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Escape the Noise, Michael Wipfler Interview

By Silvia Galliani
Powered Adidas Terrex

A conscious decision to escape from the crowd. This is the simple strategy of Michael Wipfler. A tireless traveler and lover of surfing and mountains, the new adidas TERREX ambassador tells us what the word adventure means to him and talks about the search for uncontaminated nature contrasted with the city chaos of our everyday life.

Tell us something about you. Have you always been an adventurer at heart?
I grew up in a small village with 2500 inhabitants in the southwest of Styria, a region of Austria. High mountains or the sea were not on the program, which is why the wanderlust gripped me relatively early.
Adventure, independence and freedom have always been my first priorities, which is why I decided to combine all my savings after school and buy a used VW T4 California to travel the world. Discovering new places with the Van is a relaxed and uncomplicated way. You set your own pace, you plan your own route, you always have your own tiny home on wheels with you and you always discover wonderful new places and new adventures.
I never thought it would be possible to live from what I do. Arguably the path we are walking right now is freshly paved. Social Media and Instagram opened up a lot of doors for me to do what I love on a daily basis and I think its potential is still unexplored.

What advice would you give to someone looking to forge a similar path?
The best advice may sound so old and cheesy, but really, if you like what you do, stay on it. Always do what you do for the thing itself. For me that’s the only way to remain true. 

Were there any adventures that were really physically or mentally difficult?
For a project at the National Park Hohe Tauern in Austria, I had the chance to experience the pure wilderness apart from electricity and society for some time. I decided to go on a hike to get to glacier but definitely underestimated the time for the hike that in summer it is around 8 hours. At some point the trail was not visible anymore because of the 4 feet snow. When the sun went down, with much regret, I decided to go back. At that point, it had become a physical challenge as well as a mental one because I had to declare myself defeated without even reaching my goal.
When the batteries of my headlamps went out around midnight, well you may picture my excitement for the way back! It really was a rough experience but I got back down safe and sound.
In addition to this particular experience I have lived many other unforgettable adventures, so many in fact that I sometimes have to take a step back and realize those moments.
Sometimes what became memorable it also can be a good joke which makes a rainy day spend inside the Van better.

You tried heliski in Canada. What happened?
I did a 3 week road trip surfing in Tofino, ski touring in Whistler and at Banff National Park. It was a project on behalf of a German outdoor brand. They gave me their 2019 winter clothes and I was able to do what I love in Canada in exchange. Heliskiing was unreal, a unique experience to reach unspoiled terrain where you can’t get otherwise. Having all that nature and the unobstructed snow for yourself is great. Nothing better than drawing a first line into a vast winter-landscape somer north of normal.

Future projects?
There are so many cool projects I want to do, but at some point you have to choose wisely to navigate the boat into the right direction. That could sometimes mean saying “no” to money and fame and rather go for an idea that seems more fitting to your identity.
I’ve just spent a summer in Europe, between the Pyrenees and around the Basque Country to work on my first book. I wanted to write a book about the perfect ideal road from Germany to Portugal. Talking and displaying my favourite moments from hikes to surf-spots on the way you may not know yet.
I want to create something that remains longer than an uploaded picture on Instagram. It’s a totally new field and requires much more work than one might think at first but I’m very excited for this opportunity and I will try to make the most out of it.