Lessons | Mikkel Bang

Growing up, I watched Mikkel's early video parts with wide-eyed admiration—and maybe a touch of jealousy. We were practically twins: both rocking the long blonde hair, blue eyes, and that undeniable Scandinavian vibe. There was just one slight difference... he was about 1,000 times better than me. Maybe even 2,000. While I was dreaming of glory, Mikkel was living it, starting his career with Burton at the age of 12. Now, at 34, he's been snowboarding for 22 years. For anyone with pro snowboard dreams, that's basically hitting the jackpot. So, I thought it would be enlightening (and a little healing for my envious inner child) to chat with him and see if maybe—just maybe—Mikkel isn't totally perfect. Spoiler alert: he kind of is. This Scandinavian legend is laid-back, considerate of others, and always up for a laugh. He is the type of friend you want by your side because he's just flat-out rad. So, despite my best efforts, I'm still no match. With that, I'll stop my rambling and let his words do the talking. Enjoy these well-earned life lessons from Mikkel's 22 years on a snowboard. —William Fraser

From Issue 16.3, Subscribe for Free.

Teamwork 

The key to success in snowboarding is teamwork. The days filled with good collaboration are the days when we truly thrive. If you want a great season, remember it's not just about your individual achievements. It's about working together. Through snowboarding, I have learned these three really key aspects of teamwork. 

Communication: Communication is essential. It's crucial to listen to other people and respond to what they need, but it's not limited to that. It's also about not bottling things up. If you have something to say, say it. This is how you foster collaboration, stay safe, and get clips.

Respect Time: Respecting time matters, too. Always be punctual, whether it's showing up to the lift or the lot. Every minute counts and can make a significant difference in creating a memorable video part. 

Stay Positive: Don't let other people's actions dictate your behaviour. Stay focused on your path and maintain a positive attitude for the team. It's all too easy to be influenced by negativity, but if you can be the one who lifts the group's spirits, everything falls into place. People will want to be around you because you contribute positively to the experience. That's how you make yourself indispensable. 

In the end, successful snowboarding is all about teamwork, but it goes further than that. Life is also teamwork, and everything mentioned above is so essential for a good life. 

Be Present

The joy of fully immersing yourself in an experience—where everything else fades away—is one of the best feelings in the world. It's a significant part of what makes us happy and is likely why we love snowboarding so much. Snowboarding allows us to be in the moment, free from distractions and worries. When I realized how much happier I could be by being present, I made a conscious effort to work on it. I strive to enter that mental space where I can and cut out all the unnecessary noise: the chatter in my mind, self-doubts, and thoughts about where I should be. Instead, I focus solely on the task at hand. I find this practice makes my life more enjoyable and fulfilling.

Frontside 3. Whistler, BC. [o] justin Kious

Set Goals

When I was eight, before I went to bed, I would lay there in the dark and tell myself I wanted to be the best snowboarder in the world. That's how much I loved it. Little did I know I was setting goals, which would become a big part of my career and life. Throughout my career, if I wanted to learn a new trick, travel somewhere, or change something up, I would write it down. For example, when I was filming for 13, I had an idea to ride a lot of trees. That was in my notebook. I always have a notebook filled with goals, trick lists, and ideas. Life works in the same way. Whether you're chasing big dreams, building new habits, or even tackling small tasks—like remembering to take out the trash on Fridays—writing it down makes it real. It helps you remember, motivates you, and pushes you to follow through and complete the goal.

“If you can be the one who lifts the group's spirits, everything falls into place.”

Have Fun

This may be a little cheesy, but I wanted to say it because my whole snowboard career has been about having fun. For me, fun is the key motivation to keep going. If we continue to have fun, even when things get serious, it will be easier to do what we do without getting burned out. I used to compete full-time for 12 years. I loved it, but it got to a point where I was not having fun anymore. There was actually an instrumental moment when I was competing on a pretty terrible day, and I broke my arm. That break helped me realize I was doing something I didn't want to do. I realized I needed to chase my dreams of having fun in the backcountry. As a life lesson, this moment was so significant. It was like, am I just going to have a job to have a job, or am I going to work towards something that I enjoy so that I have the motivation to get better, grow, and have fun at work. I really believe it's important to chase what you think is fun. It will show in your life because fun speaks for itself.