MA: So let’s start with how it feels? You are officially going to the Olympics.

LF- It feels relieving. I knew I could make it here with the right preparation and right steps taken and I’m just so stoked it came together. It was a long road and it all was worth it.

MA: Can you tell us about when exactly you found out? that feeling, that moment?

LF-I kinda knew it was likely after the mammoth Grand Prix when I got 5th. I bumped ahead of Shaun White with that result. 

But at the Laax open I made the final with Shaun and we were the 3rd and 4th ranked Americans. No others could bump us out of the top 4, so we both kinda confirmed our spots then. Once I realized that I was like ‘oh wow’ this may actually go down.

MA: What does this mean for you and your snowboarding career?

LF- We will see, I just hope it solidifies me as a contender. I was definitely an underdog this year, and my whole career. Everything I’ve achieved has a been a long shot. I wasn’t considered a favorite to make the team. I hope I can be a rider that people enjoy watching at the games and most importantly I hope my story inspires people and just makes snowboarding doper. I really want to bring something different to the contest game, so we can bring snowboarding back to being art and culture rather than just a chase for medals.

MA: Would you say the Olympics is like the pinnacle? Like you made it and now you're good or just motivation to keep pushing it.

LF- Yes and no. It definitely is a huge accomplishment that will open many doors for me, but I look at it more as a launching pad to do more things that I maybe wouldn’t be able to do had I not made the olympics. I want to enjoy the experience, do my best and capitalize on it. There’s a lot more to snowboarding, and a lot more to life than competing in snowboarding. I don’t want to just take from this accomplishment, but also use it to give back.

MA: At what point did the Olympics become a reality as an actual goal?

LF- At the first Grand Prix in Aspen in March 2021 I ended up 6th. It was our first qualifier. That’s when I knew I was building momentum, and had a chance if I kept making the right steps forward. I never lost belief, I knew I could do it.

MA: Any thing special you did to train, prepare, make it?

LF- I just did what was in front of me. I had and still have a lot I can improve in my riding and it didn’t matter what it was, I knew I had to put in the work. These last 4 seasons I’ve been progressing a lot and knew that my process was working, so I just kept doing what works. I think competing is all mental, so I spent a lot of time trying to master my mind and handle pressure well. The mind and body are the same thing.

MA:What’s next between now and then for you?

LF- I’m going to X-Games next week, and then staying on my board for a few days but staying safe and healthy. Covid is a big deal for us now and I gotta stay low key haha.

MA: You’ve landed yourself on some solid results? do you think you have what you need to podium there?

LF- I do. My stock run has landed me right around the top 5 at the past few events and I have a few tricks I’ve yet to land in contest that I think can get me up there. It’s Always a hard thing to do since it’s a judged sport, but at worst you did your best run and landed where you landed. However after seeing what’s happened at the last couple contests, I think it’s definitely possible.

MA: What about plans after the Olympics?

LF- I’ll definitely take a breather from the pipe scene. But I’ll be back for sure.

I love my crew and the lifestyle but it’s been a long few years and I can’t wait to give attention to some other things. I don’t want to just be a halfpipe snowboarder haha.

I’d like to return to riding park and putting out legit content and also skateboarding harder than usual. It’s going to be a fun spring and summer.

MA: Anything else, thank you's? Congrats again from all of us here at Monster!

LF- First a huge thank you to monster, I truly wouldn’t have done this without you guys.

Thank you to my family, my friends I grew up riding with, my whole hometown of telluride, my sponsors, the US team, my coaches and everyone who helped me do my best.