Banked Slalom in Laax, Switzerland. In recent years in Norway, Håkonsen has become a spokesman for organic food and healthy dieting through interviews, TV appearances, and newspaper articles. He also opposed Oslo's bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, and in September 2014 he participated in a live debate on the NRK 1 TV channel on the issue. Controversy In 2015, Håkonsen made disparaging comments on Twitter about professional skier Gus Kenworthy after Kenworthy came out as gay. Håkonsen's comments were widely criticized by the snowboard community, including professional snowboarders Todd Richards and Spencer O'Brien. In a following interview with Snowboarder Magazine, Håkonsen refused to apologize, saying that he was misunderstood and that "some people are thin-skinned." Philanthropy Håkonsen's activities go beyond his own discipline and elite sport. Together with the philanthropist Jan Chr. Sundt, he has founded the Funkisstiftelsen foundation and Greener Events. The Funkisstiftelsen foundation is intended to initiate and inspire activities on snow for those with physical disabilities. Greener Events has established itself as a leader in facilitating and providing advice on environmental awareness for all types of sporting and cultural events. Prizes and awards Mickey Mouse club Hall of fame 1991. Rider of the year, Transworld's snowboarding reader's awards, 1998. Piperider of the year, Transworld's snowboarding reader's awards, 1999. Best overall rider, Transworld's snowboarding reader's awards, 2000. Best Overall rider, Transworld's snowboarding reader's awards, 2001. Reader's choice, Transworld's snowboarding reader's awards, 2001. NEA Snowboarding award, 2001. Standout of the year, Transworld's snowboarding reader's awards, 2008. Vinje Municipality Cultural Prize 2009 Film, video and TV Pocahontas (1991). Mack Dawg Productions. Riders on the storm (1992). Fall Line Films. Project 6 (1993). Fall Line Films. Totally Board 2 A new way of thinking (1992). Standard films. Totally Board 3 Coming Down The Mountain (1993). Standard films. Carving the white'''' (1993). Rap Films. Roadkill (1993). Fall Line Films. Alive we ride (1993). Volcom. Upping the Ante (1993) Mack Dawg Productions. Totally Board 4 Run To The Hills (1994). Standard films. MTV Sports (1994). The garden (1994). Volcom. Meltdown Project (1995) Mack Dawg Productions. Freestyle swing (1995). Volcom. Milk (1995). High Voltage Productions. Totally Board 6 Carpe Diem (1996). Standard films. Subjekt Haakonsen (1996). Volcom. I Know What You Did Last Winter (1998). RJ Films. The Haakonsen Faktor'' (1999). Volcom. Extreme (1999). IMAX. Luminous Llama (2000). Volcom. Mt. Baker's Legendary Banked Slalom (Video) (2002). Notice To Appear (2002). Fall Line