Name- Nicolas Cruz
Home- Chatel, France
Age- 24
Sponsors- Amplid Skis, Lange Boots, Discrete






Tell us about your home town. I have personally never heard of Chatel, but the French Alps are full of hidden gems.

It is a traditional village where the people that live there, grew up there and their families have been there for generations. The resort opened about 60 years ago, and has great backcountry and tree skiing. It is part of a group of 12 resorts called Portes du Soleil, and with a pass you can ski all 12 resorts, but on a powder day, I stay in Chatel because there is so much there, you just have to know where to go.

What do you do to survive?

I manage a bar in the winter. Its called the Avalanche. Swing by for a drink if you are in town.






This is your first winter in the Southern Hemisphere, yeah?

Yeah. I finished studying Business in 2005 and now I'm just trying to ski as much as I can.

What do you think of the skiing here in Las Lenas compared to the French Alps?

The snow here is incredible, especially after the horrible winter in Europe last year. It is the most powder I've ever skied in such a short period of time. 8 powder days from 13 days. The Marte lift is magic. The main difference is you need to know where you are going in the Alps. Here, you just pick a line, take the Marte chair and go ski it.






Tell us about the rollercoaster ride that has been your time here.

I arrived with no place to stay and didn’t know anybody. I thought I might stay down the road in Las Molles, but from the window of the bus it didn’t look too flash, so I thought I’d take my chances in the village. I ended up meeting the “O’Brien Brothers” from San Franscico who had a spare bed and let me stay rent free, so long as I kept beer in the fridge.

Then I hooked up with some guys from Utah through SouthAmericaSki.com and stayed with them. Through them I met the guys from the Levitation Project Project, Billy Poole and Julian Carr, and got to go out shredding with them and film.

Then I ended up in the same room as you Anthony. That’s where my luck ran out.

And I don’t know where Im going to stay next week.

You have a ski sponsor, Amplid. What’s the deal with them?

Peter Bauer who designed the Custom board for Burton, and Annian Thrainer started their own ski and snowboard company. The winter of 06/07 was their first year and they sold out by mid January. The production was small, but they turned out to be really popular.

What is the construction?

They are woodcore, except for the Infrablack (139/107/129- 191) ski and the Paradigma snowboard, they are a mix of wood and carbon which makes them the lightest fat ski on the market.

Describe the skis?

Only freeride and freestyle skis. All the skis are twin tip and basically they are real skis. For example the Infrablack, even though it is long and fat and stiff, it will still carve on ice. Next year they are bringing out the Cholesterone which will be 126 underfoot and 184 cm. I don’t bother skiing straight anymore. Skiing switch is just as easy on that ski.






What is your plan from here on?

Hang out in Las Lenas until the end of August and then chill for the fall in France. Then back on the skis early November to train and get the legs strong to try to get on the World Freeski Tour.

What are your goals for the Tour this year?

Im not planning on ranking too high, I just want to be able to ski with really good skiers and learn a lot.

Who are your role models in skiing?

I really admire Sage because he brings freestyle to the big mountain, but his lines are still really powerful and his tricks don’t compromise the fluidity or commitment of the line. In freestyle, Jon Olsson. He has the sickest style ever. I admire anyone who brings a new trick or does a line that no one as ever done before and sticks it.






Do you ever wear more than 3 colors?

No. You can’t. It’s against the rules. (Hahaha) I’m a fashion addict.

I own only one pair of jeans, therefore I travel with one pair of jeans. How many did you bring on this trip alone?

I brought 7.

What else should people know about Nicolas Cruz?

I listen to Brittany Spears and would really like to meet her. (And Abba- I had to endure the karaoke version on the lift).

On a serious note, though I just want people to believe that if they want to do something, they just need to try. I dreamt of this trip and never thought it would happen, and look where I am now. Skiing third track down Eduardo face in Las Lenas after 5ft of snow has fallen. Just making this trip a reality inspires me to try even more in my skiing and my life. There is a French saying, “Quand on veut on peut” which means “When you want, you can” and I really believe in it.