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Interview with Fridtjof ‘Fridge’ Sæther Tischendorf

What's in the Fridge?

Above: Fridge at Lobster Cream Week in La Plagne. Photo: Cyril Muller.

A few weeks back we got to sit down with one of our favourite riders, Fridtjof Sæther Tischendorf, better known as ‘Fridge’ (as the former doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue). This young Norwegian had packed his backpack and flown over the pond to London for the Vans Snow Night where we had the pleasure to introduce him to the exotic flavours of Red Stripe, discuss his part in the upcoming Scandalnavians film, and chat to him about his hair (which btw, was gone).

“I ended up going to the hospital afterwards since I was couching blood, so it was a little bit sketchy”

We have to ask, how was that fucking crash at X-Games? (watch the video below)

F: It was really heavy. It didn’t feel like anything when it happened because I had so much adrenalin, so I didn’t know the slam was that gnarly, until after the contest was over and I saw the video. I’m glad no one showed me before I dropped in for the second time. But yeah, it was just all muscles. I woke up the next day with probably the sorest neck of my life.

How are the competition plans looking for this season?

F: Well, I am officially a part of the Norwegian A team now…

WL: Congrats!

F: Thank you. So, we’re doing competitions at the same time as I’m trying to finish my full part for the Scandalnavians project.

That kink stair, in the trailer, that rail, how did you not knee yourself in the face?

F: Yeh damn. I think it was the first time I’ve been to a spot and not been able to finish. So, I didn’t actually do the trick. I ended up going to the hospital afterwards since I was coughing blood, so it was a little bit sketchy. Like, the slam, I got to say, it went so much better than it could have gone like there was so much that should have gone wrong that didn’t go wrong. There’s one square meter where you can land. There’s a fence on both sides, so I could have landed into the fence or on the other side of it so it was… I learned, that maybe, next time, you can throw a little bit of snow on the back there, just for the safety.

So how was it filming with a bunch of legends?

F: I’ve just been taking this year as a learning experience pretty much. I had little to no experience with the street or backcountry or any type of filming. It’s been really nice to be around people who actually know what it takes.

When do you start filming again?

F: I think we’re going to start around December. That’s when our filmer Martin Strom starts his job for the project.

“It’s been really nice to be around people who actually know what it takes”

Have you got a place in mind?

F: I’ve got multiple places in mind. I’ve probably got to go back and make it happen, that nasty rail I mean. I’ve been building it up now so that’s probably the most nerve-wracking. That spot is literally a three-minute walk from my house, I walk past it every single day. I come back from training, scope it up – I see it every single day! It’s building up in my head, so it has to be done.

Riding wise, I’m going to La Plagne for the Lobster the cream week again. That is the sickest place for backcountry and for just building jumps and hits, there’s so much you can do. I think half of the ‘Future of Yesterday’ is filmed there. We were staying at this place Alpoholics and they were killing it! Like making us breakfast and stuff. And they make cakes and three-course meal for dinner, and beers. There was also a jacuzzi which was great when you came back home, to loosen all the muscles. That’s a sick place for sure. And also, up in Norway, Tromso would be really sick too. Just so depressing because it’s dark all winter so I will save that for end of the season. I went there at Easter, and everyone left that place then to go on vacation, so all the schools were empty, and snow everywhere, but I shouldn’t actually be telling you this…

Have a look at Fridge’s professional board review from the Cream Week with Lobster (which is dropping on the 20th of November)

What are you looking forward to the most this season?

F: As long as I can stay relatively ‘injury-less’, then I’m hyped. That’s my goal. For this year now, stay away from injuries.

Any more Knuckle Hucks?

F: I got invited to the X Games, so I’m going back to Aspen in January. Turns out, it was one of the most viewed competitions they’ve had. It’s such a lovely event because everyone can relate.

Everyone can do a little nollie off a knuckle?!

F: Yeh. It’s relatable. You can go with your friends, who’s got the guts to go the furthest, who’s got the most speed, or just do a penguin slide.

Do you think we’ll see Marcus Kleveland riding?

F: I hope so. He’s already been riding, and he’s got the Knuckle Huck in his bloodstream. They basically made that event for him. He doesn’t even need practice; he can just go.

What boards are you riding this year?

F: The Lobster Sender and the Lobster Stomper. The stomper is pretty new, and this year it’s really good. It’s like the Sender, with a little bit more mildness to it, little softer, so it’s more playful, and a little more jibby. I think it’s good for everyone’s who’s not, like who still sends but don’t want to go like full send. The stomper, I think I’m going to ride that board a lot more as well. And now I’ve got a new sponsor as well, NOW Bindings.

And what about the boots?

F: I’ve been riding different kinds of Vans boots, but I really like the Hi-Standard Pro boot with regular lacing. It is a safe choice. Another reason I like Vans is because my first ever Vans boots were the Hi-Standard Pro’s and I had them for two or three seasons. And I ride like every day and I was a kid back then, so you’re riding 6 hour days, which you can’t do anymore, and they were just constantly lasting. I didn’t change laces, I didn’t need to do anything. They were pretty soggy on the third season but still. And uhm, Pat Moore’s Infuse boot, that one’s also really nice. It’s a bit more responsive. Luckily I’ve got the chance to switch it up depending on what mood I’m in. It’s hard to pick your favourite when there are so many good ones to choose from.

“I used to have dreadlocks at one point, I don’t think too many people know that”

And the hair, it is gone!

F: Yeh, that’s also pretty crazy. I forget that it’s not even there anymore, and in the movies as well, it’s hard to even recognise me. But it’s good though, I can go under the radar. I used to have dreadlocks at one point, I don’t think too many people know that. So, when I started riding, I was at like sixth grade of pre-school and got long blond dreadlocks. I’ve still got them somewhere in a bag.

My plan was to get really famous and then send them out with an autograph. Maybe I can make them into one of those Wunderbaums, a good luck dread, hanging in the car. I like to have crazy hairstyles. I was kindergarten’s first punk rock guy. I coloured my hair red with black stripes. Then I got a mohawk, coloured it red, tried to colour it blue, then red and blue, which turned into purple. And then I got dreads from having super long hair. And then my goal became to get on the national team, and I told myself to not cut off my hair before I got on the team. It took me way longer than expected, so the hair ended up getting super long, and then I got really used to that long hair, and it turned into me.

This summer I wanted a fresh start and wanted to do something good, so I cut off the hair and donated everything to people who don’t have hair. So, I cut it all off and coloured it blue and now it’s back to normal.

So, what’s next for the hair?
F: I think I might grow it all out again. Probably.

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