Belgium’s snowboarding standout Jules De Sloover has been turning heads since winning silver at the 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival. Being a parto of HF team and Freestyle Team Ice Mountain, Jules brings bold style and skill to slopestyle and big air, leading Belgian snowboarding onto the world stage. We caught up with Jules to talk about his journey, favorite moments, and what keeps him pushing forward.
How and when did you get into snowboarding, and what made you stick with it?
Well, I actually started skiing when I was just two and a half, mostly at an indoor dome. By the time I was five, I was finally big enough to try snowboard boots, so I joined a week-long snowboard camp. I loved it so much that I did a second week, and after that, I was hooked. I kept practicing on my own, and then a local freestyle team asked if I wanted to join. From there, I got really into freestyle snowboarding, and it’s been an obsession ever since!
How old were you when you joined the local freestyle team? And at what point did you make the leap to competing nationally and internationally?
I joined the freestyle team at six and kept building from there. By the time I was around 14 or 15, I got invited to the national team, and that’s when things really started getting serious. Now here I am, competing on the world stage.
And how does it feel to represent Belgium, a country with no mountains, on the international snowboarding circuit?
It’s funny, honestly! Belgium has zero mountains, so people are always surprised. But we have three indoor domes, and that’s where I’ve trained. I don’t think about representing Belgium as a country so much; I mostly do it for myself because I genuinely love the sport. But it’s nice when people are like, “Wow, you’re a champ from Belgium!” even though we don’t have the big slopes.
You’re a big air and slopestyle competitor. Do you have a preference between the two? And if so, why?
Definitely slopestyle! It’s more diverse and feels like “real” snowboarding. Big air is a single jump and trick, almost like gymnastics in the air. But with slopestyle, you’ve got rails, multiple jumps, and the challenge of making clean runs—it’s a fuller experience. For me, that’s way more rewarding.
Your career has been on an impressive trajectory. Can you share some of the highlights that stand out to you, maybe some achievements or moments that meant a lot?
For sure. Landing my backside 16s was huge, and winning the knuckle huck at the Spring Battle was a blast. Making the finals at the World Champs in Georgia was also a big moment. Each of these milestones reminds me of how far I’ve come.
When you’re preparing for the tricks like the backside 16s, what goes through your mind? And how do you stay calm if things don’t go perfectly?
Honestly, at this point, it’s almost automatic. I visualize the full run before dropping in, but once I’m going, it’s just muscle memory. If something goes wrong in a competition, I just try to adjust and keep going. In training, I treat mistakes as part of the process. You learn, adjust, and try again.
Tell me about your training setup back home. Are the indoor slopes enough to prepare for competitions?
Not really, at least not for jumps. Indoor slopes are great for rail practice, but no indoor jump is big enough for World Cup-level tricks. For jumps, I often train on a dry slope in Belgium called Sky Park, and when I need real snow, I travel to spots like Corvatsch in Switzerland or Absolute Park in Austria.
Speaking of training, I know you had a recent injury during one. Can you tell me what happened and how recovery’s going?
Sure. It was during a regular training day—I over-rotated a front 14 on the first jump and then came up short on the next attempt. My ankle twisted badly, and a piece of bone snapped off with the ligament. I had surgery three weeks ago, but I’m recovering well and already back on my feet. I’m aiming to return to training in December.
That’s great to hear! Switching gears a bit, if there was an ideal day of snowboarding, what would it look like? Take us through it!
It would have to be a bluebird day, no wind, with perfect jumps and good music. Or, a bluebird day after a big dump, riding backcountry with friends—never alone for safety. But both options sound pretty ideal!
Do you have any hobbies outside of snowboarding to unwind?
I love wakeboarding in the summer and occasionally go bouldering. But to be honest, I’ll even hit the indoor slope to unwind!
You’ve been a part of the HF team for about four years now. How does it feel for you?
It means a lot. At first, I only knew Thomas, marketing manager, so it felt more like a standard sponsorship. But after last year’s team week, I felt a strong connection. People in Horsefeathers are incredibly supportive—like, when I ripped my pants in New Zealand, they had a new pair shipped to me in two days. I love their gear and feel truly part of the family now.
Looking ahead, what are your future goals in snowboarding? Any specific competitions or achievements you’re aiming for?
In the short term, I’m focusing on the World Cups, World Champs in Switzerland, and hopefully qualifying for the 2026 Olympics. Long-term, I want to be someone riders look up to, someone known for style and passion.
Any advice for up-and-coming riders?
Definitely—don’t rush the process. Focus on mastering your board first, and the rest will follow. And most importantly, keep the stoke high and enjoy every moment.
Awesome advice! One last thing—what are some of your favorite pieces from Horsefeathers’ new collection?
The baggy fit is my favorite, especially the Baron pants and Envoy jacket. I also really like the gloves, and I always wear a Drown hoodie indoors.
Perfect! Thanks so much for your time, Jules, and best of luck with the season.
