Andi Wittmann

How does FOX contribute to your success?
With the best forks ever... I tried a lot but FOX forks are the first ones I ride all over the year without changing... that keeps me feeling safe when I am riding a contest.

Tell us about your bike/vehicle setup.
Dirt: Giant STP with a FOX Factory Series 36 FLOAT 180 FIT RC2 90 mm - perfect setup for big jumps. Freeride/Slopestyle: Giant Reign SX with a Factory Series 36 TALAS 160 FIT RLC and Factory Series FLOAT RP23 shock - best all around bike. DH: Giant Glory0 - Factory Series DHX RC4 shock and Factory Series 40 203 FIT RC2 fork - no limits!!

What else is in your garage?
Moto Vert pit bike, ice hockey stuff, CC bike and a few pairs of skis. So it's never getting boring for sure.

What's your training regimen?
A lot of skiing, ice hockey, and cross country skiing while having fun doing it.

Any major injuries, and how did you recover?
Just some torn ligaments in my right ankle - really happy about that.

What's your typical pre-race/event meal? Guilty pleasure?
Pasta, pizza, "schweinsbraten," really bavarian food - like everything I enjoy to eat ;)

How do you determine which races or events to enter each year?
First I check which contests are important for me and then I decide where I really want to go. For me it's important not to ride in too many contests so I can have enough time for shooting and filming and having as much fun as possible.

What motivated you to get started professionally?
My friends and the good old MTB movies :)

What separates you from other professional athletes?
I love the versatility of mountain biking. So I love to have fun in dirt jumping and slopestyle riding but I also love to go on a mountain for freeriding and downhill riding.

What would you be doing if you weren't a professional athlete?
I would be studying marketing or some creative stuff like media design.

What's the best thing about being a professional athlete?
Being free - you are your own chief and you can handle what you like to do and then just do it...

What other sports are you interested in?
Ice hockey, skiing, cross-country skiing, climbing, hiking, and football...

Any advice to the readers dreaming to turn pro?
Go out and have fun, do what you like to do and you will get what you want.

What are your favorite magazines and websites?
Pinkbike.com, mtbfreeride.tv, watch26.tv, Bike Mag, Freeride Mag, MTB-Ridermag, Decline, and Dirt Mag UK.

Who is your hero?
Travis Pastrana

Are you a Mac or PC? Mac

Top 3 bands MGMT, Drunken Masters, and Trouble Andrew

Greatest strength Taking it easy

Most frustrating challenge Bad weather days