Jon Olsson is a professional freeskier and alpine ski racer and is an athlete ambassador for Odlo.
Reading your blog at jon-olsson.com you seem to have the best life of anyone in the world?
I agree that it’s amazing! I would not have it any other way! But it might seem a bit better on social media than it is, as you only see the best part. You don’t see me sitting here on a Saturday morning answering emails for five hours and getting ready to go outside in the rain to work out … haha. I have a lot of freedom with the way I live, but I have to take a lot of responsibility to make sure I keep doing good stuff, so I never ever feel 100% free; that and a lot of time in the airports are the biggest downsides!
You travel around the world all year competing in all sorts of action sports events in amazing locations. Do you have any frequent-traveller tips?
I wish I did! I spend a lot of time trying to get my travel plans right. When I do manage to book good flights and have a good plan it helps a lot, but it’s far from easy as everything keeps changing all the time! One good thing is to make sure I have projects to do when I am travelling. I like writing concepts on planes as I have a lot of time to think things through when I am not online! Having a fully charged computer is key! I even have a second laptop for this reason!
You enjoy motor racing and surfing along with snowsports. Are there similarities, and what do you enjoy most?
I think the part I enjoy the most in everything I do is getting better and learning. It doesn’t matter if it’s car racing, jumps on skis or business. I just really love the feeling of getting better at something. That’s really what pushes me in all aspects of life!
You gave up drinking alcohol in the middle of last year and meat at New Year. Has doing either been easier?
I have found it very easy to do both. Alcohol was super easy and it’s only maybe two to three times in seven months that I have thought about it when I was bored. But then I felt that it was totally worth it the next day! Living without meat seems very easy as well. They only hard part with that is that I think I am going to be a very fat vegetarian as I have had a ton of pasta, cheese and bread!
Do you have time for any other interests or hobbies that aren’t part of your career?
Well, my time is divided between skiing, planning car stuff, surfing, travelling and a ton of emails! So besides that I don’t have time for much else! But if I do have spare time, I like to just get hooked on a Netflix series and disconnect from all the work!
The JON OLSSON Special Edition collection is available at odlo.com