look forward.”
Nerves Come with The Territory
The X Games is among the greatest occasions of the 12 months. Competitors wish to placed on efficiency and present their finest. Even with being a 13-time X 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 attempting 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 just try to ride a lot of snowboard before the contest, just to be able to really do the basic things and really visualize the runs that I’m about to do,” Kleveland says. “That helps you to believe in yourself because you’ve done these tricks thousands of times before. It’s just a matter of putting them down when it counts.”
Music from Travis Scott and Don Toliver often additionally helps Kleveland mellow out and give attention to the duty at hand.
Follow Marcus Kleveland on Instagram @marcuskleveland. Also tune into dwell protection of the X Games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.