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 fitness center. Even developing with new tips whereas enjoying video video games is best than the considered pushing and lifting iron. Given all he’s achieved at simply 24 years outdated, it’s laborious to argue together with his philosophy.

Identified for his creativity and magnificence, Kleveland might be a favourite in Massive 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 the moment, how he overcame a probably career-ending damage, and the way he’s been capable of make the most of his gaming to land tips.

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 tips.

“I bear in mind enjoying SSX and doing these loopy tips that I believed have been undoable,” Kleveland says. “However now we’re principally doing the tips that we thought have been undoable, which is form of loopy as a result of video video games needs 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 really on his board. He additionally enjoys enjoying Name of Obligation to assist take his thoughts off of snowboarding and even likes to apply on a Components 1 simulation rig. With one other ardour being vehicles, he says he’d like to at some point get behind the wheel of a automobile to compete.

No Gymnasium, 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 power 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 approach for him to get higher on the sport he loves is to proceed doing it and revel 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 like the game. I’ve at all times had tremendous enjoyable once I exit. You are able to do it with family and friends. “When you begin pondering of one thing as a job, it’s straightforward to lose the enjoyment in it.”

Marcus Kleveland By no means Actually Processed How Unhealthy His Knee Damage Was

For any athlete, listening to that you simply may by no means be capable of compete once more from a physician must be even scarier than any potential damage. This was Kleveland’s actuality in 2018 when his kneecap was “crushed into a whole lot of items.” Possibly 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 so as 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 positive getting again and I’m gonna be 100%. I didn’t care regardless of the docs have been telling me.”

Marcus Kleveland says he by no means doubted himself or received to a spot of despair throughout his rehab. His household and associates helped hold his spirits excessive. He additionally performed a whole lot of video video games and stored 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 house silver in Massive Air competitors. Given the damage occurred earlier than he may even step foot right into a bar, when he speaks on coming back from an damage, he sounds sensible past his years.

“I really feel like when you get injured, you simply gotta assume constructive,” he says. “No matter’s occurred has occurred already and there’s nothing you are able to do about it. You simply should be constructive and look ahead.”

Nerves Include The Territory

The X Video games is likely one of the largest occasions of the 12 months. Rivals need to placed on a great 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 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 simply attempt to journey a whole lot of snowboard earlier than the competition, simply to have the ability to actually do the fundamental issues and actually visualize the runs that I’m about to do,” Kleveland says. “That lets you imagine in your self since you’ve carried out these tips hundreds 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 concentrate on the duty at hand.

Observe Marcus Kleveland on Instagram @marcuskleveland.  Additionally tune into reside protection of the X Video games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.