What the FWT I Episode 3: Dysfunctional Family

Freeride World Tour

Participating in the Freeride World Tour involves inherent health risks, but it also leads athletes to live together throughout the season. This unique experience naturally forges a strong bond within the circuit, where the athletes consider themselves as one big family, with daily celebrations and joy.  For more Freeride World Tour videos, visit https://www.freerideworldtour.com  Follow the FWT: https://www.instagram.com/freerideworldtour/ https://twitter.com/FreerideWTour https://www.facebook.com/FreerideWorldTour https://www.tiktok.com/@freeridewtour

Transcript

00:00 What do you think of the Freeway World Tour?

00:03 What do you think of the Freeway World Tour?

00:11 I've always described the Freeway World Tour as a dysfunctional family.

00:19 What do you think of the Freeway World Tour?

00:22 What do you think of the Freeway World Tour?

00:27 To be a rider on the Freeway World Tour is just an incredible experience.

00:33 It's like you got invited to the carnival, the flying circus.

00:37 You ride around with all these amazing people to amazing places and just having a good time together.

00:47 Then we do competitions every once in a while too, which can be cool.

00:52 I just remember watching the event and being like, "I just want to be one of those cool kids."

01:01 It's good. I mean, we're pretty much just skiing with our friends. That's all it is.

01:05 You guys are just watching. It's just a big show.

01:08 I mean, we do this shit anyway, whether you guys are watching or not.

01:12 Probably even cooler, actually, on some of the free ski days.

01:15 I've seen the biggest stuff go down outside of the contest.

01:19 We just got the news that the comp is pushed even further, so no comp on Sunday.

01:23 Which means more warm-up runs, more powder skiing. Just push it.

01:27 My first year on the Tour was crazy.

01:41 Everyone was so happy, and I don't know why.

01:45 This bubble is not real life.

01:51 I'm just going to go for it.

01:53 I remember my first World Cup that I did in Mogo when I was 16 years old.

02:01 I was so happy and I was so excited.

02:04 I never thought I would be one day able to feel that way again.

02:09 To feel like I'm alive and I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to do.

02:16 I know that the day I quit, it's not the comps that I'm going to miss.

02:22 It's the feeling of being part of a whole.

02:25 Which is a whole that's a little bit absurd.

02:27 Because there's so much intensity that we're always being asked,

02:31 physically, socially, intellectually, etc.

02:36 It's been so long since I've been on a ski run.

02:44 Since the beginning, the extreme Verbier has attracted distinctly different personalities,

02:51 elevated to rock star status by the fans.

02:54 This is definitely the biggest crowd that I've ever played in front of.

03:00 It was a bit bipolar, or schizophrenic in a way.

03:06 There was a completely crazy side, but there was also a side where you take risks,

03:11 you put a lot of personal commitment into it.

03:14 And it's quite interesting because that's where you meet personalities.

03:17 In all the other disciplines, there's something quite structured, square.

03:36 And maybe that's also because of the judgement,

03:39 whether it's a general impression or...

03:42 To shine, I think you have to break the rules a bit.

03:46 I remember very well, we were going as a family,

03:50 we were climbing at the foot of the Begley Ross and we were going to watch.

03:53 And then...

03:54 It was a mix between punk and hippie, that's how I saw them.

03:57 I think some of them were wearing dreadlocks.

03:59 Me, with the eyes of a child I had, it seemed completely unreal to me.

04:05 It was a bit of the attraction of the year, because it's actually a dream come true.

04:10 The riders, they're definitely still screw loose at best,

04:16 just for doing what they're doing.

04:19 It's the same people, just a new generation of those same people.

04:24 Everyone on the Freeride World Tour cherishes the fun times

04:30 and the flamboyant travelling companions.

04:33 But a deeper bond has always united the riders.

04:38 A bond that's inextricable from freeriding's very perilous nature.

04:44 They're kind of in this collective danger all of the time.

05:07 It's such an intense period because the stress and the nerves are pretty full on.

05:12 And I think that bonds them super intensely.

05:15 We have a way of valuing the fact that we're alive.

05:24 Which is perhaps more apt to make us want to get together

05:31 and to share precisely the same feelings.

05:35 And to share precisely this passion.

05:38 At every event there's some factor, weather, snow,

05:49 we're on, we're off, we're on, we're off.

05:51 That they're just going through the ringer.

05:54 And then to have to get the head right and go on competition day is so intense.

06:00 And they go through that together.

06:02 They travel together, ride together, compete together, laugh and cry together.

06:06 The Freeride World Tour context allowed me to confront myself, my limits,

06:15 both at the sporting level and at the emotional level.

06:19 Elizabeth Garrison jumping from 5th place to taking the overall title.

06:25 It was mathematically possible.

06:29 It's become this instrumental part of my life and shaped the person I am today.

06:35 I met my wife on the Freeride World Tour and so without the tour I wouldn't have my son I suppose.

06:46 In many aspects of my life it made me evolve.

06:50 And it's something that was very addictive.

06:54 And it's a huge privilege to be able to say "I've made my dream come true".

06:59 It's a dream.

07:00 That's not the way I see it.

07:09 Ah!

07:11 Oh my God!

07:13 That's a goal!

07:20 What the f***?

07:22 (beep)

07:23 [BLANK_AUDIO]

Category

Transcript

Recommended