Jasper Leenarts
Tekst door Sonja Hamel - Planet Talk
360-buy.com Build ’n Ride Contest in Saalbach Hinterglemm - Seven new sections in just three days
(sgh) – On Pentecost weekend one could hear lots of hammering, sawing and laughter along the adidas Freeride course in Saalbach Hinterglemm, because the first part of the 360-buy.com Build ’n Ride Contest took place in Austria’s mountain bike Eldorado. More than thirty ambitious builders from three countries had come to Saalbach Hinterglemm to prove their skills as ‘freeride engineers’. The event surpassed the expectations of both, the organisers and the participants aged between 16 and 51 years. In just three days seven new spectacular sections were created along the adidas Freeride. And despite physical strain the builders had a blast.
„The weekend was much better than I thought“, says 16 year old Markus Lang from Forstern near Erding (Southern Germany). „I’ve learned quite a bit and we had a lot of fun. Building with other people was the best. Our team has really accomplished a lot during past three days. We have created a fun North Shore section and I hope that many people will enjoy riding it in the future.” Together with five other builders from Germany the student has erected a great ladder bridge segment into the woods. “Actually we planned a much bigger construction”, explains 19 year old Mario Lenzen, who has been building North Shores and giant gaps with his friend Tony Brey in the forests around Garmisch Partenkirchen for the past five years. „But we had to adjust to the terrain. Now the difficulty of our section is medium. But the task was to build something that is ridable, anyway.” All of them are stoked about the Build ’n Ride Contest. “I think it’s a great idea that people get their hands on and build something rather than just consuming the sport”, says Mario Lenzen. „Yeah, and that way you can incorporate your own style and be actively involved in the development of the bike park”, agrees David Skuola (18) from Arnsberg. “We first had to clear the woods for about four hours, before we could start building. Then everyone wanted be at the controls”, Tony Brey (37) grins. „Therefore we split up and worked on different parts. Klaus and Martin helped me.” “And I got all the schmoe jobs”, adds 16 year old Klaus Schüller. “Carrying bars and so on, with the argument that I am the youngest and healthiest of all …But I am really proud of what we’ve achieved.”
Beneath them works the group ‚Evil Ear’ – four Austrians from Vienna and Maishofen and two Dutchmen, who only got to know each other during the welcome dinner on Friday. They are also chopping, picking, hammering and sawing as hard as they can. “This weekend is so cool”, says 20 year old Sebastian ‚Wastl’ Amsüss from Vienna who is building a steep North Shore turn into the forest. “This is the first time that I participate in such an awesome contest and I am positively surprised. Everything is so well organised.” “It is really ten times better than I thought”, agrees his friend Scherom Scholtze (17). “And the people in this town are so nice. I would like to live here. At home they already jump in your face if just ride down a hill, let alone building something into the woods.” Communication within the international group works well, as one party speaks enough English, the other enough German to make themselves understood. “It’s incredible how many new lines have been created in such a short period of time”, says Jasper Leenarts (28), chief editor of the Dutch website mountainbike.nl. „Two days ago there was nothing here, and now there are crazy obstacles everywhere. I hope that we got the right flow, because that you will only find out once you ride it.”
Fifty metres further down the German guys from Thueringen carpenter an awesome North Shore Cork Screw. For three years the ‘Stoned Riders’ have been building together, also North Shore trails. “But we were always forced to tear them down again”, explains Michael Jakob (25). With his three 18 year old friends Franz Herrmann, Christoph Zapf and Ricardo Reum he came to the Build ’n Ride in order to create something massive that can remain. “Here we can be really creative”, they say. “The terrain is ideal. This is our first time in Saalbach Hinterglemm and we would love come back soon. If possible already next week.”
‘Longplaypark’, the Austrian group in section 4, is a well-rehearsed team. Cri Maierhofer (31), Curtis Leitner (37), Joshi Schaschl (23), Uwe Westerkam (26) and Marko Ritzmaier (19) build snowboard parks during the winter. Their experience is reflected in their efficiency. After two days they are done, having built North Shores, several drops and a wallride, all perfectly integrated into the natural setting and branded with their logo. “It was cool, lots of fun. Great food, great accommodation. But the best thing was that we were not limited in our work”, says Cri. “Nobody told us what to do. We were completely free to design what we wanted. In order to make the competition a little more challenging next time, we suggest to provide everyone with the exact same material and to ration the number of beams that every team gets. Then every group is forced to make the best use of the existing terrain.” Proud of what they have created within 48 hours they present every little detail of their section, like the ‘Deer Drop’, named after a deer skull which was found while constructing the drop and nailed frontal onto the jump.
Saalbach Hinterglemm’s local hero Andy Zehentner (18) has put together a regional team for the Build ’n Ride Contest. „I am looking forward to try all these new obstacles“, says Thomas Kendler (16). „We all have a season pass for the cable car and will probably benefit the most from this weekend.“ The group has worked hard and build a brand new downhill trail with North Shore elements into the forest. Everyone has weals on his hands from picking, shovelling and hammering all weekend, but is completely stoked. „It was a dream to be able to build something knowing that it will last”, raves 18 year old Sebastian Nindl from Bramberg. „Originally I didn’t want to come and go riding instead”, utters Christian Embacher from Kaprun. „Andy called me only on Friday. But now I am glad that I took part in this. If they will ever do this again, I will attend for sure.”
Marco Giersdorf (26) from Mainz (Germany) has brought his „Vadder“ Norbert (51) and his dog Beau along. With their funny Mainzer dialect the father-son-team causes a lot of laughter. Marco is determined to build and ride his first wallride ever at the Build ’n Ride Contest. He manages both. Already on Saturday the wallride is erected. On Monday he ventures his first jump – and makes it. For 16 year old Taulan Dernbach from Würzburg, who helped building the wooden wall, the new obstacle is almost too small. The young freeride talent is literally a high achiever when it comes to mountain biking and sets his first jump just under the top edge. „It was so much fun to spend the weekend with all these people, to build together, to go out together, and to stay at the same hotel. If they ever do this again I will drop everything and come to Saalbach Hinterglemm.“
Contrasting his nick name ‚North Shore Mitch’, Michael Bock (33), during weekdays expansion manager for a large German supermarket chain, has been building dirt jumps this weekend. Together with 21 year old Tim Magduschewski of sponsor 360-buy.com he directs excavator driver Sepp and within a few hours a meadow turns into a new dirt jump line. „Unfortunately the weather is working against us“, Mitch sighs. „It rained all night and the soil is very wet and soft. I did a test jump a little while ago and my front wheel got stuck. We desperately need a day of sun so the jumps can dry off. Otherwise we won’t be able to finish our work.”
Saalbach Hinterglemm’s mountain bike patron and inventor of the adidas Freeride, Bascht Hasenauer (Bike ’n Soul), who provided the land for the contest, is impressed by the result. „The sections look awesome. Unfortunately I didn’t have the time to watch how it all arose, because I was too busy replenishing material supplies, since the guys used a loads of nails and wood. And that was a real challenge during the holidays!“
Also Gareth Dyer, who consulted the Build ’n Ride groups during the weekend, is impressed. “These guys have worked really hard and built some great stuff. I am stoked and I really look forward to try all this.”
As the Build ’n Ride participants pack up their cars on Monday afternoon, full of new experiences, blisters, and sore muscles, they all agree on one thing: if this event will ever be repeated, they all want to be part of it, “for sure”.Check ook de reacties op ons forum
