Tobias Grüninger

Switzerland

 Most important to me is always to have a good time and enjoy what I am doing. When I was a teenager, I spent most of my spare-time side-walk surfing with friends till late at night or riding some powder slopes in the winter season. In order to relax myself I like playing guitar a lot. I wish I had the skills of all those great guitarists...At present, my daughter keeps me busy. It's such a great experience to see a young person grow up..I can recommend having kids to everyone who is thinking about it. One smile of your own child and you'll understand!

Birthday? 03/04/1979

Year you first started at Black Diamond? 2008

Memory/story of your first week at Black Diamond? First thing I remember at BD is a warm welcome to the BD team. Furthermore, I remember the strong handshake of CJ and an inbox full of challenging tasks...:-)

What does working at Black Diamond mean to you? Working at Black Diamond means a lot to me because BD not only has high-end gear it also has loads of emotional value.

If you weren't working for Black Diamond, what would you be doing? Tough one. I'd probably be at home raising my daughter while my wife runs the money business.

Worst job you've ever had? Pizza driver.

Do you have any pets? Back when I was a child, I used to have a cat and before that, I had a bunny. Presently, I don't have any pets. Though, sometimes in the summer, there are a couple of midges flying around my bedroom at night.

Favorite sports/activities? I like walking lonely paths, surfing on snow, biking through mud, diving deep water or simply sitting around a campfire with friends. It's all about being out in nature.

Favorite climbing/skiing area and why? Jura in the Basel region, because it's located right in front of my doorstep.

Best climbing/skiing experience? Laax, Grisons, Switzerland. A sunny day with the fun-park and beautiful powder sessions.

What's your dream trip? Where? With who? An extended trip through Asia and Australia, stop-over in NZ and then go from Tiera del Fuego up to Alaska with my wife and daughter.

Guilty pleasure? Even though I cut down on them almost entirely, I still feel like smoking a cigarette from time to time.  And on top of that I am addicted to Maltesers!

BD gear you use every time you go climbing/skiing? Momentum harness, Quickwire QDs, Quicksilver screwgates, Chalk Bag, and Half Dome helmet.

What/who inspires you? Dan Osman in Masters of Stone V. That guy lived his life to the fullest.

What's in your iPod? To be honest, I don't have an iPod. If I had one, there would be a lot of rock music in it.

Three things you'd never travel without? My Spot headlamp, my Sunglasses and my Swiss army knife.

Superstitions? If you do bad things to others, one day bad things will come back at you.

What's your dream job? The one I have.

If you could have dinner with three people (dead or alive) who would they be? My sister Annette, my grandfather Max and Slash.

Do you have any tattoos or piercings? No I don't, but I have a handful of scars.