An interview with Sascha Muoth and Fatima Buol
From Melanie Gath
Zoey is four years old. She first stood on a snowboard at 17 months, and today she sings children’s songs as she glides down the slope with her mom, Fatima, and dad, Sascha. Teddy peeks out of her snowsuit’s right pocket, always there, counting the turns with her. Everything is discussed with him, just as you can see in the many adventurous videos on Sascha and Fatima’s Instagram channels.
You can almost follow the little snowboarder’s entire journey. Her first encounter with her dad’s snowboard is documented here. Was that the start of a big love story? The beginning of this special story between a little girl and her snowboard?
In love with snowboarding
In December 2022, Sascha brought his board up from the basement and took out Fatima’s skis. But Zoey knows right away what she wants. “She wasn’t interested in the skis at all. She was instantly drawn to the snowboard,” Fatima tells me. At Christmas, she got her very first board. Sascha says, “Only three weeks passed from her first contact to the first time she stood on the board in the snow.”
Today, just three years later, she is already carving her turns without help from mom or dad. They mostly have to watch out that their daughter doesn’t call them “slowpokes” as she glides past. I’m curious and want to know the secret of this small family. Do they have any concrete tips for us?
An investment in shared time
“We live in Graubünden, in a valley surrounded by mountains,” Sascha says. “Winter lasts a long time here. That’s why it’s important to us to give Zoey something special for this time of year.” He often notices that people don’t have much positive to say about winter, calling it “cold and unpleasant.” He wants to give his daughter something positive, so she never feels weighed down by winter. Fatima adds another point that matters to her: for her, it is always an investment in quality time together. “The more fun she has with it now, the sooner we can all ride together,” she says.
“We’re grateful and proud that she makes it all feel so easy,” Sascha says. He also means that being outdoors is simply part of everyday life for even the youngest family member. We agree that growing up with a dog plays a role in this too. Fatima says there are hardly any complaints when they head outside. Quite the opposite. “We notice how balanced she is after spending time outdoors,” Sascha says. Bad weather doesn’t really exist for Zoey, because as parents, they never label or communicate it that way. “That rubs off when parents truly love being in nature,” Sascha says, adding, “A child is like a mirror.”
Meeting the child’s needs, one hundred percent
Fatima learned to ski when she was three years old. Sascha was on skis at a similar age, but switched to snowboarding at nine. Much of what he knows, he taught himself with help from his godfather and uncle. Both are critical of sending children too early into ski or snowboard lessons, because moving at one’s own pace is essential. “When it comes to things where the learning process also involves negative experiences for children, like falling down, it’s so important to meet the child’s needs one hundred percent,” he says. “If they’re hungry, they eat. If they’ve had enough, we stop or take a break.” Fatima adds, “We need to take short breaks on the slope regularly. That’s just not possible in a structured lesson. I really think that makes a big difference.”
I ask what role Teddy actually plays in Zoey's life. Is he “just” a mascot, or more of a source of courage, best friend, and biggest supporter on the slope? Fatima answers, “He has to be there when she snowboards.” Actively involving Teddy and interacting with him is incredibly important. She explains that they forgot about this at the beginning of the season, and that “only once Teddy was actively included again did Zoey start riding better.” Sascha says, “The bear is an important source of emotional support.”
“It’s really just about making an effort”
When watching the reels, I notice this four-year-old snowboarder brings remarkable determination to the slopes. Mom and Dad say it can sometimes be a little too much. They can’t explain where it comes from. “We keep telling her that it’s not about being the best. It’s really just about trying your best,” Sascha says, and that’s how they communicate it to Zoey.
“How did you manage to get your daughter to be so confident and relaxed on the board at such a young age?” I ask. Sascha’s tips: “Don’t be too afraid. Don’t be strict. Connect learning with as much fun as possible. And patience.” According to him, watching and following others hasn’t played a big role so far. “She’s often very much in her own world and does things intuitively.” He believes the way she learns may change again now, as she already has a much more stable stance.
One of the biggest game changers and the most important tool so far has clearly been the backpack. “It’s amazing. Stable. It has different attachment points. It’s a ten out of ten,” Sascha says. Compared to other backpacks also used for skiing, the MDX ONE is, in his words, “unbeatable” for snowboarding.
“She wears the fleece jacket all year round”
Fatima adds, “The right snowboard matters too.” At first, Zoey had a board with hard edges. “Now she has a board that is a bit more forgiving. That makes riding even more fun.” From her perspective, the right clothing also makes a big difference. “The clothing from namuk is unmatched,” Sascha says. “It’s really well thought out. That’s a huge added value.” Fatima mentions that the toilet zipper and hidden suspenders have already come in handy many times. Sascha says they especially appreciate the quality and design.
I’m curious and want to know which pieces from the owl go on adventures with Zoey. “Everything — merino base layers, socks, sweaters, pants, snow overall, fleece jacket, gloves, goggles, helmet, neckwarmer,” Sascha lists. And Fatima adds, “She wears the fleece jacket all year round.” I also get the chance to ask Zoey directly about her favorite piece, and she whispers softly into her mom’s ear, “The gloves.”
Food and drinks are never optional
They have one last tip about gear. “A good backpack for parents is important,” Fatima says. “Just for the trek to the slopes.” Then it gets warm, the gloves come off, maybe the jacket too. With some backpacks, you can attach the snowboard to the back. Drinks and snacks are a must. “Without them, it just wouldn’t work,” the two say, laughing. I nod in full agreement.
“What does this shared family time in the snow and on the slopes mean to you?” I ask at the very end. Sascha answers, “It’s so beautiful to experience this. I think so often that I’d love to be a child again. Everything feels so effortless.” Of course, there are also challenges you grow through, “but that’s how hobbies come into being – things you can do together,” he says. Fatima adds, “Of course, we hope that when she’s fourteen or fifteen, she’ll still want to do this with us. You simply create beautiful shared memories out in nature.”
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Sascha has also contributed to our letter format and wrote a few lines for Zoey. You can find the beautiful letter here: A Letter to my Daughter – from Sascha Muoth
