Labeling Torstein Horgmo used to come easy—comp killer, super competitor, or contest jock. There has never been any shame in his game, as Horgmo admittedly loves to win. The brouhaha lies in how he transitioned from a contest darling to rock star in a season. Now, Torstein gained a certain amount of credibility for winning the X Games, and his due share for winning every major contest … but real street-level respect is earned under the bright lights. In the movies you’re deconstructed at several frames per second. Every body movement or blunder is critiqued and there’s no room to hide. It’s also where you become legend—icons like MFM forged their cult status on film. In one season Torstein rewrote his autobiography, stoically filming all winter long, and pushing hard between contests. And somehow, however far fetched, he earned the much-coveted closing part in Aesthetica, by Standard Films—one of the most respected snowboard-film makers of all time. The clincher? He also opened the show in I Ride Park City.
Surprising the critics is a Torstein specialty. He’s alarmingly shy and humble for a kid who’s nearly accomplishing everything. Fearless and reckless—you bet you—undoubtedly. He’ll attest that he doesn’t scare easily. Take for instance his Snowboarder Magazine cover where Horgmo spins midair, hovering precariously close to a Monster Subaru Rally car. Or hitting the world’s largest kickers on a wee scrap of wood, a 153-centimeter splinter, really. And once he’s got his speed dialed, it’s game on: pick any trick, a frontside 900 or a switch backside 1080—he can click them off all day long, near lackadaisically.