In the past years, the snowboard cross races at major events like the FIS World Championships and Olympics have been mainly dominated by older riders bringing in the most experience. However, most recently, there have also been some young talents trying to break in the phalanx of the 30+ athletes.

One of them is Konstantin Schad, who aims to follow suit newly minted Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel. “He had kicked arses beating the old ones always knowing what he wants and what he is capable of; despite the fact that fate wasn’t always well-disposed,” the 1987-born athlete says.

It’s a statement which definitely displays some parallels regarding the setbacks the Fischbachau resident had to deal with in his career so far. The Bavarian, who is so proud of his roots thus always starting with a little white-blue coloured flag around his upper arm or leg, had to witness how his brother was forced to quit snowboarding due to several injuries and a severe illness.

In addition, the supporter of a non-profit organisation for kids suffering from cancer had to handle some serious injuries, too, which almost cost him his biggest goal of participating in the 2010 Olympic Games. The student of International Management competed with a torn meniscus half of the 2008/2009 season just to make sure not to miss too many races.

In the Olympic winter, Schad, who is part of the German national snowboard team ever since 2004, suffered a back contusion including three damaged vertebras in the World Cup race at Veysonnaz, Switzerland. But the dedicated golfer (handicap 7) fought back claiming his personal ticket in the very last race before Vancouver 2010.

His 33^rd rank in the Olympic qualifiers which forced him to take over the passive role as normal viewer of the K.o. heats he loves so much was a tough defeat to deal with. But a few months later, Konstantin is full of good memories: “I will never forget the opening ceremony. It’s special to walk in such a stadium. Back then, I noticed that all the hard work finally pays off.”

If the young boarder, who enjoyed his first turns in his parent’s backyard and at the Spitzing resort, manages it to control his nerves and canalize his ambition into a more focused race approach, “Konsti” would get more chances to bring home some decent results.

In January 2009, he already experienced in Bad Gastein how it feels like to compete in the final heat, where he got edged of the podium finishing fourth. The eighth rank earned at the World Cup finals in La Molina, Spain, 2010, also raises hopes for some more top-10 World Cup results.