Episode Transcript
As Diana O Sees It: Compelling Conversations Recorded: Sunday,
Jürg Matti
Diana O (00:14): Today I'm excited to share a special interview with Jürg Matti, a man whose story has long captivated me. Jürg is not just a remarkable figure in winter sports, but also an old friend and the brother of someone I used to date.
His roots in the picturesque village of Saanen, nestled beside the renowned Gstaad ski resort in the Swiss Alps, set the stage for an extraordinary life journey. Jürg's impact on the world of winter sports is undeniable. As a founding member of the Swiss Snowboard Association and former coach of the Swiss National Snowboard team, he guided athletes to an impressive 17 medals, including two Olympic triumphs. What truly resonates with me about Jürg's story goes beyond his professional accolades. In 2010, Jürg's world was shaken when he lost his wife, a two-time European champion, to breast cancer. I watched from afar as he navigated the challenging terrain of grief while shouldering the responsibilities of single parenthood.
(01:17): His resilience in the face of this personal tragedy is as inspiring as his achievements on the slopes. In our conversation, Jürg shares insights from his journey, from the adrenaline-fueled world of competitive snowboarding to the quiet moments of personal reflection and growth. We explore goal setting, motivation, and the crucial role of support systems in both professional success and personal healing. Jürg also opens up about rebuilding life after loss, finding new love, and how the unique lifestyle of the Swiss Alps shapes one's well being. Join me as I sit down with Jürg Matti: coach, mentor, survivor, and friend. His story is a testament to the human spirit's resilience and the transformative power of embracing life's challenges. I'm honored to share this intimate conversation, offering a glimpse into the life of a man who has influenced not just the world of snowboarding, but also my own perspective on life and perseverance. Welcome.
Jürg Matti (02:20): So yes, I had the chance to have some good athletes in my team, and actually the first medal at the Olympic Games, it was in Nagano in Japan in 1998 and it was a bronze medal. And four years later in Salt Lake City, there was a guy, he won a gold medal. Yes, I was his coach and physical trainer and also trainer for the technique on the snow. So I was the coach all in one.
Diana O (02:56): I also read that you were a founding member of the Swiss snowboard...
Jürg Matti (03:00): Oh, yes, yes. So that was just actually my whole background. I grew up in the mountains and first of all, as a child, I was a good skier and I ended up in the national ski team and I was able to participate in two World Cup races. But actually, at 23, one of my athletes in the team asked me as a skier to be their coach. And then I started this team and in the end there was no national team in the beginning. And then there were quite a few guys from Switzerland and we were founding the first Swiss snowboard team, and then we became a national team. So it was really the beginning of snowboarding and it was so interesting and challenging.
Diana O (04:00): They didn't quite accept snowboarders on the same level as skiers back then, right?
Jürg Matti (04:05): Yes, yes. So actually I got a lot of experience in skiing and I gave all my experience to the snowboarders. And then...
Diana O (04:14): But initially the FIS, the FIS didn't quite put you guys, the snowboarders... You guys were like a new sport, right? Just reading an article in Swiss info that... Yeah, there was a bit of conflict in the beginning.
Jürg Matti (04:26): Oh yes. So actually the beginning was quite peaceful. There was just one federation and one circuit. And then the FIS federation, that's the ski federation, they thought, oh, snowboarding, we could bring them to the Olympics, but it has to be a ski discipline. So in the end they said, well, we need to do a new circuit under the ski federation. And snowboarding became a ski discipline.
So then actually it was quite a concurrence between the two federations and a fight. So the peaceful start was over and then they had to really decide on which circuit they participated in. But in the end it was interesting. And so one of the athletes was able to find a way to the Olympics.
Diana O (05:20): Yeah, and you were there, you were part of that whole time.
Jürg Matti (05:24): Oh yes. Yeah. So I was part from the beginning up to the end where there was only one federation in charge and that was just really a great timing just to be in a sport that is new and quite fashionable. And it was just really
a great time. And I had the chance to travel around the circuit from all over Europe to the states, Canada, Japan. So that was just a good time.
Diana O (05:59): I was listening to one of your interviews where you said that you push your athletes beyond their limits or something to do with personal limits or pushing them, getting them to go beyond what they think they can do.
Jürg Matti (06:15): Yes. So actually first of all, when I start with the athlete, I ask them what is their goal? And most of them said, well, I'd like to be a world champion or Olympic winner. And then I said, well, there are a few steps to do and you are not there yet. And then I said, well, the next step is just to get stronger and to do more training. And then of course then I got him to do more training because he liked to be once on the top of the ranking. So I did it with baby steps and according to their own goals, I was able to get them on the same line. And I was not pushing them, other coaches were screaming at them. So I said, well, if you don't do it, then you're not going to achieve your goals.
Diana O (07:11): Yeah, no, you're very motivating. I've experienced you as a coach. You got me... I think my carving technique got a little better with you and you got me mountain biking.
Jürg Matti (07:21): Yes, yes. So actually you stopped too early, otherwise you would also end up somewhere on the Olympic games. But actually that makes my job interesting. When I stopped being a national trainer, I became a personal trainer. And actually then to work with guys like you, it was also interesting where to start. Every person has a different background, different levels, and just to find out where is the next step to achieve their final goals. So that makes it so interesting. If I work with the Olympic champion or miss a nice girl like you, or my oldest client is 92, there are also goals to achieve. So that makes it also really interesting. So we have the full spectrum of a person's life.
Diana O (08:19): Yeah, because you live in Gstaad now with, well you live in Saanen, this is the village next to Gstaad, which is known as a very luxurious, fancy place with famous people. And I'm sure you get to run into those. I know you can't divulge who your clients are, but I'm sure you're exposed to them on a regular basis.
Jürg Matti (08:40): Yes, yes. Some are locals and some are quite famous, but in the end they need to put their trainers on and follow my instructions and they are all equal just to achieve their different goals. So that's just like the basics, I don't make any difference if there are some guys or famous or how rich doesn't matter to me.
Diana O (09:07): I love that you personify what Gstaad is known for, the secrecy that there is up in that valley. Nobody talks about who they work with.
Jürg Matti (09:17): Oh yes, no, that is my secret and I don't like to show up. Oh, I'm the trainer of this or that. So that makes my job not better. So just to show up with those names, so that I like to keep it secret. So like a doctor.
Diana O (09:35): I love it. So how have the lessons that you've had training different people, how do you think maybe your training has changed over time? Has it changed at all, your approach?
Jürg Matti (09:51): Of course, physically for an Olympic athlete, I need to give him a hundred kilos on his back and for another just 10 kilos is enough or it could be too much. So there is just... I need to adapt all the time and no, I like to see the person first and then to achieve the same goals. So that must first be a good relationship and we need to talk about the goals that we like to achieve. So if there is no goal to achieve, then it's just like to feel good and that is not the best motivation. And sometimes that's just really important to have the right motivation. So when somebody comes to me and says, well, I like to lose some kilos, so that is easy to measure and to find the goals. Some people are coming to me and they say, well, I have a certain back pain, I like to get rid of it.
(10:57): So there are exercises or treatments to do it in this way. And there are other guys, they like to be faster in running, so I give them the right choices. And there are other guys. So once I got a man in my class and I asked about the motivation; he came to my lesson and then he said, well, it's because of my wife. And I said, why …. because she thinks that I'm doing not enough. So actually after 10 minutes he looked at his watch and just to see how long it went. So my lessons normally are 60 minutes. And then he said, well, I can invite you for a coffee, so that's a better investment actually. I said, well, that is not a part of the deal, otherwise I get a problem with your wife. And actually that was the first and
only session with this man. So actually the motivation should come from the person himself and then I can give them the right advice.
Diana O (12:09): That is such a lesson that anyone can learn when we have an unhealthy family member that we want to fix.
Jürg Matti (12:17): Actually I got, let's say after years, it's good to have a coach who is not part of the family. So if you like to change a family member, you get in trouble. So better ask a personal trainer to be in charge so then he can deal with the emotions better. So that is for...
Diana O (12:39): That's great advice. That's wonderful advice to give to people about relationships. What other advice would you have about relationships? Both personal and professional?
Jürg Matti (12:50): So actually there should be support from the family that the person who likes to change should give them the right support and he should do things his own way. And actually he should find a therapist or a trainer that gives him the right advice. So that is just the right thing to separate the two things. So the family members, the partners, should be supporters and not therapists. So otherwise you get in emotional conflicts and that is not the best. So I guess...
Diana O (13:29): So you have the family that's there for support, but then you have the right therapist who's acting as the coach, right?
Jürg Matti (13:36): Yes, exactly.
Diana O (13:37): Who's saying what to do, but the family's there to support the family member.
Jürg Matti (13:41): Yes, exactly.
Diana O (13:43): Okay, well that's cool. So that would be in a professional setting. Imagine your ski team or your snowboard team. So you have you as the coach, but then I guess the rest of the team is supporting the one person. Does that happen on a ski team or snowboard team?
Jürg Matti (14:02): Yes. So actually in a team, I like to support each individual personally, separately and actually just to say when a family member shows up in
the team, then they should stay outside the hall or outside the slope. So there are also parents or fathers, they're coming and screaming into the scene and that is not the best.
Diana O (14:33): What I was meaning was the team members themselves. I often heard that teams support each other even though they're maybe competing against each other, but they're still like a team. So the participants in the team are still like a family in a way. They travel together.
Jürg Matti (14:52): Oh yes. So actually in the team itself, everyone has his own goal, but as friends, as team members, you can see, oh, you can support each individual member of the team. And actually it's like working together and actually just by doing video analysis, they can see, oh, I would do it this way. So there's a lot of discussion. So actually communication is so important. So when they talk with each other, there are a lot of good ideas. And I was supporting those conversations all the time. So because sometimes the athletes have even better ideas than the coach itself. So you need to get those. So the source of the athletes itself is that they show up with new ideas and they can help each other and they can pick up those ideas to get part of the training.
Diana O (16:03): So there were 17 medals in your history?
Jürg Matti (16:08): Oh yes. You did a lot of homework. I didn't count them all. So actually I was lucky to have such good athletes. Yeah, so I forgot about that.
There were 17.
Diana O (16:23): Well luckily I can speak German so I could actually do this research. So which one stands out the most of all those wins?
Jürg Matti (16:34): So if I look back, of course, when you are able to participate in Olympic games and if you win a gold medal there, that is probably the best that you can achieve as an athlete or as a coach. And as well there is another gold medal. Actually there was once our team or my riders, they were participating in the other federation's races and there was a world championship from the FIS. And actually my riders, they didn't have good bib numbers. They had to start with the last numbers and bib numbers...
Diana O (17:05): Yes, exactly.
Jürg Matti (17:06): So they were starting at the end of the field and actually one of my riders, he was able to catch all the participants before him and he was able to win a gold medal in the FIS World championships. So even as an outsider, he was showing them we are still better than them. That's as awesome as a gold medal in the Olympic games. So that was one of the best.
Diana O (17:46): So to those people who don't understand ski racing, snowboard racing, why is it bad to have a high bib number?
Jürg Matti (17:54): Yes...
Diana O (17:54): Is the snow quality bad at the end or is that what it is?
Jürg Matti (17:57): Yeah, so actually if you start with the number one, you can start the first and the slope is still really nice. The condition is perfect. There are no bumps or holes and with each rider the slope gets really bad and gets ruts. And so then already after 20 numbers you can see some lines. And after 50 numbers or riders, the slope is really bad. So then you can't achieve the same time as with number one.
Diana O (18:34): Although you would think that perhaps maybe at the end it's icier. So it's probably because the ice makes them go faster.
Jürg Matti (18:42): Sometimes it's like that, but also with the ice there are also some ruts and then you need to stand harder on the edges and then you will lose time. So it's not the benefit to have it icier than with number one.
Diana O (18:57): So why did you switch towards wellness and personal training?
Jürg Matti (19:04): So actually I was almost 10 years as a national coach. And during that time I was traveling around about nine months a year, and I got two girls. The older one turned six and in Switzerland this is the time to start kindergarten. And then I felt sorry for them that I was all the time around the world and not back home. And then I said, well, I need to find a job in the town. And so actually that was the main reason to change. And I was able to start in town in a new wellness hotel as a personal trainer.
Diana O (19:56): Yay. Well, that was a lucky situation.
Jürg Matti (20:00): Definitely lucky situation. And right now, for 20 years, I'm a personal trainer and so lucky that I found that job. And so actually since 18 years I've been my own boss; so I'm self-employed. So that I really got my dream job after.
Diana O (20:26): So during that time, I guess it would be important to say that you met your first wife through well in the village because it's small, she was a bit older than you. She was your older brother's age. Yes. So you guys grew up together, but she ended up being a champion snowboarder herself.
Jürg Matti (20:50): Yes, exactly. Two European...
Diana O (20:52): Champion, two-time European champion.
Jürg Matti (20:54): Yes, exactly. So my wife was a European champion twice and once, I guess third in the world championships. So she was really good at snowboarding. And actually I was first... we were training together, I'm a skier and she was a snowboarder and then she was also part of the team when I became a snowboard trainer. So that was just the beginning. Our relationship started on snow. And so she was six years older and of course then she stopped snowboarding at the age of 30. And so that's the time to have the kids.
Diana O (21:42): And then sadly Ursi, as we called her, sadly left us due to cancer. And that was a really hard period. I remember you during that time it wasn't easy.
Jürg Matti (21:58): Yes, of course. It was not easy just to hear that your wife got cancer and it was just like three years of a battle, actually got all the treatments, chemo and I don't know, three operations and actually after the three years felt the cancer was stronger and she passed away at the age of 44. And then I was alone actually with two teenagers. So my girls were 10 and 12. And that was quite a difficult situation of course, or the hardest situation I went through in my life. But somehow I got a lot of support from friends like you and the whole family was around in the little town. So they gave me a lot of support and...
Diana O (22:59): I was going through a personal battle at that time as well. I call it my spiritual crisis. But you were part of my support network during that time,
not just in the physical training sense, but you brought me some nice books and you told me to not give up hope. I remember. Oh...
Jürg Matti (23:20): Yes, actually I realize we can't compare our crisis. You were in a different part of your life with a different situation. I had to face another difficult situation, so you can't compare. But actually, yeah, there is always time to share and to give us support even when it's hard.
Diana O (23:51): Yeah, it's amazing. Plus I was confronting the death of my father that I'd never grieved. My father died in an avalanche in that village, in our village 40 years prior. And I think the grief I was going through was sort of old grief that I had never actually processed. So we were all kind of going through our grieving at the same time, which made for an interesting period. But it's thanks to this relationship that I think I made it through, thanks to you and my karate sensei Roland and other people in the village and my support group and my therapist and all these people. But you were definitely a part of that team.
Jürg Matti (24:35): That's good to hear. And of course that is just so important to have good relationships and we were all the time honest, and that is so important to be honest, it's just to everyone. So then I guess then we can share just our own experiences or ideas that can help each other, but it's also important to have, let's say, to know what is good for yourself in those times.
Diana O (25:09): Well, the story ended quite well. You did find someone, a very special someone. I remember when that happened. You want to tell our listeners how you've found love again?
Jürg Matti (25:22): Yes, yes, yes. So actually I had about three and a half years of time to find myself and to find peace. So the situation and my girls, the teenagers, were doing very well. So after four years, they were already 14 and
16. And yes, of course they were asking themselves, well, it should be time that their father meets another woman. So actually one of them said, well, you should open up an internet account. And I said, well, that's a good idea, but I would do it by myself. So in the end they said, well, you shouldn't wait for too long. And then actually I did that and I was so honest because I said, well, first of all, I am a widow, and second I have two teenagers. And so that I guess 99% of all they were just switching off my profile because that is just too much a widow and two teenagers, widow.
(26:40): And then just to get in this situation with a new person, that is quite difficult. And actually then somebody got in contact with me, Adrian, and she said, well, you're such a special person because I'm in the same situation. So actually Adrian lost also her husband and her children were at that time two and just three and a half. And actually we were talking to each other and sharing our experiences and in the end we found a way and we fell in love. And right now we are already nine years married and it's just like another life. And actually after a few rainy years, the sun came up. Definitely.
Diana O (27:39): That's so awesome. That's really wonderful. I do remember that early budding relationship, you coming in a little tired, texting all night with this new person.
Jürg Matti (27:53): I was quite tired, but really worth doing. And that was just really a gift or I dunno...
Diana O (28:02): I actually think of you sometimes when I don't get enough sleep and I've gone to bed at midnight and wake up at six.You know what? If Jürg could do it, I can do it.
Jürg Matti (28:11): Actually, it was really worth it to invest in those hours of texting and talking. Yes, that was quite intense that time I remember. Yes.
Diana O (28:23): I'm curious because one of my big interests is habits, like personal habits and how they contribute to your health and wellbeing and to your performance. What would you say are some of the ways that people sabotage their performance and their health?
Jürg Matti (28:40): So actually yes, habits are so important to get regular training or regular good stimulation of your life and just to find good habits is the secret. And actually every person also has some bad habits and you need to replace them with the good ones. So that seems quite easy and you can't change it from one day to the other, so you need to do some baby steps. So actually if you drink 10 coffees a day, then you should say, okay, in 10 weeks I'm just going to drink two coffees only. So then every week you're going to reduce it to one coffee less so that it's not so...
Diana O (29:35): Hard. No cold turkey. No cold turkey.
Jürg Matti (29:38): Yeah, exactly. So no shock therapy. You need to do it step by step and maybe you're going to find some other habits to drink tea or just some juice. So you need to replace this missing coffee with something else. So that is baby steps. Yes.
Diana O (29:59): Wow. Because you have, one of the things I learned living in the Swiss Alps is that there are some healthy habits that people just grow up with just from living there. You learn from your mother and your grandmother, and a lot of other people. I would say Americans come to Switzerland or the Swiss Alps, and they have different habits than they didn't grow up with. I noticed my grandparents had different habits, and there are some that you have that are just a part that you grew up with. What do you think are some of the ones that you think are the ones we should keep and that maybe would be good if some of the visitors to our valley, to the Gstaad Valley or even here in America could learn from you guys in the Swiss Alps?
Jürg Matti (30:46): Yeah, so actually the good habit is that we have cows around the house and actually we know where the milk comes from. And it's also just like my habit. I drink my glass of milk every day. And of course when you do research why drinking milk, you find a lot of pages saying it's unhealthy. But actually I grew up with milk and for me it's still the best. So that is just...
Diana O (31:17): Do you drink raw or pasteurized, Jürg? Because right now there's a huge discussion in America about raw milk and Gwyneth Paltrow is saying...
Jürg Matti (31:26): So I prefer raw milk, but of course I can't go every day to the farmers. So then there is also pasteurized, but at least it's the milk from our cows next door. So it's important that they eat the real grass and not just artificial corn or something so that it makes a huge difference that they eat the fresh grass from the fields.
Diana O (31:55): Quality of the milk in Switzerland's different from here in America where we have feedlots and cows eating grain.
Jürg Matti (32:03): Yes, exactly. So it is difficult to find the right source. But I guess organic milk you can find everywhere. Of course you need to pay double the price, but I guess that's the price that you have to pay. And then that is my
personal habit, I just try to eat also just the meat from the region and not from Uruguay or South America. So that is at least I know it's organic and not badly treated. Yeah,
Diana O (32:39): They're less likely to put chemicals into the cows in your village.
Jürg Matti (32:47): Actually in the village. And as well in Switzerland, they have really an eye on what the farmers are feeding them. And they also have different organic labels like bio labels like that. Even when you go to the supermarket, if it's from Switzerland, it's organic, then that is just the best. But of course when I go to my colleagues as farmers and get the piece of meat directly from the farm, that is just still special. Yes, that's special.
(33:17): And the other habit, of course, to live in the mountains is just like to go out every day, not nightlife out, just out to do some outdoor activities and just to be out in nature. So that stimulates the whole body. You get some fresh air, and of course when you walk, run or by myself, I go a lot with my bicycle. So that is the best to be in nature and to do your work out there. So I can normally switch off my brain, and that is my daily, let's say almost meditation to be out in nature.
Diana O (34:02): How many hours do you think you spend outdoors per day?
Jürg Matti (34:06): So let's say on average, of course, sometimes I work 10 hours a day indoors. And then at least I like to be one hour outside. So that is the minimum. And of course when there is more time, I like to spend as often outside.
Diana O (34:27): Well, you have some clients like I was... who were like, let's, let's go mountain biking, let's go skiing today.
Jürg Matti (34:32): Oh yes. So that is just my dream. So my normal daily life is just to be somewhere in the gym or I also go back home to people's homes. But it is also mainly indoor. And just from time to time there are some people who like to do something outside.
Diana O (34:53): Back to Swiss life, I was thinking, I know your mom. I don't know if she still has it, but she has an amazing vegetable garden. And a lot of the
food that you grew up eating was stuff that she took out of the garden and that she grew. Would you say that's a huge part of what you believe is still healthy?
Jürg Matti (35:15): Oh, of course. When you have a possibility to get your vegetables from your own garden, that is still the best. And of course, not everyone has the piece of land to plant your own food. So that is still one of the best. And of course there were never enough potatoes for the whole year, so there were just a few for a nice rösti. And of course we were enjoying them so much and it was just unique. But actually that is not possible because we were not farmers. Probably as a farmer, you can feed your family with your own food, but not with your own vegetable garden. That is not enough.
Diana O (36:02): But she always cooked, and I know that you did and Orsi did, and then your daughters, you guys cook your lunches. And...
Jürg Matti (36:10): So actually that was just part of the Swiss mentality that my mother, she was cooking all the time, lunch and dinner, and she got the food directly from the healthiest place. And so we barely went out because the food in the restaurants is still so expensive. So that is one reason to save money and then what is on your plate when you cook yourself, but it takes a lot of time. And actually Arianne, she also works part-time, about 40%. And on those days when she is working, then I try to take over and I have some meals that I can cook by myself for my kids.
Diana O (37:03): My daughter's experienced your cuisine, she's had your veal with cream sauce, and she said it's amazing.
Jürg Matti (37:13): I thought she still remembers it, one of the specialties and this kind of rösti. But actually that is just one of the best things that of course we like to know what is on our plate. If you cook by yourself, you can make your own ingredients and that is important. And when you go out somewhere in a restaurant, you never know what they do back there in the kitchen.
Diana O (37:38): So what do you think... a lot of people in America believe that a vegan diet is conducive to high performance and sports? What's your vision on that or your opinion?
Jürg Matti (37:50): Yes, actually, let's say if you eat too much meat, then you get too much acid. But one good piece a week is just nothing against that.
Diana O (38:06): Yes, you remind me of my doctor. When I was pregnant with my son, they didn't give me these vitamin pills that they give you here in the United States. He just said, have a piece of meat a week.
Jürg Matti (38:18): Yes. Yeah, no, there is just, of course everyone needs to find his own way. And of course if you get enough proteins from vegan food, but it's difficult to get them and to cook it's quite a lot of work. So you need to have a good cook in the background if you like to eat nonstop vegan food. Yeah. So that is just quite difficult. Yeah.
Diana O (38:49): Wow. Would you say, do you eat meat every day?
Jürg Matti (38:53): No, no, no, not anymore. Yeah. So actually almost yes, because my uncle or my father grew up in a butcher factory. And actually my uncle, he reached 96 and up to his age of 91, he was eating meat twice a day. And he said, it's not the question about quantity, it's about the quality. And he knew exactly where he got his meat from. And so he was a specialist in that. And of course, I guess that's the most important thing, just to have healthy meat and not from industrial production.
Diana O (39:44): I do remember the Swiss rules for how you even have a cow, I think it needs to have a window. The quality of life for cows is pretty high.
Jürg Matti (39:53): Oh yes. So they are almost holy in our country. So actually the new rules are if you have to get the organic label for your cows, you need to give them enough space even to walk around in their barn. They are not tightened up by a rope. So they are able to walk inside their barn because in the winter they can't walk outside in the snow. So the barns, they're getting bigger and bigger and they're able to walk inside and they need to get enough daily light and fresh air. So they have almost more rights than human beings. So there was a good example, actually, my brother, he is an architect, and actually he had a farmer and he liked to change his barn to the living room. And then they said, oh no, this is not legal to get a new window there in this barn. It should stay as it is, just really close and dark, nothing able to change from the outside. And then the farmer said, okay, let's get the cows back. And then they said, oh, if you get the
cows back, you need to get big nice windows. And then actually, I guess it ended up they were bringing the cows in for a year, and then he brought the cows to his neighbor, and then he said, well, right now I can get back to my barn with the new windows. So that's a funny story.
Diana O (41:33): So funny. Oh my God. So what are your plans, Jürg? Are you going to coaching or any plans for coaching teams anymore? Are you going to stick with personal training or what are you...?
Jürg Matti (41:46): Yeah, so actually I'm already 20 years in this business as a personal trainer and I'm still really happy with my job. I love to work with people and I see the success, the progress with my athletes, with my students. And actually when some of them show up and say, well, I'd like to get to the marathon, I like to support them. And actually I guess if there's somebody who comes to me and says, well, you should be a trainer of a national team again, I guess I'm not willing to travel around the world anymore. So if it's something in front of my house or actually in the village, then it's okay. And so I'm open to all kinds of trades.
Diana O (42:44): So if people come to Gstaad, Saanen or that valley, you're there.
Jürg Matti (42:50): Yes, I'm there. Yes, definitely. Diana O (42:52): So bring people to you.
Jürg Matti (42:54): Yes, yes. So they're coming up and actually they like to be, let's say, out in the countryside, and there are more and more people, they decide to live here and not in the cities anymore. And there are a lot of people who are able to do home office work. So there are more and more people living the whole year here in the mountains. So like that. Yeah, I still have enough clients, so I don't need to go.
Diana O (43:25): You live in paradise. I miss it. So is there anything else I haven't mentioned? I know that you have a very deep spiritual faith and that faith carried you through those hard times. I don't know if you want to speak about that.
Jürg Matti (43:42): Yeah, so actually when I lost my wife and let's say that was really a difficult time, and I remember I was really asking why it happened. I had so many questions, and I guess it was just after a week when my wife passed away and there was a nice winter day with fresh snow. And normally I go out in the powder and ride down a mountain with my board. And actually I said, well, I can't do that. I'm still mourning, I should be back home. And then I said, why not? So then I just went up to that mountain with my snowboard and I arrived down in the fresh powder and there was joy coming up, and this feeling was so strange.
And I said, well, I'm mourning, but there is joy. And then on the second run, I was already screaming from joy because it was so fun to ride down the mountain.
(44:50): And then in the third round on the cable car, I was alone. And it was so emotional because I felt joy even in this miserable situation. And I guess it was the best lesson that I got at that time because you need to listen to yourself and just to know what is good for you and do those things that are good for you also in the most difficult time. So actually to find some joy and it's part, it's like I learned from my children, they were really so sad about that loss of their mother. And just five minutes later they were laughing about an ice cream. So the kids, they are just so emotional, they can enjoy their moments. And I said, well, in this case, I'd like to be like children just to live in the moment. And I felt in that moment, on that day, so much joy. And I said, well, I need to find those moments also in the future.
Diana O (46:07): Wow, that's so powerful. Plus knowing Ursi, she probably would've wanted you to have that joy.
Jürg Matti (46:13): Yes, exactly. I guess on that day I was closer. I was almost like in heaven to ride down powder with some light from the sun. So that is just, I was quite close to my wife there. Yeah.
Diana O (46:34): That's so beautiful. Well, thank you so much, Jürg. How can people, I know you've got a totally packed schedule with all your people, but if somebody did come to Gstaad and wanted to meet you, is there a way they can get in touch with you?
Jürg Matti (46:53): So actually they should ask you for my number. Okay, let's do it like that. Because I don't have any internet homepage or not Instagram. So far
I'm not into that, so I don't need it. I still have enough clients. They call me up and that's the way I get...
Diana O (47:14): The old fashioned way. I love it. You know what? I spend way too much time on it and it's keeping me from being outdoors. So yes,
Jürg Matti (47:22): In order to talk to you. Yeah. Great. Yeah.
Diana O (47:26): Well, thank you so much for all the tips and it has just been so great to reconnect with you and thank you.
Jürg Matti (47:35): It's a pleasure.
Diana O (47:37): Before we wrap up, I'd like to thank Oliver Kiker for the Jingle and Gwendolyn Christian for the backup support. Also, a quick reminder, these interviews are not a substitute for professional medical, legal, or psychological advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for any major decisions in your life. And thanks for joining me and exploring the connections that make us human and learning insights and strategies to help us build, heal and nurture relationships, including and especially the one with yourself. It's been an honor to share this time with you and to bring you conversations with some of the brightest minds who deserve more recognition. Remember, life's too short to take too seriously, so don't forget to hit that subscribe button. Get outside and let's continue this journey of life together. See you next time.
