Here at Ski In Luxury, we’re pretty stoked to be able to get a little one on one time with snowboard legend Dom Harington. The four times British Halfpipe Champion, Team GB Olympian and all round awesome guy agreed to have a little chat with me and answer a few of my questions.
Dom originates from Leeds, Yorkshire but now resides in Morzine in the French Alps with his fiancé. He made his snowboard début back in 2002 and won his first British Halfpipe Champion title in 2004. He’s gone on to compete in events around the globe and has been a part of the British World Cup team since 2004. His latest and greatest achievement to date is qualifying and competing for team GB in the Sochi 2014 Olympics.
I caught up with Dom on the phone while he munched on a pizza…..
RW – When and where did you first learn to snowboard?
DH – My brother took me to Scotland for a weekend when I was 11 or 12 but I really got into the freestyle scene at the Sheffield dry ski slope and started competing in dry slope freestyle competitions when I was 12 or 13.
RW – When did you realise you had such a talent for snowboarding?
DH – I didn’t really, I just loved what it was all about. I enjoyed it more than anything. My mum took me most weekends, and my brother. I made a good group of friends and I enjoyed the social aspect and being able to hang out with other snowboarders
RW -You’ve won a rather impressive number of snowboard competitions and events over the years, which is your most memorable and why?
DH – Well it just has to be the Olympics, it was literally a dream come true.
RW – You represented team GB at the Sochi Winter Olympics 2014. What was your reaction when you first found out you were doing to officially be an Olympian?
DH – Over the moon really. It was the best day ever. I still had a competition and I knew I had to finish inside the top 20 to ensure a place with team GB at the Olympics. There was a lot of pressure for that competition, but my friends from back home in Leeds sent me an awesome good luck/motivational video and it really put me in a great mood right before the competition. I placed well in the competition and instantly knew I’d qualified for the Olympics. BEST DAY EVER!
RW – Snowboarding has enabled you to travel all around the world and ride in some of the best resorts, which resort is your favourite and why?
DH – It really does depend on the snow conditions. Right now I am loving Morzine and the Portes du Soleil. I do love the French Alps as there’s so much other stuff to do. Today I went for a hike up the mountains, I really enjoy hiking and exploring.
RW – What is your favourite snowboard trick and why?
DH -Right now it has to be the pipe double cork 1080, it’s just an awesome trick.
RW – What is the one thing you can’t live without on the slopes?
DH – It’s got to be water, boring I know, but I always chuck water and some snacks into a back pack, you just never know when you’re going to need it. Oh and of course avalanche gear for going off piste.
RW – You spend a lot of time abroad, what do you most look forward to when you’re heading back to the UK?
DH – A full English breakfast! I think we don’t give enough credit to food back home. There is so much variety in the UK, you can walk down a high street and pretty much have anything you want. Here in France, it is literally just ham and cheese in all sorts of variations, but always ham and cheese!
RW – You’re not only an Olympic snowboarder, you’re also a professional DJ. What got you into DJ-ing, and what was the last gig you did?
DH – I’ve always really enjoyed DJ-ing, I got into it as a teenager. I stopped for a few years recently, but since living in Morzine I’ve got a residency on Tuesday nights with one of my friends at the Coyote bar in town until 3am. It’s always pretty lively in Morzine on a Tuesday night.
RW – Why is a Sea Lion your favourite animal (I’ve been swatting up on the profile on your website – www.domharington.co.uk)?
DH – (laughs) I don’t know really. It’s probably more a seal. I used to surf in Scarborough and the seals used to pop up, they seemed huge for seals and they had curious moustaches. They were really cool.
RW – What’s next for Dom Harrington?
DH – I’m actually going back to school. Studying at the local uni here in France for a masters. It’s a maths/business course. I’m able to still snowboard out here too and my sponsors, Animal and Nitro and being really supportive.
I’d like to say a massive thank you to Dom for taking the time to talk to Ski In Luxury and for answering all our questions, we look forward to seeing more of what Dom is up to in the future.
You can find out more about Dom on his website.
Dom is currently sponsored by:
Animal, Nitro, Adidas Eyewear, My Protein, treelinechalets.com, Extreme Sports Channel, Pow, Boom Botix, Dalikfodda, xsories
