Summer means training and the best way for me is to freebord! It helps me keep my legs strong, progress in anticipation of the terrain, dangers and also push once again my limits. We discovered this activity at the end of winter 2008, watch a documentary in San Fransisco on this strange board and his community. It blowed our mind, sure the movement were exactly like snowboarding and also the spirit of sharing behind this sport looked amazing. Here are the freebord chronicles…
I started Freebord in Reunion Island, what a fantastic place to learn, passioned by freeriding I couldn’t love it more, infinite road, perfect concrete and out-breathing scenery . I learned surrounded by longboard rider, and it have clearly influence my style ( pretty close to my snowboarding style ), always bomb that hill. My freebord mate was Christo, creator of the TAKA Crew and first freebord rider on the island, always will be my friend, my guide and my master in the freebord world.
Back in Europe, for some reason I didn’t freebord during 2 years. Discover verbier, but riding alone wasn’t motivating me and the next summer I was planning my canadian trip at my parent place where the hills are pretty crap. After the canadian adventure, I was back for my first summer in Verbier and I met a Down-hill roller man which motivated me to shred again. It is during this year 2010 I met Pierre Linckenheld, a french exile in Sweetzerland as well. Amazing rider, really fluid. After some turn we were already enjoying riding together and we couldn’t imagine what will have follow.
Summer 2011, motivation was really back this time. I was living in a place full of snowboarders who were missing so much their board and for a lot of them, just a little push and street fear was gone. I found new freebord mate and we unite ourselves under the name of UpZair Productions. We travel threw switzerland discovering more spots than we could imagine, met the amazing riders of the CHOE , went to france for the Freebord Represent Tour in Chartreuse and saw the amazing community power of this sport. Arnaud Blin and John Hem were taking care of the Freebord Pro SHop, organizing event for unite all the rider and supporting crews all over Europe. I guess this is the passion and the work of this 2 guys which made the community grows so fast and big in Europe.
Pierro were already in discussion with Freebord MFG for be able to deal freebord in Switzerland, business nearly inexistent in our country, you could find some board in some shops and we heard about a group of people selling some board in the german part but nobody for develop it. For ride the road, people need motivation and the sensation to be part of a community, you can’t just sell a board to somebody and leave him alone for find spots to begin and nobody to offer him the hand after a fail. On New year eve 2012, Pierro called me with amazing news, the Americans trusted in our motivation and gave us the opportunity to make our proof in the freebord business.
Freebord Suisse was born ! A great association between Pierro, living in Lausanne ( you can called it the little SF ), fluid & technical rider, and myself living in the beautiful mountain of the Valais, more aggressive rider. Inspired by our eldest of the freebord pro shop, Pierro was taking care of the business side, and I was responsible of the promotion threw videos productions.
Summer 2012 was fantastic, we were so motivated to spread the sport and the European community support us threw their presence to do it.
The Verbier Xtreme was our first big event, a lot of friends came to this meeting from Germany, France, even from the U.S. with Justin Oliver. Great start of season, we celebrate freebord and beer during 3 day in the middle of Verbier 4 years after our eldest from USA. Great time.
Followed some trip in France for the 15th years anniversary , the Chicken, our first organized event : The lausanne Slopestyle, which bring to our roads most of the country represented in the freebord community, the ghetto Blaster and Catch me if you can….
One summer of pleasure, lot of friends met on the road, see growing the new generation of shredder, feel their style exploding inspired by their eldest ; and this smile, on all this face, happy to live and ride together and enjoying the moment.
In 2013, I was taking a more professional way in snowboarding and filming. Stoke about this new adventure, but also conscious that it will left me less time for freebord promotion. Also cause of some personal aspect of the freebord business, i decided to take a step back inside Freebord. The winter had been too great also and the motivation to go back on the 6 wheels was hard…3 young boys for tchek republic helped me pass this feeling. To stop thinking of this business way I took, and keep shreding for the pleasure of the board, move around and meet some new friends of wheels…Now, the season is over and it was great to see the FRA result awarding Pierro as Standout of the Year, Jordi as Rider of the Year and Freebord Suisse as Best Submitted Video.
If last year was the year of the consecration, 2014 will be the year of progress and, threw videos, trip and project, I hope we will reach a new step in freebord evolution to push it at another level….
Lau’s Riders, The minou Crew, Octave, Jordi, Bently, Justin Oliver, Strassenkinder, Josh, Jiri, Honza, Lukas, Anticonformiste, the Choe, kiki , the TAKA Crew, Rich, all the community of freebord Europe (East & West) and Pierro for sure. I just want to thanks you all for your eternal passion and motivation of riding and sharing….
See you in 2014 and until then Touch my center wheel !!
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Here are all the Video I edited in the 2013 season and some of the best videos of 2012…
As usual Enjoy the ride and take care of the shark during this snowless winter….
