Barely made it
THE GOLDEN AGE OF SNOWBOARDNING
Even as a little schoolboy, Patrick Armbruster almost always had a camera on him.
He was very much drawn to skateboarding and, later on, snowboarding.
«I wanted to become a snowboard crack,» the 48-year-old reminisces.
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In the winter of 1994, he joined a snowboard camp, hoping to become a pro. «But I got injured on the first jump and couldn't ride for the rest of the week. I had brought my camera, so I started taking pictures. On the last day of the camp, I was approached by the Swiss Snowboard Magazine, who wanted to report
about the camp using my shots.»
The rest is history. Patrick – nicknamed 'Brusti' by one and all – became part of the innermost circle of the snowboarding community. For nearly two decades, he travelled with the stars to the competitions and the world's most out-of-the-way places. «I enjoyed living the life of the pros. We worked hard and partied no less.» Some of the stars became close friends. For the photo shoot with Skiservice Magazine, he met with Michi Albin, from Pontresina, who, back in the 1990s, ranked as one of the world's best snowboarders, winning contests in front of huge crowds. «He was the epitome of the new generation of snowboarders. His positivity and easy-going manner were contagious,» Brusti says of his friend Michi.
Today, Michi Albin and his wife are entrepreneurs with several interests. Patrick Armbruster, too, no longer makes snowboarding movies. He built a resort with boutique hotels in Brazil, the 'KA BRU BRASIL'. He is a photographer and consultant for hotels in some of the world's most attractive destinations.
Barely Made It: photo book
www.patrickarmbruster.com/barely-made-it
