Seppe SMITS

If you think you need mountains in the country you are living to become a superb snowboarder, forget about it. It's definitely a wrong conclusion.

Born 13th of July in 1991, Seppe Smits grew up in Westmalle, Belgium, thus being a fridge kid who learned to ride on dry slopes and indoors before actually shredding real snow in Gerlos, Austria, for the first time in 1999.

But as it is not likely that a snow green horn could progress in such a way Seppe did, he benefitted from the support of the Hotzone.tv crew who convinced his parents to back his talent after they had seen him in action.

Seppe worked hard on his spins putting more and more tricks to his store finally becoming a respected rider on the FIS World Cup circuit.

Over the past seasons, the younger brother of Anthony, also a snowboarder, competed in several World Cup competitions bringing home not only a few podium results but also the first ever World Cup win for a Belgium snowboarder in 2012 (Antwerp).

In addition, he clinched Silver in the big air contest at the 2009 and 2011 FIS World Championships and also earned the first ever slopestyle World Championships title in 2011, too.

Due to these top results and a win at the rookie challenge the 2010 Air & Style also to his record, it's no wonder that Seppe paved the way for a successful pro career - with the main goal of competing for his home country at the 2014 Olympics slopestyle finals.