How freeski champion Birk Ruud brings his Olympic mindset to surfing

Rarely does an athlete “switch sports”, but Birk isn’t your average athlete. When Birk came to surf with us, we saw something familiar: the same focus, calm, and curiosity that make him a freeski legend also guiding him in the ocean.

“If I can see it and I can dream it, then I can do it”

If you ask him what keeps him going, it’s not the medals, it’s the mindset. Birk has built his career on imagining the trick, trusting the process, and being willing to fall until it clicks. That’s the same attitude he brings to the waves.

– I’ve been doing a lot of mental training in my career in skiing, and visualizing helps me a lot. So I can now visualize surfing, and it kind of helps my body and the whole learning process go quicker. I guess I observe the input on how to become a better surfer, Birk said. 

Birk is no stranger to Lapoint camps. And we sat down with him at our camp in Bali and chatted about how this mind of steel brought him to where he is today.

– Sometimes I doubt myself, and I’m not sure if I can do it. But I just need to make sure that I find my focus because I know I can do it. If I can see it and I can dream it, then I can do it. I got to make it, and that’s the only solution. And that keeps me motivated even in the hard times. 

Watch the full conversation here:

Surf these Bali waves here.

Even an Olympian needs a new challenge, and for Birk, surfing became that challenge. A place to test his balance, timing, and focus in a completely different playground. 

– Besides snowboarding and skiing, I have also been skateboarding a lot. And having those maneuvers and the balance has been very helpful when getting into surfing. I think a little break to do something different that you love can give you more energy and creative input into your main sport. 

The differences between freeskiing and surfing show exactly why this challenge excites him. In freeskiing, he has full control. In the ocean, timing is everything, and sometimes you just have to wait.

– What I like more about skiing than surfing is that my level is higher, and I can do pretty much anything I want there. It's quicker. You just take the lift up, and you’re guaranteed to have a park waiting for you there. In surfing, you have to get out to the lineup and wait, sometimes for hours. 

Yet the unpredictability of surfing is part of the thrill. With only a board and the waves, Birk embraces the freedom and connection to nature that the parks can’t beat.

– What I love more about surfing is that it is made by nature. You only have your board, you go out in the ocean, and the rest is made by Mother Nature. So it's so easy to do. And you will never get tired of the feeling of riding a wave. It’s special. It's very hard not to fall in love with that feeling.

If you’re itching to surf with Birk in person, it’s time to mark your calendars. This spring, he’s hosting the BUSI Tour at our Ericeira camp. Expect full-energy surf sessions, hands-on tips, and a chance to ride waves alongside a true world-class champion.

Read more about the BUSI Tour 2026 here.