Gallery: Jonas Gasser
Moritz Thönen, Grindelwald
Photos by Jonas Gasser
Interview by Tom Kingsnorth
Where are you from, and what came first - snowboarding or photography?
I'm from a little village in Switzerland between Zurich and Chur with about 1,800 people. It’s surrounded by lakes and mountains, and there’s a ski lift five or ten minutes away. There are some secret spots too, but I’m not saying anything about those (Laughs). Snowboarding definitely came first. I started skateboarding at three, and by five, I kept asking my parents for a snowboard. They couldn’t find one small enough at first, but they finally did. I was hyped.
What’s your background in board sports?
My dad was a raceboarder and a three-time Swiss champion. He pushed me toward carving and ski clubs. I did some comps, but nothing serious. The Swiss system could’ve supported me to go big, but my parents were like, “You can do whatever you want, just not be a pro athlete.” That dream ended at 14. Looking back, that was 100% the right decision. Now I work in sports, and I’m stoked to be a photographer.
How did photography start for you?
Around 15 or 16, I did an apprenticeship in design, photography, and videography. That’s where it all began. From there, the camera just followed me.
How would you describe your style?
More commercial, everyone’s going analog again right now, but I try to keep things sharp and clean. That’s how I try to stand out.
Moritz Thönen, Grindelwald
What’s the upside of being a photographer?
You live like the riders, going to the same spots, same apartments, same parties. I wanted that lifestyle, and I love it. But I don’t have their pressure. The difference is, when the comp’s over, they’re done. That’s when my work starts. But all in all, it’s more sustainable for me.
And the downside?
You don’t get to snowboard much. I’ll see a pow turn and think, “I want to do that,” but I know I’ll get a great photo. So, I step aside and remind myself, “You’re the photographer.”
Kaishu Hirano, Laax
Best photography advice you’ve gotten?
From Thomas Stöckli: shoot great riders. Don’t just hang with your friends, get out of your comfort zone, and you’ll learn fast. And from Silvano Zeiter: “Kill your darlings.” If a photo’s not 100%, cut it. That one stuck with me.
Worst advice?
The idea you should never work for free. That’s bullshit. When you’re starting, you have to. If a project gives you reach or money, great. If it gives you both, amazing.
Does photography pay the bills?
Not just photography. Thomas once told me, “Never do anything you don’t like.” I took that seriously. I work 50% as a marketing and multimedia producer, I study business, and shoot whenever I can.
Paul Eller, Laax
Did you study photography? Does school matter?
No. Maybe a bit of style stuff, but you can learn that on YouTube in 15 minutes. Honestly, don’t go to school, just try it yourself.
What hooked you on snowboarding?
The feeling. The flow state. When you do a turn, it’s amazing. It’s the same with photography. At The Nines, I couldn’t hit the huge kickers anymore, so I shot them. And when I get a banger? That’s it. You almost hear the clip in the photo.
Dream trip to shoot?
Alaska. I love helicopters. I’m scared of heights, but still. Second choice: the Obergabelhorn. It’s a sick face near Zermatt. More ski terrain, but it’s nice.
What role do photography and snowboarding play in self-expression for you?
In the age of AI, you’ve got to differentiate yourself. I can’t do what these riders do, so I document it and add my own touch. If I can’t express myself, I’m out. If someone tells me what or how to shoot, I won’t take the job. Like Thomas said: do what you love and cut the rest.
Joe Simpson, Laax
What’s life like right now?
Busy, I’m juggling a bit of everything. It’s way more desk work than you'd think. I still snowboard, but it’s more focused now. Every second has to count. I shoot a lot with Moritz Thönen, and he’s studying medicine now and doesn’t have much time. Everything he does with snowboarding has to be productive, if the day isn’t productive, it doesn’t feel worth it.
What inspires you these days?
Riding myself and seeing photography that resonates with me. I look up to people I admire.
Which photographers do you admire?
A big mix. Snow photographers like Aaron Blatt, Thomas Stöckli, and he’s kind of mentoring me. And Sandro Baebler, he lives five minutes from me, but we’ve never talked. His work is polished and technical, more creating than documentary. It’s amazing.
Rene Rinnekangas, Laax
What does style mean to you?
There’s a quote from Nicolas Müller in the LAAX movie: “Style is doing something dangerous without looking like you’re trying,” and of course, I like someone like Nick Punter who f*cking sends.
Do you plan your work or go with the flow?
For commercial jobs, it’s super structured. For personal stuff, it’s totally spontaneous.
Favourite riders right now?
The Japanese. They really want it. Kazu, Kaishu, Kokomo, they impress me so much because they are so motivated. They want it, which is something other than just liking it. Also, Nik Punter and René Rinnekangas, he’s a monster.
What’s next for Jonas Gasser?
Shifting from documenting to creating. At The Nines, everyone shows up at 6 a.m. and is motivated to build something together. That’s what I want, I don’t just want to document, I want to create original stuff in unique places.
If you want to see more from Jonas, stay up to date by following him on Instagram: @jonasgasser_
This article was originally published in Pleasure #155. For the complete reading experience, with more photos and the unmatched feel of a print magazine, order your copy of the magazine below or, even better, support print by becoming a subscriber!
On the Cover: Dominik Wagner; shot by Markus Rohrbacher
Inside the mag: Conversations with Dominik Wagner, Danny Kass & Zeb Powell , Livia Tanno Youngblood, Jonas Gasser Gallery & Interview, The Uninvited EURO OPEN by Jennifer Lang, Escape Closing Cup by Lou Staub, a history lesson with Ed Blomfield & Raised on the Skintrack by Mike Meru
Summer gets a bad rap from snowboarders. We call it the enemy, the thief, the season that melts our playgrounds and sends our boards into storage like retired greyhounds. The mountains lose their winter coats, the air smells like hot asphalt and the only ice we see is in a glass containing an Aperol Spritz. We think to ourselves, how do I entertain myself until the season starts?
But summer’s not really the villain, sure, it steals our snow, but it gives our knees a break, we get on bikes, skateboards and surfboards and honestly how good is it that it’s no longer dark at 4pm? A beer certainly hits differently on the beach at sunset.
But by August, you’ve had one too many burnt sausages on the BBQ, you get sunburnt for the 5th week in a row and you’ve just woken up with yet another mosquito bite on your face. The heat is intense, and you imagine how refreshing a powder faceshot would be right now. And that’s how it starts, your mind begins drifting and dreaming of winter. Suddenly you are halfway down an imaginary line in August, grinning like it’s mid-January.
And that’s the thing with us: winter never leaves our mind for long. A cold breeze, a transition you find on a summer hike, a rail outside a supermarket and a photo from the southern hemisphere, it all snaps you right back to winter. That rain we got nonstop in July makes you secretly excited about riding the glaciers in October.
Which is why the first issue of the magazine always hits the hardest. The lifts are just about to start turning and the countdown is on. The snowline is creeping lower, the mornings are getting colder, Whilst the rest of the hemisphere is dreading the cold days of winter, we are shopping for down jackets with a smile on our face, the tilt of the planet is back in our favour.
So, here’s to the first awkward day back on the hill, to creaking knees and catching an edge as you exit the chairlift, we can yet again hopefully experience face shots, both failed and landed tricks, and that perfect turn that makes the wait all worth it.
Summer had its moment, but winter is back and maybe, just maybe, it will be the best winter ever.
Fingers crossed you turn your summer fantasy powder turn into a reality real soon.
Tom