This post is part of a series of interviews with pro riders.
The focus is predominantly on snowboarding gear (this is a website all about snowboard gear after all!) but there some other questions just for fun.
This week’s pro rider gear profile features Šárka Pančochová.
Check Sarka out at the upcoming Olympics
At time of writing this the Bejing Olympics have just begun – and Sarka is set to compete at her 4th Olympic games – that is some achievement!
Sarka competes for the Czech Republic and has already competed at Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018. In 2010 she competed in the half pipe. In 2014 the half pipe and slopestyle and in 2018 in the Slopestyle and Big Air. Her best performance being her 5th place in the 2014 Slopestyle. Best of luck for Bejing 2022!
Šárka Pančochová Interview
Hi Sarka, thanks for taking part in the interview. First question. How long have you been competing professionally in snowboarding?
I have been competing for 16 years.
Wow! That’s impressive. What discipline(s) do you compete in?
Slopestyle, big air, pipe
Who was your snowboard idol growing up?
I always admired Travis Rice.
Snowboarding Profiles is a gear site, so that’s what we care most about here – how important do think it is to get your gear right?
I think having the right gear is a key to everything specially jumping in the park or powder. Its crucial to feel like you can ride without putting extra effort in controlling you board.
And for those young riders out there aspiring to be professional snowboarders, what do you consider the most important thing to being successful? Practice? Belief? Desire? Confidence? Gear? Good coach? Good physical shape? Likely a combination of the above, but what would be the single most important thing in your eyes?
Be yourself and do what you really love in snowboarding. Because if you don’t make it as a pro you will still love what you do.
Create original content, that will make you little different from others. Of course hard work is something you need to apply for anything that you want to be great at. You can be as talented as you want but the time you put in to get better will really make the difference.
Getting back to gear, what do You think is the most important part of your equipment to get right? Snowboard? Bindings? Boots? Outerwear? Safety Equipment? And what would be your 2nd and 3rd choices as to what’s most important?
I think board is definitely the one you need to get right ,then boots and bindings for riding and I have to feel good in my outerwear. When I feel like my pants too tight or jacket is too long. I can’t properly snowboard. And I get annoyed and go home haha
In terms of the snowboard, what do you think is the most important factor or factors – the thing that can make the biggest difference to the feel and performance of the board? Camber Profile? Length? Width? Sidecut? Effective Edge? Flex? Weight? Base? Graphic
For myself I love riding camber boards. Its the most supportive choice for me hitting big jumps. Sidecut is also very important. I like 7.2-7.4. I can go little faster and feel little bit more in control. And length is also really important and I love riding little bit longer board. Its faster and more stable.
What gear is your go to right now? Board? Bindings? Boots?
Im riding Sensor Plus 150 board, Flow Mayon Plus hybrid binding and Nidecker Lunar boot.
And finally, where is your favorite place to snowboard?
I love Japan, New Zealand and anywhere in Europe when its powder (:
Big Thanks to Sarka for taking the time to answer our questions.
Keep up with what Sarka’s up to on her instragram
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