Markus Eder is the first Italian new school freestyler to reach international recognition. At first sight, Markus Eder is a typical Italian from Southern Tyrol. He was born in Bruneck and raised in Luttach in the nearby Ahrntal valley, where he still lives today. He started skiing at the age of four, was an alpine racer for many years and enjoys rock climbing in the summer. He even loves pizza and ice-cream. However a few winters back something diverted his typically Italian path. He discovered freeskiing! Five years later Markus Eder is the first Italian new school freestyler to reach international recognition becoming the Freeride World Tour Champion in 2019.
Markus: "Loving every aspect about Freeskiing. Being able to have fun and being progressive on prepared terrain, tricking in the backcountry or skiing bigger lines in places like Alaska is key for me. "
Having such a light piece of ingeneering under your feet for the way up just feels nice. But what makes it stand out is the performance on the way down where you don't have to worry about wrong releasement.
3. Why do you like being a part of the Marker team?
Bindings are such an important part of safety of our gear and feeling safe while riding is one less thing to worry about.
4. How long have you been riding for Marker?
Since 10 years
5. What age did you start skiing?
When I was 3 i did my first run down the crosscountry track behind our house.
The 2nd place of the Red Bull Linecatcher in 2011 was defenitely the result I'm the most stoked about. Mostly because it introduced me to backcountry skiing.
7. Favorite Place to ride
That's a tough question and I can't really answer it. There's too many good places all over the world but skiing at my home resort is always special since I know it the best and these days it's rare that I get to ski there.
8. Your Best Ski Trip you have done
It might have been the trip to a Touring Lodge at Rogers Pass in Canada. We flew in with the heli and stayed up there for two weeks touring in all time terrain that's surrounding the hut with a great crew and just the basic connection to the outside world.
9. Ski destination where you haven’t been and would like to go?
Japan! Somehow a trip to that place never came together and every professional skier seemed to have been there. Sooner or later it will be time!
10. Ski Hero/Role Model Growing up
Candide, in the past and present.
11. What do you do when you are not skiing?
I love to climb, bike and skate. And besides that I spend quite some time during summer tinkering on stuff in my workshop.
12. How do you train to keep in shape for skiing?
Obviously the gym is one of the places to keep myself in shape but I mostly try to be outside and spend my time with climbing and biking without spending too much time indoors in the gym.
13. What can’t you live without
Food
14. What are 3 things we should know about you?
German speaking Italian, Candy is my doping, anti FIS.
15. Motto/Words you live by
Karma
16. Most Humbling moment
Again I'd say it was the second place at the Red Bull Linecatcher. Participating at this comp where I thought I'd never have a chance against the stacked field of role models.
17. Favorite Social Media Channel
Instagram
18. Future Goals and Plans and Ambitions
I don't know where my career is taking me in the next years but I hope that I'll still have fun on my skis when I'm in my 60's.
19. How did you become involved in Ski Touring?
I never had any interest in skitouring till probably 3 years ago when I got to test the BMT's. Then I went to my first touring trip to Canada and it totally got me by then.
20. What are your all time Favourite Ski Tours?
I rather do shorter hikes where I'm able to concentrate at a line at the time. Like the tour to the Faden Alm, my dad's hut close to my home village. It's about an hour and a half to get to the hut that's surrounded by awesome minigolf lines.
