An interview with freeride skier, Konsti Ottner
When we discovered that one of our favourite skiers had signed with Ortovox, we decided we had to set up an interview.
In this edition of the Athlete Archives, we talk with Konsti Ottner about his passion for freeriding, how it all began and where in the world it has taken him.
What was your first big line — how did it feel at the top and when you made it down in one piece?
This was in Tirol during the spring of 2017: we had scoped out a big wall on a glacier close to Innsbruck. Of course I was a little nervous, but because we felt really confident about the snowpack stability and avalanche conditions, I could really lean into this moment of pure joy. And of course, it was such a great feeling at the bottom when all three of us made it down safely.
Today I am still nervous on top of every big line. A lot can happen in the big mountains and so I just focus on calculating every scenario as well as I can.
Photo Credit: Max Draeger & Ortovox
How did you get into competitive freeride skiing in the first place, and how has your skiing evolved since then?
I grew up alpine racing. When I was a teenager, my Mum found out about a freeride contest and since I loved skiing off-piste before and after race training, I gave it a try and was hooked right away.
Eventually, I found myself in the start gate of the Freeride Junior Tour in Fieberbrunn, Austria. Later that season, I travelled to compete in Verbier where I also saw the Freeride World Tour (FWT) riders competing on the Bec des Rosses. I was so impressed and from that moment, I was really motivated to keep building my freeriding so that I could one day compete in the big leagues too.
With that said, I never took competitive freeride too seriously. It was a really fun time and I learnt a lot: travelling with my friends from comp to comp – we had so much fun skiing and partying. When you landed a good run (and maybe a good result), it was the icing on the cake.
It’s not that I didn’t consider qualifying for the FWT along this journey, but my approach was more to go with the flow and see how things evolved. I think this approach worked for me because during my third year on the FWQ, I made the cut for the World Tour at 21 years old.
We don’t see you in a competition bib much these days, so what does a day-in-the-life of Konsti Ottner look like?
In 2020, a few weeks before my very first Freeride World Tour stop in Japan, I dislocated my right shoulder and needed surgery. Three months later, I tore my ACL and meniscus. I put a lot of pressure on myself to compete the following year, but I wasn’t ready physically and mentally.
My shoulders kept troubling me over the next four years, I had to undergo five more surgeries and I had to be really careful skiing – I wasn’t able to really push my skiing between 2020 and the last winter season (2024-25).
But there are always silver linings: during this time where I couldn’t ski at my highest level, I began to explore the east: travelling, skiing, and creating film projects with The Legs Of Steel and Snowmads.
This enabled me to meet really cool people, experience different cultures and see crazy places in the “middle of nowhere”. When you ski in these countries without a mountain rescue or emergency medical services, you are totally on your own and you have to adapt your risk tolerance and skiing to the circumstances. So during this time when I couldn’t ski hard, these kinds of adventures were the perfect alternative.
Photo Credit: Max Draeger & Ortovox
Your skiing has taken you far and wide – what were your favourite destinations for skiing, for adventure, and for people?
Nothing beats a good trip to the East. The people, the landscapes, the adventures and memories get better the further you go. The furthest I’ve been is to Iran, but I am super motivated to keep exploring this area and get to know more of the ‘Stans’.
Pre-powder rituals: What’s the first thing you do on a powder morning, before you even leave the house (or van…)?
A detailed weather and avalanche conditions check!
Gear talk! What are you wearing when you head to the mountain for a day’s ski touring versus resort laps?
Because I’m dressing in layers, my clothes don’t change too much between ski touring and resort laps. That’s because I can layer up when it’s cold, and if I’m touring up and getting warm, I can take layers off and put them in my backpack.
Everything I’m wearing is from Ortovox: I start with my base layers (warm but breathable), I add one or two midlayers (depending on the temperature) and then I add my hard shell (3L shell) jacket and pants as the outer layer.
My favourite hardshell is the Ortovox Ravine Free 3L Jacket and Pants – I like that the Ravine range has a more relaxed fit since I always wear my skiwear loose and baggy
What I will change between resort skiing and touring is my backpack – you need more gear when you’re heading into the backcountry, but if I’m just lapping the resort, I might take a smaller backpack like the Powder Rider 16L Backpack.
Konsti wearing the Ortovox Ravine 3L Jacket - Photo Credit: Max Draeger & Ortovox
How do you get in the right headspace before dropping into a big line?
During winter I try to ski as much as possible, so that I feel comfy on my skis on all different kinds of terrain and conditions – and so that I know I can rely on my skiing.
To get in the right headspace, I want to make sure the conditions are safe! If I feel comfortable with the avalanche conditions and the safety of the line, I am so much more stoked and ready to send it.
Everyone has a ‘learning moment’ (a.k.a. a good crash story). What’s one that taught you something you still carry with you?
I learnt a lot during the four years I spent dealing with shoulder injuries and multiple surgeries. It taught me about patience, trusting the process and I felt that I grew as a person during these challenges.
But by far, my biggest singular learning moment was an avalanche accident in 2023. I got buried 2.5 metres down in the snow and I was incredibly lucky that my friends somehow managed to dig me out in time.
Everyone who was there that day learnt a lot, but it’s difficult to summarise those learnings here.
Can you share your favourite ski movie projects so that we can fawn over your incredible skiing?
Due to my injuries, I struggled to be proud of my skiing for a few years there. Despite that, some of my favourite film projects were also captured out east during this time. Of course there was fun skiing, but there was also adventure and connecting with the locals – which is the best part of any trip.
Here are two films you can check out: “Kastanistan” with the Snowmads crew and “Long Days” by Legs of Steel where we filmed a Balkans segment.
And upcoming, I have a solo film project launching very soon.
