With 5 indie-pop EPs under his belt and a plethora of titles to his name, including 5th place at the 2018 Olympics, 28-year-old Pat Burgener leads a unique dual career as a snowboarder and musician. With one objective: to spread positive vibes.
Text: Patricia Oudit
When Pat Burgener is asked: “Which title are you most proud of?” he hesitates to answer: snow medal or piece? This is because the 28-year-old Lausanne-born musician leads a highly rhythmic, two-faceted career. Between halfpipes and tablatures, snow and microphone. And he’s found an unstoppable inner balance. But it all started with a hitch. At the age of 10, I was kicked out of four schools in one year, and I was told that I wouldn’t be doing anything for the rest of my life…”. But one day, something clicked and he was hooked: he put down his first 360 on a slope in Crans-Montana, where he had always skied since the age of 5. At the same time, he started playing guitar. “At the time, I thought it was corny, but I saw my snowboarding buddies playing it and realized it was cool. It became my means of communication!” At the age of 14, the precocious Vaudois became a snow star: from 2010 to 2012, he climbed four World Cup podiums. In 2011, he even became the first snowboarder in the world to land a “switch backside triple cork 1440”, his signature trick.
The Olympic Games still in sight
Change of tune in 2014: Pat is 20 years old, with a broken hand and a ruptured ACL in his right knee, so he’s forgetting snow in favor of arpeggios. We’re reminded of Jack Johnson, the singer-songwriter-surfer. Yes,” he says, “the comparison is obvious: I’m the only person in snowboarding to have both careers at the same time. The difference being that the Lausanne native, known for his smooth riding, has gone very high in performance. “When I opened for Angus Stone, he was stunned that I was still so active in my sport at a high level, while performing so professionally.” Today, the man who was said to do nothing with his life is seeing his career take off like a rocket. He has added piano, harmonica and percussion to his guitar. And while his playing field has expanded, Pat only works with a restricted circle: “My little brother is a producer in London, so we write all the music together, and my older brother, who went to HEC, manages my money, as well as my sporting and musical careers.”
Pat Burgener is keen to continue both for a long time to come. “I want to make it to the next Olympics in Milan. In Beijing, the Swiss rider finished 11th in the half-pipe. Disappointed?” I had a serious knee injury a year before and they told me I might not be able to ride again, so they were saving my leg… So, for me, the 2022 Olympics were the ultimate madness. I think my happiness showed, and I gave off something super positive. I got better feedback than those who won medals. That proves that the result isn’t the most important thing. It’s the journey and what you share with people.”
The schedule leading up to the next Olympic Grail promises to be a busy one. From April to October, five concerts a week, and a desire to live on tour for two months – the other Grail, the musician’s Grail according to Pat – then back on the snow in the autumn. “This year, I plan to take part in the four World Cup stages and the X Games in Aspen. I’m in the process of seeing if I can do a post-competition concert at these major events. It would be the perfect combo.” Which will make him happy because “in harmony with myself”. His favorite track, for sure. → www.patburgener.com