Garrett McNamara CHRIS VAN DINE Robby Naish

A MAGAZINE
FROM THULE
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Garrett McNamara CH R IS VA N DIN E Robby Naish
TH E WAY I ROLL Matt Elsasser M AT TH I A S GIR AU D
TH U L E A DV ENT U R E TE A M The Thule Story
passion by Thule
NICCOLO PORCELLA
Maui,
Hawaii
THULE CREW MEMBER
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passion by Thule
passion by Thule
A story
of Passion
What drives a person to go up against the mighty elements of nature? To go
head to head with 30-meter (100-foot) waves. To throw themselves off buildings,
waterfalls, and cliffs, sometimes on skis. Or to steer their bikes into the deepest
corners of the world, where few people have ever set foot.
We decided to find out. We met with some of the world’s finest action adventurers
and athletes, alongside a handful of other passionate professionals, and asked
them to help us understand what drives them in their pursuit of adventure and
achievement.
To many, they are just a bunch of adrenaline-stoked daredevils, recklessly chasing
kicks wherever they can find them. What we found instead were perceptive,
eloquent, truly committed individuals, who not only have a very strong and clear
view of the world, but also of their purpose in it.
We also found passion. Whether it was expressed as the joy of success or the raw
effort and endurance needed to keep pushing forward.
The Nobel Prize-winning author and philosopher Albert Camus said “There is
scarcely any passion without struggle”
struggle”.. Like two sides of the same coin, it seems you
cannot appreciate the good without having experienced the bad. The challenge
is to find a balance, and the people we’ve spoken to are masters of precisely that.
TH I S I S TH E I R S TO RY.
A N D O U RS
AN
R S A S WE LL .
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passion by Thule
passion by Thule
Nowhere else can I feel as
alive as I do in the moments
when I reach my limits on
the mountains I love.
CONTENTS
FLO ORLEY
THULE CREW MEMBER
Living life by the Gun
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G A R R ET T MCNA M A R A
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The Way I Roll
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Born to surf
M AT T ELSA SSER
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The humble Super Frenchie
M AT T H I A S GIR AU D
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Being Thule
T H E T H U L E ST ORY
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On riding high
CH R IS VA N DIN E
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A passion for design
R EBECC A TAY LOR & H ENR IK ER IK SSON
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Blood, sweat & tears
T H U L E A DV EN T U R E T E A M
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Every photo tells a story
J IM H ER R INGT ON
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Still riding the wave
ROBBY NA ISH
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
THULE CREW MEMBER
G A R R ET T MCNA M A R A
Living life
by the Gun
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passion by Thule
passion by Thule
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You know the surf flows through your veins when you describe
your biggest wipeouts with blissful reverence. Born hundreds
of kilometers from the coast, Garrett McNamara rushed into
the arms of the open ocean at the age of 11 and never left its
embrace. While he has mellowed with maturity and imminent
fatherhood, the name he’s chosen for his son—Barrel—speaks
to his continued quest to commune with the perfect wave.
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How did you get into surfing?
Why do you keep doing what you do?
What’s it like to really wipe out?
When I was eleven, we moved from
Pittsfield, Massachusetts to Wailua,
Hawaii. We didn’t have much money, and
mom was on welfare. Our friend took me
and my brother surfing for the first time
and we instantly fell in love. It was our
passion from the start. It was our way to
leave the world behind and have the time
of our lives, without a care.
Because I love it. And to serve humanity. I do it to inspire people to
do what they love to do. I do it to let everybody know that everything
is possible.
I’m part of a group of surfers who work with autistic children. To
see the children smile, to see their parents smile… there’s so much
emotion, so much passion that you end up crying a lot. Tears of joy,
of sympathy for the parents. It’s amazing. We also go to schools to
talk to kids about finding their passion, following their dreams,
making their roadmap, writing it down. Without a roadmap you’re
really lost. You don’t really have a focus.
They’ve all been pretty fun. I enjoyed all of them. You’re just under
water, going all directions, relaxing. You really feel alive, because
you’re out of control and you just enjoy it, working on being in the
moment and going with it. Let it beat you up, and then come up
smiling.
The most enjoyable wipeout was probably the recent one in
Nazaré, where I was paddling and the wave caught me. I’d surfed
for six hours straight and I was pretty tired. But I’d been drinking
water the whole day and doing this new breathing exercise I do,
so I wasn’t too tired. Normally my body should’ve been physically
exhausted by then. But I actually didn’t feel tired, so I decided to
paddle, after towing for six hours.
I went for a wave, and the next one
was twice as big and took me over the
falls.It was the biggest wave I’ve ever
gone over the falls on. It pounded
me so hard for so many waves ,and I
came flying out of the water with the
biggest smile ever, laughing.
When did you get into big wave surfing?
I had vowed to never surf big waves—I was terrified of them. But
when I was 16, a friend of mine forced me to go out and that began
my love affair with big waves.
The first time I went out was on Sunset Beach, Hawaii. I was
afraid, but my friend gave me the right equipment, and I was able
to manoeuver around the line-up, get into the right spot, and catch
the waves. After that one session, I was hooked on big waves. It was
all I lived for after that.
What does passion mean to you?
Passion drives you. It’s what makes you feel good and what you
love; the things you love in life. When you’re doing something
you’re passionate about, you really feel alive. You feel connected
to something much bigger. You can really tap into nature, tap into
yourself, go deep and really be part of something much bigger than
yourself.
Passion is not permanent. You don’t have to do whatever you
chose to do for the rest of life. You might not be passionate about
it in a day, in five years, ten or twenty years. You can always change
your focus. It’s never too late to change. If you’re doing something
and you’re not enjoying it anymore, rewrite your goals, re-evaluate
and figure out what you’re passionate about now.
Do you have a roadmap of your own?
Yes. Absolutely. But I didn’t start doing mine until I was 35. Prior to
that, I just skated through life, enjoying it and not really feeling that
I needed a map—not knowing how important a map can be.
There was a point when I didn’t see a future. So I opened a sports
store, with surf gear and stuff. But I was not very happy going to the
store every day. I would drive past the waves to work. It was pretty
miserable.
That’s when I wrote my map. I asked myself, “How do I keep
surfing?” and came up with an answer: win two events. “How
would that enable me to keep surfing?” Well, then I’d be able to get
sponsors. “How would I win?” I’d train really hard, eat right, focus. I
had a really detailed map. I wish I still had it. But it worked.
How does your wife, Nicole, feel about the risks?
As long as I listen to her, she’s very comfortable with my decisions.
Surfing is my life. It’s what I do. It’s normal for both of us.
Preparation is everything. We work together as a team. Together
we evaluate the spots, the swells, the weather, and if it’s worth it for
me to go out or not. And then we evaluate what I want to do out
there. We figure it out and we make a plan, and I go and do it.
passion by Thule
on the okay days and have fun, but sometimes I’ll catch myself
thinking,“What is this all about? Why am I doing this?” And then
you get those days that really make you feel alive – and then you go,
“This is way I’m doing this.”
What’s it like inside a barrel?
Never. I never challenge the ocean. I never feel like I’m conquering
the ocean. I like to enjoy the ocean and complement the waves.
My goal is to complement the waves by riding the best they can be
ridden, at the best of my ability.
Inside the barrel you’re in your own world. You get in and there’s so
much power. It just engulfs you and you’re in this cylinder of power
and you’re working on making it and you’re going through sections:
turning, navigating, and looking out this little hole—and you’re
working on getting out of the hole.
And you can see the landscape out the hole, whether it’s a boat
or a person or the mountain, and
you’re working on getting out. And
sometimes it gets so powerful that
it kind of explodes from behind, and
then you’re blind in there and don’t
even know where you’re going. I
mean, you feel where you’re going,
you’re feeling your way through it,
and you’re focusing on getting out.
It’s the one time on the wave when
you’re in something working on getting out.
It’s like time stands still. And then it sucks you back, and then the
hurricane-force wind comes from behind and it picks you up and
throws you out of the wave. And you open your eyes, and to your
amazement, you’ve made it out.
What keeps you going after all these years?
What has been your biggest career highlight?
Well, the barrels definitely keep me going. Coming down a big wave
and then pulling in into the barrel. And then riding in the barrel
for a long time and coming up. That is the ultimate ride. It doesn’t
happen often, but that’s what I’m always searching for. I forget
how much I love it until I get those perfect days again. I’ll go out
My major career change or highlight was probably the win at Jaws
in 2002 [a paddle-in, big-wave surfing competition at Pe’ahi]. That
was a turning point for me—and part of my map. When I won that
event, I could continue to be a pro surfer. It was amajor sense of
accomplishment and achievement that I worked very hard for. And
You really feel alive, because
you’re out of control and you
just enjoy it… Let it beat you
up, and then come up smiling.
Do wipeouts ever leave you
feeling vengeful?
Passion By Thule
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Annual beach clean-up on Praia do Norte
in Nazaré, Portugal.
Working with disadvantaged children
from a Surf Art club at the Green Fest
in Lisbon, Portugal.
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Gareth McNamara riding what is thought to be the highest
wave ever surfed, reported at up to 100ft. He caught the
wave off the coast of Nazaré in Portugal.
when you’ve worked really hard for something it seems to mean so
much more when you achieve it. It brought me to tears.
What’s next on the horizon for you?
We were in Portugal for the last 21 days and we scouted all of
Portugal, the islands, from the north to the south, and I found four
new waves. Two on the islands—one in particular on the Azores and
one in particular in Madeira. One right in the middle of Portugal
and one at the most north west point—there’s an amazing wave
there. And all of these waves that I found haven’t been surfed. We’re
going to go for those next year and the whole time I’ll be keeping
my eye on the rest of Europe and even California and Hawaii and
focusing mostly on barrelling perfect waves.
What about that reported 100 footer at Nazaré?
That wave… Riding it was amazing. I was going so fast and working
on finding the right spot. I was expecting it to break differently than
it did. I was planning on riding it differently than I did. As I kicked
out, I was grateful that I made it—that I got out of there alive. But
in my mind, it was a totally different ride. I got this ride in my mind
that I rode out there a thousand times or more. There’s still more
out there though.
Can you tell us about the surfing the glaciers in Alaska?
That one, yeah… It’s funny what friends will talk you into doing. A
friend of mine approached me with the idea, and I gladly accepted.
My desire to do new things brought me there. And that was the first
time someone tried—and succeeded—in surfing a glacier.
passion by Thule
Sometimes we waited for eight hours for the glacier to calve. I’d wait
in the water, on the board, with water up to my neck for about four
hours. But when you’re sitting under that… monster, you’re totally
aware of what’s going on. You’re like a cat in the water. Totally in the
moment, present, aware of everything.
“Present, connected and protected?”
Yeah… present, connected and protected—it’s kinda my life
philosophy. When you’re present you’re aware, you know, in the
moment, and you’re really connected to what’s going on. And if
you’re connected – you’re protected. You’re basically just focusing
on staying in the moment. And if you’re in the moment, you will
never be afraid. Because we create fear with our minds. We choose
fear: we choose to be afraid. We choose to think about what could
passion by Thule
It’s never too late to change.
If you’re doing something and
you’re not enjoying it anymore,
rewrite your goals, re-evaluate
and figure out what you’re
passionate about now.
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Inside the barrel, you’re
in your own world. You get
in and there’s so much power.
It just engulfs you and you’re
in this cylinder of power.
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
I never challenge the
ocean. I never feel like I’m
conquering the ocean.
I like to enjoy the ocean and
complement the waves.
happen, we choose to think about the future. If you choose to stay
in the moment and enjoy it, then you’ll have fun, and you will be
present, connected and protected.
How would you describe that sense of connection?
You’re tapping into energy, into nature. You’re tapping into
everything, into the universe. Where everything is energy. Every
single thing in the universe is energy; it’s a proven fact. You’re part
of everything, you’re just connected. You see things much clearer.
Accepting everything that’s there for you. And doing everything so
perfectly and pure and for the right reasons. Everything just comes
together when you do it that way.
GARR
ETT
MC
NAMA
RA
What do you do when you’re not surfing?
We do yoga, we walk or hike, I like to ride a bike, but haven’t been
able to lately. We’re really busy all the time—always on the go. We’ll
spend the next three weeks here in Hawaii, which is really nice.
We’re getting into a new routine. The ultimate routine that we
work on wherever we go, trying to make it a thing that’s part of our
life every day. Then we’re going to Florida for two months, which
is going to be really nice. Then we’ll have the baby, and work on
keeping that schedule going after the baby.
Congratulations! How’s the pregnancy coming along?
She’s getting large, it’s amazing. We’re going to have something new
to enjoy every day. I won’t always have to be in the water to have so
much joy and fun and passion. I’ll have so much passion just raising
my boy. I’m pretty sure he’ll be a surfer. His name is going to be
Barrel, Barrel McNamara!
THE BIG WAVE
SURFER KING
AGE: 46
NATIONALITY: USA
FAMILY: WIFE AND
FOUR CHILDREN
SPORTS:
SURFING, STAND
UP PADDLING,
MOUNTAIN BIKING,
HIKING, YOGA
BEST PLACE ON
EARTH: HAWAII,
ITALY, TAHITI,
PORTUGAL
What about your role as a Thule Crew member?
I’ve always aspired to have a Thule rack on my car, from as far back
as I can remember. That was the company, and that was the rack
you wanted on your car. As for the company itself, I didn’t know
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WORDS TO LIVE BY
much more than that they did racks. That’s what really drew us to
them. Then I started seeing all these different kinds of equipment
they did for the car. And then their luggage came along. I really
like that.
I really love Thule because they enable people to do what
they’re passionate about. They enable us to get our sporting
equipment around. They enable everybody to do what they
love to do and get to the location and have fun—and follow their
passion.
What’s your favourite Thule product?
I really like the Thule Crossover rolling luggage. I live out of my
suitcase and they’re the best. They’re really durable and practical.
And they look good. I can travel the world now with their carryon. We don’t have to check our luggage in, which is so challenging,
not least having to wait for your luggage after sitting on a plane
for so long.
GARRETT CITES TWO BOOKS AS
MAJOR INFLUENCES ON HIS SUCCESS
AND HIS OUTLOOK ON LIFE:
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra.
Every time I read it, I practice it more. Every time I practice
it, I feel so much better.
It’s a book that really brings clarity on why we’re here and
what we’re doing here. It helps you understand yourself and
the bigger picture. And it trains you to do things for humanity.
It just makes you feel part of something much better. And
when practicing it, it makes you feel you’re doing things for
the right reason.
What advice do you have for your son and other aspiring big
wave surfers?
Get good equipment. Then get online and ask questions. Reach
out to five, ten, or one hundred people—however many people
it takes. Get someone out there in the big world to respond and
ask them all the questions you have. Somebody will reply. We’ve
all gone through what you’re going through and we’ve learned.
And we have a lot to offer to anybody who’s up and coming or
aspiring to ride big waves. I don’t have any secrets. I’m an open
book—I love to share everything. I don’t want people to have the
challenges I had.
Remember, to be a master of anything, you have to study
ten thousand hours in ten years—that’s four hours a day. Then
you’ll be able to do whatever you’re doing without thinking:
everything will come naturally to you. So, give it four hours a
day and you’ll succeed.
The Richest Man Who Ever Lived, Steven K. Scott.
In business and life, you can only do so much yourself. You
can only reach so many people and do so many things as an
individual. With partners, you can achieve much more, by
delegating or partnering.
It’s challenging to find competent people. The thing I
took from King Solomon was to keep going through partners.
Keep looking to find the right people to work with, that have
good energy. Sometimes you have to go through a hundred
relationships to find a one good one. But that single good
partner is priceless. Its all about surrounding yourself with
people who have good energy, do the right things and have fun.
Together with his soulmate Nicole, the love of his life.
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
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GARRETT’S
ESSENTIAL
GEAR
Raw Elements
l
sunscreen
Wife Nicole
Knee brace for
protection
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Body Glove Survival Suit
Mercedes-Benz
surfboard
Passport
Smartphone
Thule Crossover Carry-On
passion by Thule
Thule Chasm Duffel Bag
passion by Thule
P E D R O O L I VA
Kilauea,
Hawaii
THULE CREW MEMBER
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passion by Thule
passion by Thule
TO P FIVE
P L ACE S TO
SURF & SKI
I N O N E DAY
Seven Summits
the hard way
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The Seven Summits are the highest mountains of
each of the seven continents. Actually, there are eight
summits if you can’t decide if Mount Kosciuszko, Australia or
Puncak Jaya, Indonesia should represent Oceania. Climbing the
Seven Summits is a challenge. Climbing them with skis on your
back and skiing down is an even greater achievement. In January
2007, Swedes Olof Sundström and Martin Letzter completed their
Seven Summits skiing project, skiing down (parts of ) Puncak
Jaya. They became the first people to ski all eight summits.
The ultimate guide
if you can’t decide
if you want water,
snow, or both.
California, USA
California offers endless opportunities
to surf and ski in one day. Surf at
Seal Beach in the morning, then
ski or snowboard down Mt Baldy
in the afternoon. Or why not ski at
Donner in Lake Tahoe and then surf
at Mavericks, a three-to-four hour
drive away? Ski resorts within spitting
distance of LA include Mt Baldy and
Snow Valley.
Together with our friends at EpicTV we
created the social and digital activation
campaign - ‘Go Epic with Thule’.
The concept was to encourage people
to create, upload and share their action
sports footage online and was a resounding success. In total the campaign recei-
Big Bay, New Zealand
The South Island’s little-known
UNESCO World Heritage Site has
an epic surf break. After riding the
waves, head to the snow-peaked
slopes of Mount Aspiring National
Park for a spot of skiing.
ved an Epic 40 million views worldwide.
EpicTV is an online extreme sports channel
based in Chamonix, France. They produce
original, action packed web series in association with the world’s best independent
filmmakers and action sports athletes in
skiing, snowboarding, surfing, climbing,
MTB, BMX, kayaking, BASE/wingsuit flying,
kayaking and much more. www.epictv.com
passion by Thule
Every year the Technical
Press Association
(TIPA) votes for the
best photo & imaging
products released onto the market. Thule
Perspektiv has won the
Best Photo Bag category..
The judges loved its
innovative design and usage
age
as well as its high-quality
y
materials and craftsmanship.
ship.
M USIC F OR
TH E MOUNTA INS
Different tunes for different peaks. And
moods. Here are ten of our favorite songs
for skiing and snowboarding. Enjoy.
Take me out / Franz Ferdinand
New Rose / The Damned
Harder than you think / Public Enemy
French Disko / Stereolab
Thunder Kiss ’65 / White Zombie
Lets Do This / MC Eiht
Ace of Spades / Motörhead
Wild Flower / The Cult
Birth, School, Work, Death / The Godfathers
Kowalski / Primal Scream
CHRIS
VA N D I N E ’ S
Favorite
MTB trails
WHISTLER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
MOAB, UTAH
Freight Train
The Whole Enchilada
Always lives up to the hype. Possibly the single
best place to progress and sharpen your skills.
One of my all time favorite desert rides,
from the Alpine to the Canyonlands.
LEHIGH VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA
SACRED VALLEY, PERU
Morocco
Get your wetsuit on for the upand-coming resort of Taghazoute, a
laid-back hippy hangout and surfers’
paradise. After a stint on the beach,
head to Oukaimeden, Africa’s highest
ski resort, where you can enjoy great
views over the High Atlas.
Hawaii, USA
The Big Island’s two volcanoes, Mauna
Loa and Kea, become snowy peaks in
winter, the perfect spot for skiing and
snowboarding. After a morning on the
slopes, head to the beach for some
surfing fun.
Go epic!
Thule Perspektiv Collection scoops
prestigious TIPA Award for Best
Photo Bag
Manganui, New Zealand
The Taranaki coast, on the North
Island, is great for surfers of all levels.
Swap your surfboard for skis or
snowboard on nearby Mt Egmont.
PA Woods
Ollantaytambo
My all-time favorite jumplines in the
whole world. Expert level only.
If you venture off the beaten paths in this
area it will most likely change you forever.
ABO UT
TH E TH U LE CR E W
Thule Crew was initiated in 2013. Following Thule´s mission
Spend more time outdoors the members of Thule Crew are chosen
to inspire us to live a more active life. And displays of passion and a
dedication to the outdoors are all intricate parts of being a member.
With a caring attitude towards man and nature, all Thule Crew members are committed and active role models within their disciplines.
Learn more at www.thule.com/thulecrew
Source: TNT Magazine
passion by Thule
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Six very different people.
One shared passion for cycling.
passion by Thule
chasing thrills. Whether they’re careening across urban or natural
environments, these riders love the pure adrenal rush of joyous,
high-intensity movement.
There are a thousand different kinds of cyclist: daredevil, athlete,
conservationist, free spirit, adventurer, purist, and iconoclast, to
name a few. But although these riders are an eclectic group, they share
a common bond—a passion for life lived at full speed on two wheels.
We took a closer look at six very different, very passionate
cyclists with the help of Peter Sutherland, a US filmmaker and
photographer who directed Pedal, an ac-claimed, fast-paced
documentary about surviving as a bicycle messenger on the streets
of New York City.
To celebrate the launch of our bike bags and Thule Pack ’n Pedal
accessories, we invited him to shoot a documentary series about
bike culture called “The Way I Roll,” which was also the theme of
the launch campaign.
In each documentary, he meets a different cycling enthusiast and
gives us an intimate view of what drives their passion for cycling.
The films take us on a journey coast to coast from California
to New York, where we meet bike pros, builders, collectors, and
enthusiastic riders of all types.
View ”The Way I Roll” documentary series on Thule’s Facebook
page and YouTube channel, and we introduce the film subjects here…
QUESTIONS
TO GINA
MARIE
SCARDINO
SALVADOR ”SAL” BARBIER, LOS ANGELES (CA)
– SKATER AND BMX COLLECTOR
Sal Barbier is a designer who lives in Los Angeles and runs his own
independent bike shop, where he sells the finest equipment and
attire for dedicated skaters and bikers.
When Sal was growing up, BMXers and skaters used to hang
out in the same places, so Sal came to love both sports. Today, he
combines them by riding his bike as a warm-up before skating. He
is famous for having what he labels ”the Guggenheim of BMX,” a
collection of very rare BMX bikes and gear he spent years collecting
on eBay. He rides his different bikes wherever he goes, not out of
convenience, but because he thinks that riding a bike is one of the
coolest things in the world.
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B R O O K LY N ( N Y )
OWNER OF
L E G E N DA RY
K I N G KO G B I K E
SHOP AND DRUMMER
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Why the name?
King Kog? Why not?
Tell us about your bike shop.
The idea has always been to run a bike shop that I would want
Back when eBay was just starting, I was an active pro-skater with an
endless income and lots of time. So I’d go online and say, ”All right,
that’s it. Whatever goes on there, I’m going to win the bid.” The
purists get so angry: ”I cannot believe you even ride that stuff !” I don’t
care. Because I’m going to ride them.
Top Left Nicole Duke
Top Right Seth Rosko
Bottom left and right Chris Van Dine
to shop at. A classy shop, I guess. A lot of bike shops have
stock but no style. I try to combine the two. We don’t sell
anything that we wouldn’t think was totally worth the money.
It’s a little bit more high-end.
How did you end up opening a bike shop?
It’s funny that I ended up owning a bike shop. I wasn’t planning it. When I look back at it, of course that’s what I should
LUCAS BRUNELLE, EDGARTOWN (MA)
– ALLEY CAT RACE PHOTOGRAPHER
Different spokes for different folks
The simplicity of cycling is part of its broad appeal, but simplicity
doesn’t equal monotony. While every bike consists of the same
basic elements—wheels, pedals, saddles, chains—there are infinite
ways these elements come together to enrich our lives.
For some, cycling is a way to see the world up close—the sights,
the sounds, the scents—in a way that no other form of travel makes
possible. From a cyclist’s vantage point, the city unfolds in new
directions, revealing hidden treasures and unexpected moments
discovered far off the beaten track.
For others, cycling is about speed, velocity, racing pulses, and
passion by Thule
These riders love the pure
adrenaline rush of joyous, highintensity movement.
do. Being a feminist, I feel like I’ve put myself in a role where
it’s primarily men. I had to prove that ladies could do it too.
Lucas Brunelle is a 41-year old racer and cinematographer from
Edgartown who films alley cat races—high-speed bicycle races
through busy streets in the world’s most exciting and dangerous
cities. With his custom-made helmet cameras, Lucas captures
footage while riding among some of the best and bravest cyclists in
the world.
His movies are said to enthuse people who have never tried
riding and inspire those who do to go faster and take more chances.
Today, Lucas travels the globe and has filmed alley cats and urban
riding on highways, underwater, on the Great Wall of China, and
through bullet-riddled jungles.
And your husband works there, too?
When I met my husband, he was a bike messenger and he
knew how to work on bikes. So he was just like, ”Hell yeah:
let’s run this business together. The two of us will make this
place a million times better.” We are always in here together.
Most people that come in here, I think they like that about the
store now. It gives it an easier feeling: it’s not stuck-up. There’s
no intimidating atmosphere.
You recently had a baby daughter. How do you manage it all?
I guess I’m growing up a little. I’m in a place where I’m trying
to keep my old life, which is the bike shop, hanging out with
friends, and then my new life: being a parent. The first few
I guess I consider myself a combination of cinematographer and
athlete. I’ve been doing urban racing for almost 20 years. A big
reason I do these films is that it’s the only real way to take viewers
where they never been before. Sometimes it can be sketchy, sometimes
it can be pretty close, but these guys have been doing this for decades.
They know what they’re doing.
passion by Thule
months were really hard. But I’m getting back to feeling more
like myself lately. I have time to do band practice and ride my
bike again.
Getting around the city is a hundred million times better on a bike
than a car or the subway. There’s so much more you can see on a bike.
I mean, I’m not really thinking of it as saving the environment and
stuff like that—although maybe I should. For me, it’s just a way to get
around that’s fun and easy. I’m so glad my little baby daughter likes
it, because it’s a huge part of who I am. If I couldn’t get around with
my bike I just wouldn’t be Gina Marie.
For some, cycling is a way to
see the world up close—the
sights, the sounds, the scents.
For others, cycling is about
speed, velocity, racing pulses,
and chasing thrills.
CHRIS VAN DINE, JIM THORPE (PA)
– DOWNHILL RIDER AND PHILANTHROPIST
The son of east coast mountain bike pioneer Galen Van Dine, Chris
Van Dine is a first generation professional racer who grew up living
the mountain bike lifestyle. At an early age, Chris developed a
taste for speed: he won his first mountain bike race when he was
eight. Years later, he was the first North American to be crowned
the fastest man on the continent at the 2009 Pan-American
Championships. His proclivity for travel and adventure has taken
him to pinnacle experiences and jaw-dropping first descents from
Alaska to Patagonia.
After being confronted with the realities of the developing
world, Chris realized that his passion and experience could impact
peoples’ lives on a basic level. Today, he is an ambassador for Pedals
4 Progress, an organization responsible for redistributing more
than 136,000 second-hand bicycles to 30 developing nations.
Sal Barbier
My passion for cycling is like my passion for life. It’s just part
of the fabric of who I am, I suppose. Biking’s been a source of
freedom ever since I was a little kid. I never was that inspired by
the competition side of biking, I was more interested in the travel
and the adventure of it, really. I’m not as motivated to beat people
on the bike as I am to shred with them and share it. I find that when
I open up, it yields a lot more.
/ 28 /
NICOLE DUKE, BOULDER (CO)
– DOWNHILL AND CYCLO-CROSS PRO
Nicole Duke is now pursuing her third career as a cyclo-cross pro.
She grew up riding dirt bikes, and became a pro in downhill and
dual slalom mountain biking in 1996. After traveling the world
and reaching the top ten, she quit riding and became a hair stylist.
Seven years later she felt the urge to get back in the saddle, tried
her first cyclo-cross, and was hooked. Juggling her job as a stylist
and the demands of motherhood, 38-year-old Nicole has managed
to climb back to the top of her game by becoming the National
Masters CX Champion.
I have a much different perspective now, coming in this second phase
of my career. Sometimes I wonder if I did the right thing, stepping off
the corporate ladder and all that. But as I get older, I find that I’m on
the path that I was supposed to be on. And I’m happy doing what I do.
I think I’m a great representative for my kids. You can do what you
want to do. And enjoy life. I’m so happy that I am able to do that and
be a mother.
SETH ROSKO. NYC (NY)
– SKATE PARK AND BIKE BUILDER
Seth Rosko is a bicycle frame builder in New York City. Born on
Long Island in 1974, Seth discovered skateboarding and punk
rock at a young age, and in the late ‘80s, it led him to the DIY punk
scene in the Lower East Side’s Alphabet City. To earn money, he
alternated between jobs in construction and as a bike messenger,
shop mechanic, and skate park builder. After hours, he traveled the
world with the band Crash Worship, jumped freight trains across
the country, raced vintage motorbikes, and built many co-operative
\ 29 \
skate parks all over New York City, including the Au-tumn Bowl in
Greenpoint, the C-Squat ramp, and more recently the Nike wave
sculpture on the Bowery. In his one-man shop, Rosko Cycles, Seth
has made bicycles for everyone, from King of Dirt Competition
contenders to courier champions and hip-hop royalty. Rosko
Cycles promotes the growth of cycling in the area by supporting
grassroots and shop teams and individual riders. Seth does not own
a car, or eat animals, and he lives in Alphabet City with his wife and
son in a home that he built himself.
At a certain point, I was trying to make the frames as fast and as
cheap as I could, trying to limit the amount of customer interaction,
because it’s inefficient. Then I realized that IS what I’m offering. Like
you coming in: we’re hanging out, and we can figure it out together.
Really, I’m just enabling a person to have the bike that they want.
Some would say it’s a luxury. But for others it’s a complete necessity.
GINA MARIE SCARDINO, BROOKLYN (NY) – KING
KOG BIKE SHOP OWNER AND DRUMMER
Gina Marie Scardino has managed to turn King Kog, her bike shop
in Brooklyn, into a phenomenon. Aficionados describe it as the
Aladdin’s Cave of bike shops, filled with everything a dedicated
fixed-gear and vintage bicycle enthusiast may ever need or want,
from apparel to custom-made bikes.
While fixed-gear bikes have existed since the late 1800s, interest
has boomed in recent years, and King Kog has definitely benefited
from the “fixie” fad.
When Gina is not running the shop, she is busy creating art
or making music. Drums are her specialty, and she is currently
drumming in the punk band Guts for Garters.
passion by Thule
Gina Marie Scardino
Lucas Brunelle
passion by Thule
/ 30 /
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Thule Pack ’n Pedal bike bags is a great example of
Thule’s passion for active lifestyle, bikes and smart
solutions. This award winning bag and carrier system
for bikes takes bike bags to a new level in both design
and functionality. One example is the unique and
groundbreaking bike attachments, making the bike
bags easy to use and practical both on and off the bike.
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
FLO ORLEY
Hochfügen,
Austria
THULE CREW MEMBER
/ 32 /
\ 33 \
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
AWA R D
WINNER
F R O M
TH U LE
AWA R D
WINNER
F R O M
TH U LE
/ 34 /
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Thule Perspektiv Daypack
Thule Round Trip Pro
Lightweight, comfortable, weatherproof and stylish camera
bag that allows you to easily take your camera and photo gear
along on your outdoor adventure. The interiors can be fully
customized to fit numerous types of cameras and lenses, and
the SafeZone compartment ensures protection for fragile gear.
Innovative soft-shell bike transport case that combines
protection, ease of use and security. The integrated bike
assembly stand allows you to safely bring your bike on your
journey and assemble it when you reach your destination.
Winner of the Red Dot Award.
passion by Thule
Awarded with the Eurobike Award and
the iF Product Design Award.
passion by Thule
GO EPIC WITH THULE WINNER
Twenty-year-old Matt Elsasser is probably
best known for his gutsy strapless kite surfing
somersaults. A business student at California
Polytechnic State University, Elssasser was born into
the world of surfing and is now pressing his claim on
the scene with his grand prize win in Thule’s video
competition “Go Epic with Thule”. We talked to Matt
about filming and his passion for the sport.
Tell us a bit more about yourself.
M AT T ELSA SSER
I grew up in Oregon and come from a family of kite surfers. When
I was in high school we moved to Maui, Hawaii. That’s where my
family lives now. I go back and forth from California to Maui. I have
a twin brother, Cole, who goes to college in Oregon.
What do you do when you’re not kite surfing?
Born
to surf
Usually something camera related—working with filming, photos
for myself and for other projects, other athletes. With other
athletes, it usually ends up with us helping each other, me filming
them, them filming me and so on. Right now kite surfing is a small
sport so there aren’t huge budgets for filming. A lot of it has to rely
on me doing it myself and there’s so much to learn. So I’m either
doing that, or some other thing on a board, skateboarding or
mountain biking. Anything to get my adrenalin pumping.
Do you do all your film and photo projects on your own?
Together with my brother. I do the editing, and my brother usually
does the filming. I’m really lucky to be able to work with him. All the
photos I run in magazines are shot by him.
He’s also a surfer and kite surfer and knows what I’m looking
for as a kite surfer. If you have a regular photographer showing up
taking shots, they’re not always getting the action kite surfers think
are really cool. But my brother really knows, he’s spent a lot of time
shooting me and is really experienced. He knows exactly how kite
surfing works, so I think it makes it a lot easier for him to shoot.
What kind of things are you after when doing a shoot?
It depends on what we’re shooting. It could be the right angle,the
right lighting, landing the best trick, or some kind of move that
hasn’t been done before. When we’re shooting stills we’re more
geared towards not really doing the craziest trick, but more
focused on getting the shot and capturing a unique perspective.
Because you only need that one-hundredth of a second to
make the photo look awesome compared to video. A lot of the
photography we do is shot from the water too, because we don’t
need any camera stabilization for that.
How did you become interested in kite surfing?
My parents were windsurfers and they used to take my brother
me to the beach every weekend to windsurf when we were little.
In fact, right after one of their surfing trips, to Maui, my mom
found out she was pregnant with twins. So I was windsurfing in
the womb.
When I was about ten, my brother and I saw kite surfers at this
professional kite surfing contest in Hood River, where we were
living at the time. These were professional kite surfers jumping
and spinning, going so much higher and faster than windsurfers.
Ever since then, we got fired up on kite surfing. I kept begging
If you want a career in kite surfing,
it’s less about your talents and more
about the person you are.
my parents to let my brother and me take lessons but they
wouldn’t. We were too small and the gear wasn’t really that safe
back then.
One day, when dad left town for a business trip, we begged
mom into signing us up. I was about 14, when I took that first kite
lesson. After that my brother and I talked my mom, dad, and my
sister into it, and now we’re all doing it.
Did anyone inspire you to take up surfing?
Not really. My dad grew up surfing. My brother and I always wanted
to be like him when we were little. He’d play surf movies for us,
passion by Thule
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My passion is the ocean.
I wake up in the morning
and I’m instantly thinking
about my passion. I’m not
always thinking about school
work, which my parents
would like me to do.
Matt makes his own boards to fulfill his
exacting specifications.
/ 38 /
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show us his new boards, let us wax and get them all ready. So, we
grew up watching him and that’s what was cool for us at the time.
Tell us a bit more about your Thule Grand Prize winning video
“Splinter”, in which you built an Alaia board and shared your
passion for kite surfing.
That video was a project I did last summer in Oregon. The idea
behind it was that my father had built a similar board, but someone
stole it. I thought it’d be great to make a video, where we’d actually
film making the board. Because it was such a unique board. Just
riding it and showing it in different styles, riding it without any
straps. Most people haven’t seen much of that.
I was excited by they way it turned out. I did the film with my
brother and dad, so it was a fun family project. When I saw the “Go
Epic with Thule” competition, I figured it would be the perfect video
for it and submitted it. The next thing I knew I won the contest
and was hanging out in Germany with the entire Thule Crew, like
Matthias Giraud, Garrett McNamara, and snowboarder Flo Orley,
learning about their careers and having a lot of fun.
The grand prize was to go Hawaii and shoot a video with Niccolo
Porcella and Garrett McNamara. We’ll film a kite and surfing video
together. The video will be made together with Epic TV. That
should be fun.
What are your plans for the future? Do you plan to go
professional or complete your studies?
Right now I’m trying to juggle both as well as I can. I’m a full time
student but I’m also traveling to as many competitions as I can. I
should graduate two years from now and then I’ll probably start
kiting full time and do that for as long as I can. Afterwards, I’ll have
to find a desk job, maybe work for one of the companies that I’m
riding for now, which would be a blast.
Do you have to travel a lot to venues?
There are stops all over the world. I was in Maui this year. And
they’re just about to announce three or four stops for the coming
year. Everywhere from Africa to Peru to Hawaii.
I’ll try to go to as many as I can, if it works with my school schedule.
But mainly I’m focused on doing video and photo projects. The way
I look at it, my sponsors can either give me $2,000 to go to Peru and
do a contest where I potentially lose. Or they could give me $2,000
to go on a trip to Hawaii and I can film a video. It seems like people
are more interested in videos nowadays. I found that’s a better way
of promoting myself and the brands that I’m working with.
Describe what it feels like to kite?
Why do you surf strapless?
There are a few different genres in kite surfing. You can ride a
wakeboard with wakeboard bindings, but I’ve decided to focus
more on riding a normal surfboard without any straps. It’s more
exciting for me and mind-blowing for a lot of people when they first
see it. I’m riding 100% of the time on a strapless board.
passion by Thule
The main feeling is freedom. When you’re kite surfing you have
no engine. Nothing. It’s just you and the elements, the wind,
the waves. It’s fun just to be able to explore out there. And then
obviously, when you’re doing tricks, it’s adrenaline.
Sometimes you’re frustrated because you can’t land. And
then you just have to take on the perspective that you’re out kite
surfing when most people are sitting on a sofa. You have to be
excited about that. It’s just an incredible sense of freedom and joy,
really. It’s a blast!
What’s the optimal ride?
Steady wind. A perfect wave that’s barrelling. You pull in into the
barrel, you’ve a beautiful vision of the lip curling over your head
and you clearly exit the barrel riding away, hunting for the next
wave, like the one you just got out of.
What’s your most memorable surfing experience?
The most memorable kite surfing session was actually last year.
There’s this spot near our school called Mouse Rock. It rarely ever
breaks for surfing. It’s even rarer that it’s windy there. We went out
there and just when we got there, this massive wave was coming in
and the wind was perfect. We pulled in and the waves were worldclass. Right next to our school, perfect barrels, super windy. So my
four friends and I kited for three hours getting perfect barrels.
Definitely the best day of kite surfing I’ve ever had. It’s pretty ironic
that it happened right after he said that it’d be un-kiteable.
passion by Thule
What would you say is your biggest achievement to date?
What does ”passion” mean to you?
My biggest achievement was probably last year. There’s this
contest called the Triple S. It’s known as the world’s biggest kite
surf competition and they invite about 40 athletes to that every
year. I grew up watching videos of this contest. It’s the pinnacle of
kite surfing contests. If you are in it, you are the man!
Every year they allow one surf style rider to submit videos,
everyone from around the world can submit two-minute videos to
try to get a spot in this competition. I think there are maybe 50-75,
possibly up to 100, entries. Last year I won that spot and got to go
to the contest and compete. It’s crazy being in a competition with
people that I’ve looked up to since I was 13-14. All of a sudden you
look to your right and you’re in the same heat as them. I ended up
in 4th place which I was really excited about. It was less about how
well I did at that point, I was just so excited to be there.
Passion is the one thing that drives and guides all your decisions in
life. It’s what fuels you. It’s what makes you do whatever you do. It’s
what gives you the most joy.
My passion is the ocean. I wake up in the morning and I’m
instantly thinking about my passion. I’m not always thinking about
school work, which my parents would like me to do.
Has your passion ever made you suffer or feel miserable?
Definitely. But it mainly makes me feel good. It makes me feel
miserable in the classroom. Sometimes it definitely interferes. I get
so focused on kite surfing and working on it that I need to step back
and look at things from a broader perspective. Sometimes you get
too emotionally driven, too fired up, when you just need to sit back
and realize that if I don’t go kite surfing today, it’s not the end of the
world. Or maybe if I don’t land this trick, life goes on.
Do you have any regrets?
I don’t really have much to regret right now. Everything so far
has gone my way, the way. I guess that the only regret is not doing
what I do even more. So far you just roll with the punches. I think
that’s what makes people better. I really haven’t had anything that I
regret. So far it’s all gone smoothly for me.
M AT T ’ S
ESSENTIAL
GEAR
Polarized sunglasses
Has your passion ever interfered with your everyday life?
Definitely. When I’m not thinking about school, I think, “I’m able to
make money kite surfing now, why should I be in school”. But then I
look at the broader perspective and realize that when I’m done kite
surfing and my body can’t do this anymore, I need the education
I’m doing right now to get a job.
Any incidents over the years?
A few minor ones. I’ve sprained my ankle pretty severely, I’ve
had a concussion once to the point where I was throwing up. But
that’s about it. I’ve seen a few, but never been on the wrong end
of one.
What’s next for you?
In the short term my plan is to take my final exams in about four
weeks and then go to Hawaii and film a video. Then I’m off to
Oregon to visit my grandma and hopefully shoot a couple of videos
Cabrinha Drifter
/ 40 /
\ 41 \
Thule Chasm Duffel Bag
What sport would you do if you weren’t surfing?
If I weren’t kite surfing or surfing I’d probably be skiing. I love
skiing. Or biking. Or wakeboarding. Any action sport, basically.
there. After, I’ll hopefully go to Europe and Canada and then on to
Indonesia in late summer/early fall, right before I go back to school.
What advice would you give to aspiring kite surfers?
Which is your favorite board?
For kite surfing the waves, it’s my 5 10” Cabrinha S-Quad with four
fins. It’s a really good board for all conditions. I try to use a board
between 5’ 8” and 6’. So any board in that size is pretty much ideal
for me. I have kites ranging from seven meters all the way up to 13.
A smaller kite turns a little bit quicker and usually when I’m on
my small kite that means it’s really windy. Ideally I’m on my small
seven meter kite and a lot of wind and large waves.
How and when did you first hear about Thule?
We’ve had Thule racks on my family’s car since I was born. My
brother worked at a windsurfing shop that carried Thule products
and that was when I got more exposed to them. I love the products.
I think they’ve always been known as the best rack company and
now it’s exciting to see them get into bags. I’ve been using their bags
and absolutely love them. They’re awesome!
Which bags do you use?
The Thule Chasm duffel bag, all the roller bags, some of their
backpacks. Also that camera bag, the Thule Perspektiv Daypack.
That one’s really cool. That’s the one I use the most and that’s
definitely my favorite.
It’s cliché , but I would say, Don’t give up. No one’s born the best at
anything. There are times when you’ll go out there and be the worst
person on the water, but you just have to fight through it. Another
thing is to realize what it’s all about. A lot of young kite surfers that
I’ve seen try to base everything on their talent. If you want to have a
career in kite surfing it’s less about your talents and more about the
person you are, how excited you get.
I think a lot of people lose perspective and let their ego get the
best of them. So always stay grounded and remember why you got
into kite surfing in the first place.
DSLR camera
I’ve decided to focus more on
riding a normal surfboard without
any straps. It’s more exciting for me
and mind-blowing for a lot of people
when they first see it.
passion by Thule
2014 Cabrinha PC Signature Board 5’10
Thule Trail Roof Basket
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NP Edge Wetsuit
THULE CREW MEMBER
M AT THI A S GIR AU D
The humble
Super Frenchie
/ 42 /
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
\ 43 \
Completing over a 1,000 jumps in his career, BASE jumper
Matthias Giraud has suffered severe injuries that have
come close to ending his career. Yet he bravely perseveres.
He has managed to turn his passion for BASE jumping into
what he describes as the ultimate balance in his life.
could put a parachute on my back and jump off, open the chute and
fly away? That could be done, right?”
A kid at school showed me this movie of Shane McConkey. I
didn’t know who Shane McConkey was back then—a big pro skier
who passed away in 2009. He was the first guy to really push skiing
and BASE jumping together. When I saw this movie I thought, “Oh
my God, the guy is doing what I want to do!” Obviously it works,
because he’s doing it. The technology is fine. So now I just need to
learn how to do that.
I ended up meeting Shane at a ski conference or trade show and
told him what I wanted to do. He told me, “Start with skydiving and
when you master that, start BASE jumping.” So I started to work
from there and it led to my first jump off Mount Hood in Oregon.
That was back in February 2008. I’d only done some 20 BASE
jumps at the time, but I felt ready and it went really fast. A month
later we did the jump off Engineer.
Why do you keep jumping?
It’s a passion, a true calling. It’s a force
that you have inside you. I tried to get
away from it. I had a college degree in
business, I had real jobs, I worked in an
office, where I did marketing & sales
at a resort. But I just wasn’t happy. My
mind was always focused on when I was
going to ski next. It’s something that is
so consuming. It’s truly a calling. You
don’t choose your calling. Your calling
chooses you. But then you have to have
the courage to follow it, in order to live
the life you were meant to live.
Describe how you feel when you finally
get to jump?
/ 44 /
Mt Bachelor in Bend, Oregon.
How old were you when you got your first pair of skis?
I was 18 months old. My sisters, who are older than me, were
skiing a lot. Whenever we went to our house in the Alps, they’d go
to ski school and I would throw a fit. My parents couldn’t figure
out why at first and then they thought, “He can walk, maybe he
wants to be on skis as well.” So they got me a pair of skis and I was
instantly hooked.
600 BASE jumps, so he knew how to do it and mentored me into it.
We went to this bridge in Idaho, the only bridge in the world where
it’s legal to BASE jump. It’s called the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls.
We did nine jumps the first day. An experienced jumper only does
about three to five jumps a day, but I was so hooked I did five by
noon. In the afternoon we were doing backflips off the bridge. It
just came naturally.
When did you start jumping?
How did you get into ski BASE jumping?
I started skydiving in 2006. A friend of mine from Colorado had
a cousin who had a sky diving school in Texas. He was the general
manager of the ski area that was sponsoring me in Colorado. When
I got there I put $1,000 on the table and said, “All right, get me a sky
diving certificate.” We did 10 jumps in three days.
Well, skiing in America is very regulated. You cannot ski out of
bounds and must stay within the resort’s limits. I want to climb
mountains and do my own thing. I arrived at this ski area, at the
end of the highway where you could see this mountain, Engineer
Mountain. Beautiful, with a massive cliff at the bottom. I became
obsessed with this and thought, “I just have to go and ski this.” I
wanted to ski the south face, no one had ever skied that face. The
cliff at the bottom is 100 meters. You can’t survive a cliff that big.
And I thought, “No, no, no, there’s got to be a way to do it. Maybe I
How and when did you get into BASE jumping?
October 2007. Jesse Hall, a friend and I were competing together
in skiing. We had a few sponsors in common. He had done about
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seeing it, feeling, “Wow, this is what we just did.” I get goose bumps
by just talking about it, envisioning and remembering certain
moments. So in the end you realize you chase the achievement,
not the rush.
What would you say is your greatest achievement?
The ultimate run of my life was the avalanche. It wasn’t the
most prestigious mountain, but I did one descent there the year
before and it was very challenging. Icy, rocky, flat, light and not
very welcoming. So I wanted to come back and do it in perfect
conditions, beautiful snow, great sun, with a friend who’d be speed
flying over me.
So when I went back there, it hadn’t snowed in three weeks.
It snowed a little a few days before, but not much. There were
even animal tracks in the snow. And animals normally don’t go
out on the slope if the snow is unstable.
They know, they’re smarter than us. The
conditions were safe, it was beautiful, so
we decided to do it. The temperature was
right, the snow exactly how I like it. And
then that run. As a skier you always have
an idea of what your perfect run would be
like. For me it was like that—how I always
envisioned it. All those years of training,
and dealing with injuries, and working
hard, being diligent. It all finds meaning
in that one descent, and the avalanche was
not part of the plan. It just added to the
feeling. It was one of those days. Obviously,
I want to keep skiing forever. But I felt,
if for some reason I’d have to stop skiing
altogether, I’d be able to find some peace
in that, because of that one descent.
I want something
good to die for to make it
beautiful to live.
You’re so focused during the jump that you
Do you have any regrets?
do not think about how you feel. You’re so
Sure. There are injuries I would have
focused on doing the right thing. It really
liked to avoid. Things I would have done
starts the night before. First, you try to
differently in retrospect. It’s like that
get some sleep. Then you think, “I’m going
old saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes
MATTHIAS QUOTING
to jump off a 300 meter cliff. What am I
you stronger.” In a way I’ve been able to
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
doing?” You get up there, you have all this
learn so much with each injury, or each
excitement and anticipation. As you check
dangerous situation. It defines you and
your gear, your fear starts to go down and your excitement goes up.
helps you to get to the next step.
But you have to balance that. You cannot be too scared and not have
Excess is dangerous. I did get into that phase when I first started
enough excitement; then you’re too scared and will not be able to
jumping, and it was my only purpose of the day, doing 100 jumps in
do the right thing. And, if you’re too excited and not scared enough,
six months, jumping every day, being really active. But you realize
then you’re too complacent and not paying enough attention. So
that maybe you do it all because you have nothing to lose. You don’t
you have to find that balance. That focus is the balance between
have something to go back to.
fear and excitement.
Things changed when I met my wife. All of a sudden you have
someone you love and you have something very important to lose.
The thing I do is I compartmentalize: there is family time and there
At what point in time do you relax and start rejoicing?
is survival time. I need both to feel accomplished
You put on your parachute and then you put on your skis. The
hardest part is to make the very first turn, to go into the face.
Do you ever feel truly scared?
That’s when you’ve passed the point of no return. From a lot of
Every time. Between skydiving and BASE jumping I’ve jumped
those places there’s no other way out than jumping. Once you
1,000 times and each jump is scary. Sometimes you get nauseous,
make your first turn you start to get into the rhythm of skiing,
sometimes your knees are shaking, and you feel really tense. That
you feel the slope. You relax, breathe, try to get in sync. It’s truly
process of working through your fear is so incredibly rewarding.
beautiful, because for a couple of minutes, you don’t think about
It’s not comfortable. It’s like swimming in freezing cold water. But
anything else.
when you get out of there, and drink a hot chocolate, it feels good.
When do you feel the kick, the release, the joy?
My favorite part is the exit. When you’re airborne, that’s really
fun. But when you land, turn around and you look at where
you came from you get such a high feeling of achievement and
accomplishment like nothing I’ve ever experienced in my life.
Obviously, I’ve experienced beautiful things; I’m a father, I’m
married, I have a great life. But that feeling of fulfillment when
landing, that’s probably my favorite thing, turning around and
It is said passion and suffering are two sides of the same
coin. On the one side you have the emotional aspects of what
you’re doing, your love for the sport, and on the other side
you have various kinds of suffering.
Absolutely. I’m not a religious person, but I feel when you do what I
do, you become spiritual. You learn to handle your pain. Whether it
is mental, physical or emotional and that truly makes you stronger.
passion by Thule
\ 45 \
But when fear
is managed,
it can become
your friend.
/ 46 /
\ 47 \
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
I’ve put myself in really uncomfortable or even scary situations so
many times and still have the biggest smile on my face. It feels so
good taking something so hard with a smile.
I always say passion could be a blessing or a curse. It takes time
to learn how to balance or manage your passion. Like anything
that is powerful, it could be detrimental or negative in your life.
I’ve seen so many athletes where their passion becomes their only
drive and they don’t balance it with anything else in their life. It’s
easy to expose yourself to passion, but much harder to balance it.
There’s always the struggle of being there for the people you love
or care about and being selfish. You can either turn your passion
into something that’ll be the end of you or you can turn it into
something that is the ultimate balance in your life.
You once gave a quote about passion: “It’s not easy to have a
passion, but you must find the courage to pursue it”.
Yes, it takes courage to follow your passion. It doesn’t mean that if
you don’t follow your passion, you’re not courageous. Maybe you
just haven’t really found the right passion. If you know what your
true passion is you know it will make you happy. Then you really
have no choice. You have to find the courage to do it. I believe that
good things come to the brave. It’s just the way it is.
Family picture in Bend, Oregon by the Deschutes River.
How do you find the strength to come back after a serious injury?
Every time I had an injury, there’s this hunter instinct that tells me
“You know what, I’ll come back.” There’s no other option. Every
time I was on crutches or had a big injury, I was doing even more
training than the doctors or physios ordered. Overcoming an injury
will take you to the next step, which is incredible. Injuries give you
perspective and perspective helps you enjoy the sport or what you
do in your life, and appreciate the little things about it.
You had a remarkable year, last year. You topped it by being one
of the speakers at the Google Zeitgeist.
/ 48 /
That was incredible. I got a call to join a Google conference.
Nick Woodman, GoPro’s CEO, was going to talk and they wanted
someone to talk about the GoPro experience.
MC Hammer was in the audience, people from the Obama
administration, an old advisor of Ronald Reagan’s, the CEOs of
Google, YouTube, Netflix and so on. Morgan Spurlock interviewed
me, It was just surreal. That was one of the moments when you
realize the beauty of following your passion, and what could come
out of it. Good things do come to the brave.
There seems to be a plan with everything you do. From your
website, to your work with sponsors. You even have your own
mission statement. Is all that a result from your training and
business school?
For sure. I had a serious injury back when I was 18. I always dreamed
of becoming a professional skier. And I thought, it’s not going to
happen; I’m only 18 and I’m already injured. It’s really hard in
France to get established. People don’t really help you unless you’re
already established.
So I thought I’d go to business school and enter the ski world
through the business side of it. One of my teachers taught me
that every legitimate business or organization needs a mission
statement. So I started to work on my own, and that’s where it
came from.
How did you start your own brand, Super Frenchie?
I had just moved to Colorado and was doing a bit of freestyle skiing.
M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T
To promote the sports of skiing and B.A.S.E. jumping in a
professional and humble manner to inspire human adventure.
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
I truly believe there are
only three things you need
in your life to be happy:
something to do right now,
something to look forward to,
and someone to love.
\ 49 \
M AT T H I A S ’
ESSENTIAL
GEAR
M AT
THI
AS
GIR
AUD
AGE: 30
NATIONALITY:
FRENCH, LIVING
IN THE UNITED
STATES
FAMILY: JOANN
(WIFE) AND
SÖREN (SON)
SPORTS:
BIG MOUNTAIN
SKIING AND
BASE JUMPING
BCA rescue gear
Atomic Troop helmet
BEST PLACE ON
EARTH: ICELAND
BECAUSE YOU
CAN SKI, BASE
JUMP, SURF AND
IT’S ONE OF THE
MOST BEAUTIFUL
PLACES IN THE
WORLD I HAVE
EVER BEEN TO.
GoPro Hero 3+
/ 50 /
\ 51 \
Oakley Airbrake
I was good, but not super good and I entered a competition. There
Do you have any favorite Thule products?
was also another French guy there, who had a French flag with him,
The Thule Dynamic Roof Box and the Thule Chasm duffel bag.
waving and cheering. He tied the flag around my neck like a cape for
one of my runs. I quite liked it. So I skied down to the jump and did
What do you do when you’re not Skiing/BASE jumping?
a Superman front flip over crowd, stomped my landing, skied away
I spend a lot of time with my little boy. I love to play with him. And
and went up for the next run. When I was about to go for my next run,
I train a lot, go to the gym. I bike a lot as well. For fun, I try to go
surfing as much as I can.
the announcer said: “And here comes number 73, Super Frenchie.”
So I did the same thing again,
What’s your next big
an even bigger front flip and
stomped it. I came third in the
adventure?
SUPER FRENCHIE’S RULES
competition, which was pretty
I’m either going to try to do
cool. And the nickname Super
the first wing-suit flight off
1 You know what makes you happy. Live by your
Frenchie stuck. So I actually
a mountain in Iceland that
own standards, be responsible for your own happiness.
trademarked the brand and
hasn’t been jumped or I’m
2 Write down your goals and objectives, come up with
used a tattoo I have for a
going to fly off a few big cliffs
a strategy to achieve them, and go after them. Life begins
logotype.
in Norway. I’m also going
when you start crossing things off your bucket list.
back to Switzerland to do a
3 If you don’t feel it. Don’t do it. But when fear is managed,
few jumps there. Then I’ll just
What do you think of Thule?
it can become your friend.
surf as much as I can to be
I’ve been friends with the US
able to tackle some big waves
Thule folks for quite some
next winter. I’d love to go
time and have been using
to Greenland as well. I love cold countries. I still haven’t gone to
their products since 2007, even before I first met them.
Alaska. I love surfing in cold waters, it’s so much more rewarding.
Their stuff enables me to do my adventures. It’s a key technical
component of what I do. All adventures start by you being able
to get your equipment to the venue. After a few years of knowing
What advice would you give to aspiring Ski BASE jumpers?
them, they called me up and said they’re putting a team together
No dream is too big. Take time to work out a plan. What will help you
and wanted me on board. It just made perfect sense. It goes with the
reach your goal is to establish a realistic strategy. Don’t skip steps.
heart and soul of the brand. I thought it was awesome, and joined.
It starts with ambition and the desire to accomplish something. But
It’s an honor to be on the team with legends like Flo Orley, Garrett
you finish it with skills. So take your time to develop your skills first.
McNamara, Chris van Dine, Lindsey Vonn and others. A lot of big
names. And being a part of that team is pretty cool. I’m proud of it.
passion by Thule
Atomic Atlas 192,
Ritual 190 and
Atomatic 193
Dalbello Krypton Pro with intuition liner
Thule Chasm Duffel Bag
Thule Dynamic
passion by Thule
/ 52 /
\ 53 \
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
Magnus Welander, CEO Thule Group.
\ 55 \
A story about fluke, timing, hard
work—and Ingemar Stenmark.
Magnus Welander is a hard man to pin down. When this dynamic
CEO is not out traveling, keeping a keen eye on opportunities or
testing new outdoor trends, he’s in the boardroom, passionately
pitching new ideas and categories to his board of directors. Just
back from a trip to Tokyo, we met up with the CEO at Thule Group’s
headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, where we discussed the Group’s
direction and how it plans to build on its leading market position in
outdoor and sports products for active consumers.
Which other sports are you into?
Thule helps you “Bring your Life”. What exactly does that mean?
How do you decide which trends to follow?
“Bring your life” is a way for us to capture what we’ve been doing
for more than seven decades. We’ve always been passionate about
making great products and smart solutions for active people. To
make it easier for them to bring the things they care most about,
when they’re off on their active pursuits. It could be anything from
the truly extreme skier who wants to go and do outback skiing to
the short shopping trips downtown with your family.
I love to try new things. So does my family. In addition to skiing,
we’ve tried stand-up paddling, kayaking, taken surf lessons, biking,
and a little bit of everything essentially. As for Thule, my board of
directors would tell you we pick up any trend that excites me. The
truth is we don’t jump on any fad that comes along. If we decide to
act upon a trend it is always because we truly believe we can come
up with a great product that adds value to the category. If we enter a
category, we don’t want to become just another “also-ran.” We want
to be a leading player.
We have a lot of passionate people in the company who take an
active part in what we do and develop. Everything from extremists
that specialize in one single activity or sports, to generalists like
myself, who like to try a bit of everything. Together, we spot these
trends around the globe and see if we could add any value to them.
So which are you? The extreme skier or the downtown shopper?
Somewhere in between. I’m an old soccer player and love all sorts
of ball sports. I used to play on a high level and even managed to
win the Swedish soccer championship for juniors, but eventually
I quit and started doing other sports instead. At the same time
I love traveling the World with my family, exploring a cool city
center or the countryside.
Like any Swede born in the mid-sixties, even those from the very
flat south, where I was born, I got into alpine skiing when I was
14-15, because one simply had to. We were all, under the spell of
mighty Ingemar Stenmark. In the seventies the entire society–
work, schools and everything–stopped whenever there was a World
Cup race, because everyone had to watch Ingemar. So skiing has
always been a thing.
We’ve always been passionate about
making great products for active
people. To make it easy to carry
the products they care about when
they’e off on their adventures.
Thule Excellence XT
Which trends have you acted upon over the years?
It’s been the sport trends that have taken the world by storm. When
I got into alpine skiing I wasn’t the only one. It was a global trend.
With Ingemar Stenmark as the spokesperson for the company at
the time, Thule managed to bring a lot of great products into that
category and become the world’s leading player in ski carriers and
roof boxes.
A similar trend, which subsequently established as a huge category
in itself globally, was mountain biking. It started in the eighties and
became big in the nineties. All of a sudden people realized that it was
more fun to start their bike trip at the trailhead rather than from
their home in the city. Now they needed something to transport their
bikes there. We had been doing road bike roof carriers, which was
more of a niche product. But with
the trend in mountain biking,
we focused more on great bike
transport solutions and that led to
what is our single biggest category
today—products around biking.
/ 56 /
Soon we realized the US was slightly ahead of the rest of the world
when it came to some trends. We locally developed a couple of
special products for that trend and market quite early, and in
doing so showed that we were serious about establishing ourselves
in the US market.
In which categories?
Mostly in the water sports. Kayaks looked different in North
America and we made a set of products targeted towards them,
never going for the “one size fits all” strategy. One of our mantras
has always been that we don’t do “Swiss Army knives”. We don’t do
a semi-mediocre solution for every purpose. We do great solutions
for specific purposes.
How important is the US
market for you today?
It’s our biggest market. It’s the
biggest market for any outdoor
sports company. And it’s also
the market where you can jump
on a minor trend, like the fat
Where do these trends start?
bikes I mentioned. The market
It takes a while before they
is so big that if it’s only a niche,
become big. Often a trend starts
you can still spend money on
somewhere in the world, when
development and testing, and
some passionate people pick it
bring those types of products
up, then the news spreads. Today,
to the market. In that sense,
with modern technology like
the US market is key for us.
Instagram, GoPro movies and
Where it all started for Thule: Hillerstorp, Sweden in 1942.
Also in the sense of scouting
others, you have a much faster
new trends in various sporting
rollout.
categories. There are a lot of
A good example is the fat bike
passionate people there that are early adopters, so the market is
trend. It started with a few bike manufacturers in Alaska making
a good test for us.
fat bikes, so you could bike in winter. Then when Surly came with
a model called the Pugsley, it became an instant cult classic and
people who didn’t know what do to with a fat bike started buying
Can you tell us about your association with Apple?
them. Today it’s a small, yet global, trend. So obviously we have fat
You get cool by association when you’re in one of the world’s coolest
bike adapters for some of our bike carriers.
outdoor stores and you’re next to brands that inspire people. Things
Another example from the mid 2000s is the stand-up paddling
like that trigger other players and lead to different opportunities.
trend. For many years it was only popular in Hawaii. Then in the
Like our entering the electronic gadget cases and bags category,
mid 2000s it came to California. After that it evolved into some
for instance. Apple asked us if we could design and develop some
kind of semi-yoga thing, with people paddling on rivers and doing
cool bags and cases for their products, under our brand. Obviously
white water rafting. A lot of people thought it was just a fad, but
we did. You don’t turn down such an opportunity. The result was
today you can go anywhere and find people stand-up paddling; on
great on all levels. It got us going in the category with a market
small rivers, in the Stockholm
leader and pushed us to bring
archipelago, etc. So these things
out a wider offer in the category.
spread faster today and some of
On a personal note I got some
them remain just local trends
cred from my teenage daughters
while others go global.
when their friends noticed our
products in Apple stores.
You’ve always had a strong
position in the USA,
why is that?
We don’t do a semi-mediocre
solution for every purpose.
We do great solutions for
specific purposes.
We had the perfect start regarding
product categories and what they
were associated with, and the stores that sold our products. We
entered the US market in the early eighties, when windsurfing was
just taking off. So the first successes our sales guys had were with a
smart windsurfing carrier.
It was a fluke they met the legendary Robby Naish at one of
the first fairs they visited. Robby told his entourage, “These guys
from Sweden do the best racks and things, it’s just great stuff.” He
became the spokesperson for Thule in the US for a few years.
Water sports was our first take off in the US, and we became
established in both cool sporting goods stores and outdoor retail
stores. When you’re in a store where people buy other things they
are passionate about, you get a positive brand rub-off and become
cool by association. That’s one of the reasons we have been so
successful in the US.
\ 57 \
Water sports was Thule’s first take off in the US.
How did you manage to gear
up in that category so fast?
We bought a bag company in
2006 called Case Logic. They’d
had a very strong growth period doing successful products in the
category for a number of years. Case Logic started out with cassette
cases back in the eighties and continued with CDs where they
quickly became global market leaders. In the early 2000s they
entered the point-and-shoot camera category and offered some
great bags for that alongside other cool electronic gadget bags.
With their design and manufacturing experience of cut & sew bag
products and our view on design, we’ve been able to move both the
Thule and the Case Logic brand into new categories, with more
advanced bags.
Robbie Naish was a posterboy for
Thule in the 80s. Here he is on a
Thule catalog from that era.
Which current trends are you seeing and acting on?
A lot of small trends, but there are primarily two major ones. People
are staying active as they age; a time in life where they both have a
passion by Thule
The climate chamber. Part of the Thule Test Program™ at the Thule Test Center™.
passion by Thule
/ 58 /
little bit more free time and are ready to try new or different things,
maybe golfing one day, biking another and so on. That means you
need to have a lot of good solutions to make it easy to transport all
the stuff you need.
Another very big trend is people want to be much more active
when they have small kids. I remember when my daughters were
little there weren’t any great solutions available if you wanted to be
active and bring your kids along. Like running for instance. People
want to share these experiences with their kids much more now
than in the past. Partly due to a more active lifestyle but also to the
way people live and work today. You have to be flexible, you want to
be able to bring the kids with you, and do more things.
A few years back we decided to do something about it and started
to develop smart solutions so
that parents can take their kids
along on different activities like
running, training, or a bike ride
in the countryside.
At the same time we got the
opportunity to buy a company
called Chariot that had a product
range we had liked for many
years. The owner, Dan Britton,
a top-level triathlete and father
of five, had developed the best
multi-functional child carrier in
the marketplace. Buying them
was the perfect start for us in
the Active with Kids category, a
category that I think will become
one of our biggest in the coming
years. We’ve recently launched a
lot of new products and we’ll be
launching even more in the near
future.
Could you give us a few
examples?
How are you responding to the current boom in biking?
The biking trend is so much more than just a sports fad; it’s
becoming a main means of transportation. And in many cities
around the world there’s a very strong bicycle trend. Bike highways
are being developed. People commute with bikes instead of cars and
public transportation. They also bring their bikes on their vacation.
We felt we could bring innovation to that category as well,
with some great products for bringing your gear on your bike. We
launched a broad series of bike pannier bags, bike baskets and bike
racks and a multi-award winning bike transport case to bring your
bike when flying around the world.
We knew the category very well, the products, the way people
use them. We knew the retail channel well. So we felt that we could
bring something new to the category and add value to it. And we’ll
continue to develop more and more around the bike.
SALES
GERMANY
Are there any other significant Thule traits?
There is no company in the market that tests its products as
thoroughly as we do. That’s been one of our mantras since the start.
We have very advanced test facilities all over the world and test
our products to the extremes all the time. There’s also the visual
aspect. We want people to feel
and recognize a Thule product,
even if we enter an entirely new
category. The more categories
we’ve entered, the more important it has been to develop
a design language that is our
own. In the past few years we’ve
worked hard with our staff and
in-house design teams to define
our product and design DNA.
With the strong leadership
we have in design, and how
we manage it, with our design
directors and the teams, I feel
very good about the fact that
when we have entered these
new categories, you could
immediately see it’s a Thule
product. You still see that look
and feel.
Our company has always been
passionate about three things:
we make safe products,
they have to be easy to use,
and they have to look good.
Well, we’ve launched a top-ofthe-line sleek stylish jogger, a great solution if you want to go out
running with your kids and have a good soft ride for them, but also
allow yourself to pick up speed. We’ve done a more urban sport
stroller version of this as well, we’ve produced child bike seats,
and we’re launching a child carry backpack. So the full spectrum of
both bringing toddlers along on physical activities, or just having
an easy way of dropping them off at kindergarten while you’re
biking to work.
JULIAN
ROHRER
to your brand DNA and not stray from what you’re good at. Our
company has always been passionate about three things: we make
safe products, they have to be easy to use, and they have to look
good. Simple as that. So as long as we can make sure we deliver on
those three values, and stay true to our Bring Your Life promise,
that’s great solutions for bringing whatever you care for, I’m not so
worried about entering a new category.
ANNIE
SCOPEL
CUSTOMER
SERVICE
USA
\ 59 \
Are there plans to enter new
categories?
Absolutely! As I said before,
the biggest criticism I get from
our board of directors is, “You’re a glorified product manager!”
I can assure you everybody in this company, me in particular, is
always thinking, “What other cool things could we do?” We are
entering some of the most exciting new categories that we’ve had in
development these last few years.
Broadening the “Active with Kids” category is one thing, offering
more products for bringing your electronic devices is another,
like smart solutions for your tablet, smartphone, etc. We’re also
entering the technical backpacks category. It’s an exciting and
challenging category, because consumers put that kind of products
to the test and there are a number of well established brands we will
compete with. We are convinced that we are adding something to
the category with the full range of products we are taking to market.
Talk about living the brand.
Our co-workers have a
whole lot of passion too.
LARS
WA L L E N T I N
ARIANA
SCHIFF
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY
SWEDEN
MARKETING
USA
What’s next for Thule?
We’ve been around for more than 70 years now and I’m convinced
we will continue to grow with more categories, more markets,
and retail outlets while staying true to our values: bringing smart
solutions that are safe, easy to use and with stylish design. Making
sure we test our products harder than anybody else.
I’m sure we’ll be successful making great products for trends and
categories we aren’t yet aware of over the next decades.
Do you foresee any challenges in entering these new
categories and launching new product lines?
Obviously, there are challenges to consider on many levels. But
the most important thing is to stay true to your core, to stay true
passion by Thule
GRAHAM
JACKSON
PRODUCT
MANAGEMENT
passion by Thule
USA
AMY
HEETER
SALES
USA
ALESSIO
R I VA
NEIL
TAYLOR
MARKETING
I T A LY
PURCHASING
SWEDEN
SIMONA
M O LT E N I
JEFF
SPONTARELLI
PRODUCTION
I T A LY
SALES
USA
/ 60 /
\ 61 \
ALAN
GEAR
JON
EKELUND
SALES
UK
R E TA I L
DEVELOPMENT
SWEDEN
ANDREAS
HOLM
SALES
SWEDEN
STEFAN
S A EVA R S S O N
PRODUCT
M A N AG E M E N T
C A N A DA
ELLIOT
GRONDAHL
THULE
CONCEPT
STORE
SWEDEN
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
/ 62 /
\ 63 \
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
AWA R D
WINNER
F R O M
TH U LE
AWA R D
WINNER
F R O M
TH U LE
/ 64 /
\ 65 \
Thule Crossover Rolling 38L Carry-On
Thule Pack ’n Pedal Commuter Pannier
Hybrid upright that is both a carry-on roller and a backpack thanks
to its hide-away backpack straps. Tough, oversized wheels, Thule
V-Tubing™ telescoping handles, crush proof SafeZone compartment
and durable, water-resistant fabric are just some of the features of
this thoughtfully designed carry-on.
Waterproof pannier with easy access, great design and a ground
breaking vanishing hardware solution to make your bike ride easier.
With integrated light pockets and a laptop sleeve, this adds up to an
ideal choice for bike commuters.
On Men’s Journal Gear of the Year List.
Awarded with Eurobike Award and the iF Product Design Award.
Men’s Journal
Gear of the Year List
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
THULE CREW MEMBER
/ 66 /
\ 67 \
CH R IS VA N DIN E
On riding
high, staying
grounded,
and giving back
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
The Tower of Silence in the Wahweep Hoodoos area of
Lake Powell, USA. A natural tower 6 miles up a hidden
sand wash with such a unique Hoodoo.
/ 68 /
\ 69 \
Taxco, Mexico. This was the first urban course I designed with
Jeremy Witek. It’s about putting your energies into sharing time,
expertise and passions with younger generations.
passion by Thule
Following the path blazed by his father, east coast mountain bike
pioneer Galen Van Dine, Thule Crew member Chris Van Dine is now
one of the world’s most renowned mountain bikers and adventurers.
What sets him apart is his unremitting passion for the sport and for
the youth who will carry its legacy into the future.
Recently returned from an expedition to the Vilcabamba region
of Peru, where he was exploring new parts of the Inca Empire and
connecting some new routes, Chris took some time to talk about
embracing new challenges, releasing old regrets, and using his
passion to inspire a new generation of adventure-seekers.
to someone tell you what you’re capable of. It’s raw and incredibly
powerful. It’s an ambition that is strong enough to motivate you to
put everything you have, more than you have into something. Your
heart and soul.
I think an awful lot of my passion comes from my dad and his
friends. I was lucky enough to get intro-duced to the sport and
lifestyle of mountain biking at an early age. He’s a bit of a redneck
backwoods pioneer and loves the mountains. He grew up in them.
When he settled down and started a family, he brought his bikes
to the mountains. And that was before mountain biking really had
established itself—at least on the east coast.
What does passion mean to you?
What’s it like living your passion as a career?
Passion is one of the great driving forces in this life and it needs
a front seat. Without it we’re all just chasing our tails. It’s the
foundation of everything that has ever been and will ever be great
in this world. When people are inspired by passion they can do
amazing things. Passion is what enables you to never have to listen
It’s a dream, I’m thankful every day to be healthy and have the
option to ride my bike—let alone be able to support myself doing
it. I don’t think anyone should have to give their best years to
something they don’t believe in. Work is too great a proportion of
our lives for us not to enjoy it. Having said that, when your passion
passion by Thule
If I can figure out how to leave
more than good intentions
behind and try to help a new
scene or rider, that’s what
really does it for me and keeps
me coming back.
/ 70 /
\ 71 \
Antelope Island just
outside Salt Lake City, USA.
It was the middle of winter
and most of the riding spots in
Northern Utah were snowed out.
Being in places like this inspire
unparalleled creativity and drive.
When your passion
becomes your career, it can
be a tricky balance.
becomes your career, it can be a tricky balance. I know riders that
let the business side burn them out. They’ve lost their love for
riding and don’t really do it anymore. I also know riders that are all
business and that has changed their passion as well.
How do you find that balance between “passion” and “business”?
I like being involved in the bike industry. I enjoy helping the young
guys coming up and the companies I work with the R&D aspect,
passion by Thule
improving, developing and testing new products to bring to market.
But at its essence, a big part of mountain biking for me has always
been the ability to just get out and get lost in a ride and a soundtrack
and let my mind digest what it needs to. There’s a lot of stuff in our
contemporary world that can grind our gears down, and for me
pedaling into nature and back is a nice respite from that.
The contradiction is that my true passion for bikes isn’t so
much about moving product, but my job is. Personally, I don’t like
it when people are intimidated or vibed by what they’re wearing or
riding. That goes against a big part of what I’ve always loved about
riding bikes. I was one of those scrappy kids not too long ago. For
me, it will never matter what you’re wearing or riding to get the
wind in your face. It’s not what you ride, it’s how you ride. I love
seeing guys put the hammer down on old clunkers full of chips
and dents. My old man was constantly cobbling stuff together
to make things work. I find challenge and creativity in that and
passion by Thule
I enjoy seeing people make the most of what they have. That’s
part of what resonates about Latin America with me. There’s an
incredible creativity and resourcefulness in the mechanics and
applications down here.
Is there such a thing as too much passion?
Unbridled passion is a fantastic thing when you can control it
and channel it and it doesn’t come at your expense. A life without
passion is a tragic thing, but a passionate life without balance or
responsibility is a dangerous thing.
As always, balance seems to be the
key and I’m still figuring that part
out. I for one would rather have
too much passion (if there is such
a thing) than not enough in my life.
Strength is a state of mind and so is
passion. The signs are always there
if you’re in tune, accepting and
implementing them are another
challenge completely.
their way through the trees. You’re in the air more than you’re on
the ground, with transfer options in and out of lines funneling into
high speed berms that rocket you back to the start. It takes years to
work up to, as the tombstone landings aren’t exactly forgiving, but
this will always be one of my favorite forms of bike riding. With no
pedaling and just a brake tap here and there, the flow and control
and effortless style that it develops are second to none.
As far as competitions go, I really love urban downhill racing.
Bringing our sport to the people is a new thing for gravity racing.
When you can transform a part of
someone’s daily commute into a high
speed race track, and their window
into a front row seat, it’s something.
In some ways, we’re not
really in control of anything.
Our grand plans can forever
change in the blink of an eye.
Nature constantly reminds me
of that—it is indifferent.”
Why do you think people choose
not to live their passion?
Unfortunately, so much control is still dictated by fear. You’re never
going to go hungry on the streets, so why justify years of work that
you don’t enjoy to avoid what’s never going to happen? I have a
dream job for sure, but it’s still a job.
To be honest, I’d rather put my energy into sharing my passions
and experiences and helping to develop bike infrastructure in
impoverished and post-war countries, work with key communities
to build pumptracks and trails and bike mechanic schools tied into
all the sustainable bike relocation NGOs out there these days, but if
I want to keep my sponsors and my job I need to balance that with
my ”career.” In the end, happiness is a goal for me, and when my job
and lifestyle stop making me happy, I’ll make some changes.
/ 72 /
How do you feel about the
promotional aspect of the sport?
Competition is obviously an aspect
of the industry and that’s something
I encourage. I’m a huge fan of all
the young guys coming up and the
veterans that have been doing it
forever.
I think what’s going to gain
traction is what happens between the spectacular tricks and
stunts. Tricks and stunts are one thing, but taking your friends
and fans on a wild ride all over the world as you hit the events
is another thing. Frankly it’s a lot more entertaining, and it’s
something the general public can relate to more. It shows fans
more of the athlete’s real lifestyles and personalities out from
under the helmets and branding. Some of my best memories are
traveling to and from events with my friends. That’s real content,
there’s nothing contrived about it! I think we’re going to see
companies focus less on just tricks and stunts, and combine real
riding with real travel and adventure. It’s a life-style thing.
What does a year in your life look like?
What keeps you connected to your passion?
The red slickrock islands around Lake Powell are incredibly fun to ride. I received
special permission to shoot a remote arch in the Navajo Nation.
passion by Thule
I get some cool invitations throughout the year, and I try to take as
many of them up as possible. It’s all about your network. Locals can
Not just mountain bikes do it for me, lots of things do, surfboards,
show you an experience you’d never get on your own. I try to make
snowboards, skateboards, motorcycles. I guess I just like things
myself able to jump on these spontaneous invitations when they
that roll and slide that you can put your own style into and express
come up throughout the year.
yourself while sharing with others.
The urban downhill season runs
Howard Thurman said; ”Don’t
from November until the end of
ask what the world needs. Ask what
February. I’ll usually take a little
makes you come alive and go do it.
break from the bike and try to catch
Because what the world needs is
some swells in Central America,
people that have come alive.” That
surf, dig, and work on flexibility
is really something for me. One
every day, get into the old injuries
thing that makes me ”come alive”
and balance stuff out before getting
on my bike is riding fast and pulling
back into base training.
back on big doubles and getting lost
I have local projects that I’m able
in new music and new places. It
to pick up and put some time into,
produces organic inspiration and
such as building tracks and trails.
gives me clarity every time. If I can
I’ll keep my eye on the conditions
figure out how to leave more than
up north and catch some spring
good intentions behind and try to
This is from the Valparaiso Cerro Abajo urban downhill
snow riding with friends in Utah
help a new scene or rider, that’s what
race in Santiago, Chile. Incredible local crowds
and if I’m lucky, a trip to Alaska to
really does it for me and keeps me
come out to cheer on the racers.
reload the adrenal glands. I’ll hit
coming back.
the Sea Otter Classic in California,
then typically head to the Andes for their fall high country trail
What’s your favorite bike discipline?
conditions to put some good miles in, lean out, hit some races
There are just so many different ways to get on your bike these
and sharpen up the cardio. That’s where I am now. From here,
days! I love a great street or park session as much as a great road
the trails back east are usually running pretty good so I’ll shift
spin, or multi-day camping extravaganza. I lead a pretty conditionto sharpening up the technique on the technical jump lines
dependent life right now. This time of the year is the start of ”trails”
back East.
season. By trails I don’t just mean mountain bike trails, I mean
After that I’m usually feeling pretty good on the bike coming
BMX dirt jump trails. Where I grew up, in blue collar Pennsylvania,
into the North American and European filming and competition
the ”trails” scene is strong. Basically, long lines of hand-built clay
seasons. In the fall, I’ll head to the desert to ride moto and big
doubles with some of the gaps upwards of ten meters that wind
passion by Thule
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/ 74 /
\ 75 \
Horseshoe Bend in Arizona, USA. The incredible
slot canyons around that area as well but with
the sandy bottoms they are better for hiking than
riding. Nature constantly reminds me that our grand
plans can forever change in the blink of an eye.
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
mountain leading up to the Red Bull Rampage. Then I head south
again to help with the Taxco Urban Downhill just before Day of the
Dead and the start of another urban season down south.
What are you most proud of in your career?
Hmmm, beating Brian Lopes in a long jump challenge and
winning the subsequent ”shit foot” bet last year was definitely a
career achievement.
As far as race results go, winning the Continental Downhill
title in Chile was a big highlight. Seriously though, I think my
best is yet to come. From a riding perspective, my skills are still
developing and I’m still getting stronger. In many ways I’m just
becoming aware of myself, comfortable
with my life’s crazy ambiguity, and
starting to put bigger pieces together.
The network and scale of partnerships
are continuing to grow, and great new
events and projects to work on are
always popping up. I’ve learned a ton as
far as event promotion and logistics go,
working with Altius on the Taxco Urban
Downhill the last few years, and there
are a lot of exciting things to come along
those lines. As fun as my twenties were,
I’m definitely happy to be in my thirties.
Artists ”suffer” for their art. Have you
suffered for yours?
/ 76 /
I certainly have. Physically, I’m rebuilding my legs for the seventh and
eighth time right now after double knee
surgeries a few months ago. It’s not as
bad as it sounds: injuries are part of the
game I choose to play. I still push myself,
and eventually, pushing the envelope
yields paper cuts. It’s inevitable.
Much is learned and metabolized from
injuries and setbacks. They make us
stronger, and at this point the rewards are
still worth the risks. We’re all responsible
for the risks we take. Suffering is a part
of life and it’s a part of passion. But it can
inspire unparalleled creativity and drive
when the emotions are channeled into
art, music, championships, and so on. I’m
no historian, but I’d bet that most of the
great works of the world were compelled
by suffering in one way or another.
CHR
IS
VA N
DI
NE
You’ve talked about passion and ambition. What about
acceptance?
In some ways, we’re not really in control of anything. Our grand
plans can forever change in the blink of an eye. Nature constantly
reminds me of that, it is indifferent. Our perceived control
can disappear in an instant and that’s when you realize how
insignificant you really are on this planet. All these life experiences
are incredibly fleeting, awakening moments of clarity as well. We’ve
all been given a little bit of time. Who knows when our number’s
up? Life can send us over the moon and bring us to our knees just
like that. As Eckhard Tolle said, “It is as it is”. It’s not up to us. All we
can do is accept and act. Some things are pretty hard to accept, but
we don’t really have a choice if we don’t want to sink. That was a big
lesson for me this year.
speak for themselves. But what really impresses me is the passion.
The customer service, the way the company is managed internally,
how much their people enjoy working there. High standards,
social responsibilities, and a lot of pride and style is behind the
brand, and it’s for the right reasons. It’s very motivating to work
with a company like Thule—they make me want to stay up late
and get up early.
CHRIS’
ESSENTIAL
GEAR
Duct Tape
What’s next on the horizon?
I was just invited to LA to shoot a Japanese car commercial. Then
I’ll head up to Whistler to meet some friends for some training
and product testing. Next, I’ll head to the east coast, get a little
of that “dirt jumping” in, hit some P4P
collections for pedals4progress.org, and
make a long-overdue trip to see my mom
and dad. Then it’s back to Guatemala
to help design some runs for a really
cool project outside of Guatemala City.
That will put me into August, and a
potential editorial trip to Iceland with
a company I’m helping start called
Global Epix. After that, it’s the Whistler
Crankworx leading into Masters World
Championships in Norway, Eurobike in
Germany, Interbike, and the Red Bull
Rampage Redemption. Then back south
to design the Taxco Urban Downhill
track and be the event ambassador just
before Day of the Dead, and hopefully
AGE: 33
the Colombiano Classico in Medellin,
NATIONALITY:
Colombia.
Polygon Collosus
all-mountain bike
AMERICAN
FAMILY: NONE
OF MY OWN
YET. FATHER
GALEN VAN
DINE, MOTHER
ANITA VAN DINE,
BROTHER NICK
VAN DINE.
If you had one piece of advice for the
next generation, what would it be?
Save up a few bucks and take your
essentials to your number one bucketlist spot. The only thing you need is a
passport and a motorcycle. The world is
waiting for you. Take a little time, find
SPORTS: I PRETTY
your frequency, and start building your
MUCH ENJOY
network. Invest in your network, you’ll
EVERYTHING WITH
WHEELS OR A
make it back home when you’re ready.
BOARD.
If I had more than one single piece of
BEST PLACE ON
advice I’d say, take as many dance, music,
EARTH: RIGHT
cooking, mechanic, and language lessons
HERE RIGHT NOW
as you can. Keep a good book on hand
and take notes. Respect the roots but
forget the herd, follow your heart and
be true to yourself. Work hard and work
on your weaknesses, be selective, be humble and you’ll find your
way. Pick something bigger than yourself to cultivate and leave
behind. When in doubt, the answers are all in good music. When
you start to produce quality things, doors will always open for you.
And don’t support companies that profit on single-use plastics. It’s
a wonderful time to be young. Enjoy the ride, and good luck!
What’s it like to work with Thule?
To be honest, Thule is one of the most inspiring companies I’ve
worked with. Professional, smart and fun. Great products and
even better people. The designs, aesthetics, and functionality
passion by Thule
Much is learned and metabolized
from injuries and setbacks…
Suffering is a part of life and it’s a
part of passion. But it can inspire
unparalleled creativity and drive.
\ 77 \
iXS helmet
First aid kit
Thule EnRoute Escort Daypack
Multitool
MTB shoes
Thule Bike Travel Case
passion by Thule
THULE DESIGNERS
R EBECC A TAY LOR & H ENR I K ER I K SSON
A passion
for design
Thule designers Rebecca Taylor (USA) and Henrik Eriksson (SWE)
are passionate about design. Which means always looking at
design challenges from a fresh perspective.
\ 79 \
What are you currently working on?
RT: We have a Back-to-Campus line of backpacks oriented towards
a younger crowd. I think that’s one of the lines that I’m most
excited about.
program so we have interns coming here every few months. One of
the things I like to share with them is when you start the process
you don’t need to know the answer. In fact, you shouldn’t know the
answer because if you know it from the beginning then where is the
discovery?
How many projects do you work on?
RT: On average, there are about 170 to 180 projects per year. And
that doesn’t even really include what we are doing for mobile handheld devices.
Do you ever get stuck?
RT: The average is about 46 weeks. With four to seven weeks for
the design.
HE & RT: Yeah, sure.
RT: But that’s where the team comes in. You’re not an island. We
have a team around us and we are able to bounce ideas off people.
HE: I get stuck all the time. You see something and you realize you
have no idea how to solve it and you go talk to someone. You need
that communication with others to be able to develop your ideas.
How many of the designs make it to the market?
Can you feel when you have a great solution?
RT: Right now about 95%.
RT: Yeah. We call it the Victory Bell moment. Sometimes you’ll
have an idea and you realize it’s such a simple and clear solution.
How much time does an average project take from start to finish?
What about you Henrik, what are you working on right now?
HE: We’re working on about seven or eight projects with the
American team. And we have a big project on-going with the Active
With Kids team.
Is problem solving the best part of your job?
Creativity starts here.
An early drawing of a
Thule product in the making.
HE: Creativity is fun. A lot of people can be creative but it’s also
something you need to train and develop.
RT: It’s a key moment when you realize that. We have an internship
passion by Thule
It’s more than just making art.
We build products that fulfill
people’s unmet needs.
HENRIK ERIKSSON, DESIGN DIRECTOR
Sometimes you’ll have an idea
and you realize it’s such a simple
and clear solution.
REBECCA TAYLOR, DESIGN DIRECTOR
Do you have a personal style?
Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
RT: It’s our goal to have the style say “Thule.” So if you were to take
the logo off the product you would still know it is Thule. It’s more
the process that we work on and the team that we’ve assembled
that reflects my personal style than the product individually.
HE: In our context, even if someone wanted to, there isn’t room for
it. We need to focus on the brand and the essence of the brand.
RT: It’s a good
thing. Because Henrik and I are an ocean apart and yet we are
creating products that correspond to our guidelines and our
values, reinforcing the same message.
Where do you seek inspiration?
Google allow designers and technicians 20% of their time to
work on individual projects. Do you have something similar?
HE: Our ambition is to be able to do that. But right now, there’s not
much time you could spare from the current projects. I solve it by
having ideas and triggering my creativity at home. If there is a good
product I try to work out why I think it is a good product. If there is
a bad product I try to sketch ways to correct it. For me, that process
is on-going all the time.
RT: I look at a lot of footwear. The details, construction, and styling.
And fashion is also where I look to get inspired and discover things.
HE: In everything. It could be a futuristic movie, computers,
anything you can relate to. But looking at our products, we have
the Thule heritage and we want it to gradually evolve. We don’t
want to have a huge jump in one direction or another. So we follow
guidelines on the product look. Even if the guidelines are
open to interpretation.
RT: Our guidelines are more about
the thought process and the
values we need to
maintain.
How do you keep up with trends?
RT: We have a well defined trend process. Everyone on the team is
responsible for reporting trends to the team, and then we publish
them on a monthly basis. It’s very open so I’m not defining which
area to research. It could be related to technology, art, street art,
or music. Capturing little bites of trends. Then we filter it down
and say what is relevant to the type of products we design and why.
Sharing what inspires us,
staying
inspired is really important. It’s been a good process for our
team here. We also go on trend safaris, going to trade shows or
experiencing new cities.
HE: We are looking at the bigger, more long-term trends. A lot
of our products don’t have colors so we are not sensitive to color
trends. Our products have a long lifecycle. We see the bigger trends
for instance in bicycles and that can result in a new segment.
Are designers ever fully satisfied with what they do?
RT: Maybe we are always seeing opportunities for improvement.
I was thinking of something we are really proud of, the Thule
Gauntlet line [envelope case for MacBooks], which got us into Apple
and really made a big difference to our brand. We’re refreshing that
now and I see a lot of opportunities for improvement. It’s going to
look better and cost less.
What would you say characterizes good design?
HE: Simplicity. But it’s hard to really say what good
design is. For me, it’s cool to realize there was
a need that you really hadn’t quite
understood before you tried
to use the product.
Do you guys have a “save-it-for-later” box of good ideas?
HE: Yes of course. All kept in a safe place for when we need to use
them.
RT: We have as well. But the fun part is coming up with
something new. So the good nuggets from what you
discovered or solved become part of your
toolbox moving forward.
/ 80 /
\ 81 \
The worlds first hyper roof box,
Thule Lightning, designed
for Koenigsegg Agera R,
the fastest commercial
car in the world.
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
RE
BEC
CA
T AY
LOR
HEN
RIK
ER
IKS
SON
AGE: 38
NATIONALITY:
AMERICAN
FAMILY: NONE
SPORTS: SYSTEMA
(RUSSIAN MARTIAL
ARTS), SURFING
BEST PLACE ON
EARTH: TORN
BETWEEN KIHOLO
BAY AND WAIPIO
VALLEY, BIG
ISLAND HAWAII
RT: Simplicity for me too. I like simplicity and it has to be intuitive.
Simplicity throughout the whole process has a lot of advantages.
What are the key qualities of a good designer?
RT: Being open to discovery. Being excited about finding out new
things, like finding out your initial thought was wrong. Not just
having one idea and chasing it to the finish line because then
you miss everything. Allowing for surprise and being flexible.
And having a passion for the process that’s going to allow for this
discovery.
HE: It’s a lot about listening. Arrogance, thinking only you have
the good ideas, kills the creative design process. You need to be
able to listen to others.
/ 82 /
Athletes are always on the verge of suffering for their
passion. How do you relate to that in design?
RT: Being a designer is almost not a choice. It’s something that
you are and you are driven by it.
Could your work actually lead you to the point
of suffering?
HE: If treated in the wrong way it could be something negative. You
are focused on design but you have to know when to change focus.
RT: Also, you come out of design school and you have this great
vision that you are going to do good and make the world a better
place through design. But there’s a point that you realize what
you’re working on is disposable to some degree. There’s this crisis
of conscience where you feel like you are creating products that
will change and improve people’s lives but what happens to a
product at the end of its life? So there’s a focus from the start on
making green products.
Have you ever met a designer that’s too obsessed
with their work?
HE: Design students stand out in that way. They study all day long
and are always in the design studio. They have the mindset that
this is what it takes. They have the drive to do better and do more.
Do you see that in your line of work?
RT: We get those opportunities when we do a refresh and
refinements. Looking for opportunity is part of being a designer,
so maybe that’s why one is never going to say it’s good. The design
has to change and evolve.
An early protoype of the
Thule Pack’n Pedal bike bag.
Scetch by VeryDay.
passion by Thule
AGE: 37
NATIONALITY:
SWEDISH
FAMILY: GIRLFRIEND AND
TWO KIDS
SPORTS: INLINES
AND TELEMARKING
BEST PLACE ON
EARTH: ALAGNA,
ITALY. MY
BEST SKIING
EXPERIENCE EVER.
HE: A designer is always vulnerable, exposed. You have to
remain open to questions. Because people, the consumers,
relate to the product and it has to be relevant. So in that way you
are always exposed. Criticism shouldn’t be taken personally,
there’s always room to improve the product.
Is there room for the ego in the design process?
RT: It’s a delicate balance and ego can get in the way. You need
to have something that drives and inspires you and then be able
to communicate that. However, the key is to realize that you
are part of a team of people who have good insights, that’s how
you’re going to get stronger. Critiquing is part of the process to
make the idea stronger. So it’s important to allow your mind to
be changed.
How do you work in your team? What’s the design
process like?
RT: We are process-oriented. But I feel like having a process
means you don’t have to figure it out from scratch every time.
We have a standard design phase, the length of which can change
depending on how much time we have. Typically, there’s a phase
of discovery when you first get the challenge and the first thing
you do is read all the reviews you can on that product and do
research. The discovery phase is different for each project. If it’s
a product refresh—pattern or color update—then we go out and
look at trends in this area. If it’s from scratch, then we look at how
people are using the devices versus what’s on the market.
So what’s next?
HE: Well, we have a lot of technology in development in the bike
industry—technical innovations that allow us to make things
lighter. Which is good for the environment and the user.
And finally, do you have any tips for budding industrial
designers?
RT: I recommend having a foundation in consulting before going
into corporate design because you get to experience a lot of
different types of product design. And you learn about being
flexible; knowing you are not the expert in that area and you need
to rely on your expert partners, but knowing you are providing
this valuable service that they can’t do without.
HE: Do it! It’s the best job ever.
passion by Thule
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TH U L E
A DV ENT U R E
TE A M
Blood,
sweat
& tears
/ 84 /
\ 85 \
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
Unity, determination, and a drive
to win are the core ingredients
of this tough-to-beat team of
professional multi-sports athletes,
each accomplished in their own
individual disciplines. The Thule
Adventure Team consists of
Myriam “Mimi” Guillot and Jacky
Boisset (France), Marcel Hagener
(Germany), and Per Vestling and
Martin Flinta (Sweden). Together,
they are dedicated to challenging
the very best, in some of
the toughest, most extreme
adventure races and multisport
competitions in the world.
/ 86 /
\ 87 \
Thule’s adventure team is five tough men and women, competing
in up to 12 races a year and leaving an impressive trail of victory
in countries such as France, Abu Dhabi, USA, Australia, and China.
Last year in Costa Rica, after over 168 hours of sweating in the
rainforest, paddling in white-water rivers, climbing challenging
mountains, and trekking in tough mangrove swamps, the team
won their second Adventure Racing World Championship title.
And they are hoping to claim their third win when they compete in
Ecuador this year.
passion by Thule
Thule’s Adventure Team spares no effort to continue being
the number one team in the world. Training is their lifestyle,
with each member training between 8 and 10 hours per day, in
all weather, to build stamina and refine their technique in the
different disciplines. And each race they find a speed at which
others can only marvel.
The team knows they must be focused to win, not only during
the race itself but also prior to the event. For example, they spent
several weeks in Tasmania prior to the 2011 World Championship,
preparing for the region’s warm days, cold nights, and challenging
terrain. The result? They were crowned world champions.
With such rigorous preparation and a great deal of race
experience, Team Thule has a very high level of fitness and technical
skill, along with the mental toughness to push themselves to the
limit. But these super athletes also share a passion for an active
outdoor life, and it is the breathtaking sunrises and magnificent
scenery that keep them coming back for more.
passion by Thule
TEAM HIGHLIGHTS
2010
Double victory in Coast to Coast, New Zealand
1st place Åre Extreme Challenge, Sweden
2nd place Wulong Mt Quest, China
1st place Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, Abu Dhabi
2011 – WORLD CHAMPIONS
1st place The team’s first victory in the Adventure Racing
World Series at Huairasinchi, Ecuador
1st place Le Grand Raid, France, after winning all stages
1st place Black Forest Adventure Race, Germany
1st place Adventure Racing World Championships, Australia
2012
1st place Baise Outdoor Quest, China
1st place Untamed New England, USA.
1st place Black Forest Adventure Race, Germany.
Defending the title from 2011
2nd place Adventure Racing World Championships, France
/ 88 /
2013 – WORLD CHAMPIONS
1st place Baise Outdoor Quest, China.
Defending the title from 2012
2nd place Wulong Mt Quest, China
1st place Classic Double,
Hawaii Ironman + X-terra World Championship, USA
1st place Adventure Racing World Championships, Costa Rica
2014
1st place Pengzhou Adventure Race, China
THULE ADVENTURE TEAM
Martin Flinta 41, Team Captain from Mölndal, Sweden
Per Vestling 42, from Falun, Sweden
Jacky Boisset 34, from Font-Romeu, France
Myriam “Mimi” Guillot 35, from Font-Romeu, France
Marcel Hagener 45, from Germany and New Zealand
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
\ 89 \
ROUTE PLAN
ARWC
C O S TA
R I C A
2 0 1 3
Symbol
FINISH
Descent - Best Time Slow Time
Ascent +
Discipline
Distance
S1
MTB
95 km
850 m
1822 m
10 h
20 h
S2
Kayak
65 km
0m
10 m
10 h
20 h
S3
Trekking
27 km
960 m
985 m
4h
6h
S4
Trekking
+ Kayak
65 km
190 m
200 m
15 h
30 h
S5
MTB
+ Canopy
101 km
2090 m
1210 m
10 h
18 h
It’s tough on your mind, and tougher on your feet.
M A N D AT O R Y S T O P 4 H O U R S
S6
Trekking
92 km
4002 m
4320 m
33 h
65 h
S7
MTB
40 km
1610 m
1530 m
3,5 h
6h
S8
Trekking
+ Rafting
33 km
30 m
650 m
4h
5h
S9
Kayak
89 km
0m
40 m
16 h
24 h
S10
Trekking
18 km
150 m
150 m
4h
8h
S11
MTB
156 km
380 m
290 m
11 h
18 h
S12
Canopy
+ Rafting
23 km
300 m
393 m
2h
4h
804 km
10562 m
11600 m
126,5 h
–
TOT
S6
Altitude
m
5 000
4 800
4 600
4 400
\ 91 \
4 200
4 000
3 800
3 600
3 400
3 200
3 000
2 800
S7
S5
2 600
S1
2 400
2 200
2 000
1 800
1 600
S8
S3
1 400
1 200
S4
1 000
Adventure racing is not a sport for the faint-hearted. It’s a mindover-muscle sport requiring multiple outdoor sports skills, superior
fitness and mental strength, plus the ability to work well in a team.
Races are made up of a combination of two or more endurance
disciplines: cross-country running, mountain biking, kayaking, and
climbing. For more than 20 years, the sport has combined different
outdoor sporting events into intense endurance competitions.
Racing against time, the elements, and the terrain for up to
800 km (500 miles), mixed teams of four to five male and female
athletes demonstrate their abilities in navigation, sea and river
kayaking, mountain biking, running, climbing, and more.
An adventure race can last up to 10 days with multiple check-
passion by Thule
600
S10
S9
S2
400
200
Distance
km
S TA R T
780
800
760
720
740
680
700
660
620
640
580
600
560
520
540
480
500
460
420
440
380
400
360
320
340
280
300
260
220
240
180
200
160
120
140
80
100
60
40
0
0
Running 10K dirt trails in the middle of the night. Trekking through chest-deep mud.
Rushing down perilous rapids in a narrow kayak. Scaling cliffs. Sleep deprivation.
Hallucinations. Swollen feet. Aching limbs. Pushing your body and your mind for
six days non-stop. Welcome to the sport of adventure racing, one of the few sports
where just completing a race is often considered a victory. Check out the stages of
the Adventure Racing World Championship in Costa Rica and decide for yourself.
S12
S11
800
20
/ 90 /
START
THULE
A DV EN T U R E
TEAM
FINISH
points and no scheduled sleep time. The goal is to find all the
checkpoints in the shortest amount of time. The winning team is
the first to complete all the race legs and visit all the checkpoints.
Disciplines vary according to race and location. Some take a day
or a few hours. Some take several days or through the night.
Adventure racing is still a little-known sport but it is quickly
gaining in popularity. It takes superior mental toughness and
punishing physical training to prepare and compete in races, but
as all athletes who have challenged themselves in this competition
will tell you, the rewards are worth the blood, sweat, and tears.
Adventure racing lets you see and experience nature like no
other sport can.
passion by Thule
/ 92 /
\ 93 \
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
THULE ADVENTURE TEAM MEMBER
M Y R I A M “M IM I” GU IL LOT
Winning is even better
the second time around
Tell me about your childhood. Were you into sports back then?
You really jumped in at the deep end, didn’t you?
I was a rower for 12 years in the French national team. But it was
tricky because I’m so small. That’s why I changed sports when I was
20. I really like to ski and I am a cross- country ski teacher. So it was
easy for me to start adventure racing a bit later, because I practiced
many different sports.
Yes, I had only practiced twice—and during the race I told myself
I should just keep going. But it was my first team sport, so I still
enjoyed it a lot. I really like to discover the world and it was a good
way to travel, which is why I fell in love with the sport.
How did you and your team get on?
Did your parents influence you or was it a natural thing?
It was natural. Though my parents were sporty, they never pushed
me to compete at a high level. I really enjoy being in nature; on the
top of mountain or in the middle of
the ocean. And sport is a good way to
discover the world.
Did you have to stop studying to
focus on your sport?
I studied sports science. I have a
Master’s and a doctorate in sports and
exercise, with a lot of research on the
effects of oxygen on the body during
exercise. So I didn’t have to stop.
We came 7th. After the race they had to carry me because my feet
were so swollen—I just couldn’t walk anymore. The first thing I had
to do when I crossed the finish line was to manage the pain.
The second thing is you feel
alone. Because you are racing four
days and nights with three others,
and I wanted us to be together
again. I was hooked from the start.
And I still am. I love the team spirit
and my teammates. We spend a lot
of time training together. We visit
Sweden, Per and Martin visit us in
France. We complement each other,
yet we are different. This is the key
to having a good team.
The first thing I had to do
when I crossed the finish line
was to manage the pain.
The second thing is
you feel alone.
So it’s both theory and practice. Where did you find the time
to do both?
When you start training from an early age, you are used to managing
your day and become focused on what you are doing.
How did you get into rowing?
I was a dancer. But my flexibility wasn’t good. I got injured and the
doctors told me to try rowing, as this was a good way to develop
back muscle structure.
So what about adventure racing?
At the last minute they had to find a girl to do the World
Championship in Canada, in 2005. The team asked me and I
thought “Why not?” So my first adventure race was the World
Championship. It was 10 days. And it was a nightmare.
The disciplines were mountain biking, trekking, and kayaking. I
was a good runner, but I had never done kayaking before. It was a
surprise because the first section was 100 km kayaking. That is my
best memory.
How are you different from each other?
Per is peaceful and relaxed, Martin is quiet and likes to think about
many things. Jacky is more powerful and very focused on what he’s
doing. I’m the mum for the three others, the only girl in the team.
When I race with Jacky, I know I’m not alone. He protects me. We
try not to be a couple but teammates during the race.
So you and Jacky are a couple – and you are together 24 hours
a day. Can you have a private life away from adventure racing?
We became a couple after that first championship – and it’s forever.
We will get married this year. But I think there is a very fine line.
We live adventure racing. Not because we are always thinking
about adventure racing but our life is a big adventure, so it’s close
to being in a race. We have a private life too. But sometimes it’s
hard to tell the difference.
What’s your biggest achievement to date?
It’s when we won our second world championship.
passion by Thule
\ 95 \
Second? That’s interesting. I guess people would usually
answer the first.
like a kid, I like to discover little things. That’s why I do this sport.
You make it sound beautiful. Like a picnic.
The first time we won, everybody was surprised. When it’s your
first time they think it’s because you are lucky. But when you win a
second time it’s not because you are lucky.
Haha … I would like everyone to try this sport. It’s the best sport
in the world!
MIMI’S
ESSENTIAL
GEAR
What does a typical day look like for you?
Do you have any regrets in adventure racing?
My only regret was when we came second in France. Because
I was in my home country and all our family was here. My dad
passed away this January. When I decided to travel a lot and do
professional adventure racing, he was not very happy. He knew
I’d studied a lot and he didn’t like me being a professional, earning
money from sport. When we were in France I really wanted to show
him that I am a professional, that I can
push my body—and still enjoy it.
Racing in a tropical area is different to training in the mountains.
So when we know where the race will take place, our training is
focused on where we will be.
Usually, my day starts with eating fruit salad. That’s the most
important thing. After that, we normally train two activities for
8 to 10 hours.
That’s a lot of hours over a year.
Doesn’t it ever get boring?
When I was a rower, it was boring. But
now Jacky and I are 35 and I think we
have to change our training and be more
relaxed. We know our level and we know
what we have to do to be strong when we
get to the race. So, even though training
is our job, we have time to enjoy what we
are doing every day.
I think your dad was on to something.
You took your passion and turned it
into a career. But can you really enjoy
it or is it a lot of work?
Jacky and I talked about it. When I
do stop, it will be because I’m bored
with what I’m doing. And when you
compete at such a high level, you can
do anything. So even though it’s tough
to find a job in France, I know if I stop
sport I’ll find a job.
/ 96 /
Which is worse, physical or
mental pain?
Sportiva Trial Running Shoes
Outdoor Knife
What do you do when you are not
training or adventure racing?
What does passion mean to you?
My passion is life. I really like life,
everything about it. Everyday you learn or
discover something new. Adventure is my
second passion. When you are practicing
something difficult you get used to
managing it. Adventure sport is about
overcoming difficulties. Just like life.
Passport
MYR
IAM
GUI
LL
OT
Mental pain. You have to be really
motivated to push your body. Your body
wants to stop all the time.
Do you ever feel like giving up?
Not at this point. But sometimes during
the night when I want to sleep and I
can’t, I wonder how long I will go on.
Then I think of the team. That’s what
really drives me. When you realize all the
sacrifices everybody in the team makes, you can’t just think about
yourself.
I like to win. If I don’t win it’s because I’ve done something
wrong. So next time I need to improve. My big challenge is to be
world champion for the next ten years.
AGE: 35
NATIONALITY:
FRENCH
FAMILY: COUPLE
WITH JACKY
SPORTS:
ADVENTURE
RACER ( MTB,
TRAIL RUNNING,
PADDLING, ROPES
SKILLS, INLINE
SKATING...)
BEST PLACE ON
EARTH: TENERIFE
CANARY ISLAND
(WHERE WE HAVE
DECIDED TO LIVE)
Food helps us recharge. We’re very
French and I like to cook. But we eat
only raw and vegan. We want to write a
book about food, about all the benefits
and effects, because food is the key to a
good body. With really good food we can
be strong and really fit. And we want to
start our new business, a raw food energy
bar for athletes.
Polarized Sunglasses
\ 97 \
So you are getting married, you’ve
bought a house and land, you’re
starting up a new business. Is this a
sign you are settling down?
No no no… It’s a very small house. Not
a big house. Don’t forget, we are Jacky
and Mimi and we love to travel. We love
what we do!
What do you think of Thule?
We are very proud to be supported by
Thule. I think it’s the best brand, and
not just because we are supported by them. They are professional.
They like it when we share our experiences, when we have a good
idea or when we find something to improve. I feel like we are a part
of the family. I’m proud to be supported by them.
Chiru Frame
Driving GPS
Do you have a favorite Thule product?
My favorite one is the Thule bike rack and bag. Another I really like
is the slide bar.
What’s your worst experience during all these years with
adventure racing?
Injuries. So I’m very careful about my body. Each race you learn
more about your body and you learn your limit. And now I can play
with my limits.
What’s next for you guys?
Why do you do all this? For the kicks? Love of nature?
If someone wants to be an adventure racer, what’s the best
tip you could give them?
When you are well trained it’s not very hard on your body. Jacky
and I train 8-10 hours every day. We are used to it. And when you
are in an adventure race it’s the same. You just have to keep going
and stay focused on what you are doing. And never stop.
But for me it is important to take time to enjoy where I am. Even
if I am racing all the time I try to find a little butterfly or tree. I’m
We have a race in China in three weeks. Then back to France before
heading off to USA for the first world cup event.
Just trust in yourself. Think everything is possible. When you think
everything is possible, then you can do what you want.
passion by Thule
Thule Pack ’n Pedal
Large Adventure Touring Pannier
Thule Hull a Port Pro 837
passion by Thule
Tablet
AWA R D
WINNER
F R O M
TH U LE
AWA R D
WINNER
F R O M
TH U LE
/ 98 /
\ 99 \
Thule Covert DSLR Rolltop Backpack
Thule Urban Glide
Durable and versatile backpack that quickly transitions from being
the ultimate camera pack with a removable DSLR protective pod
system, to the perfect everyday bag with dedicated Macbook / iPad
storage. Cleverly designed with origami-inspired divider system for
custom fit.
All-round sport stroller with a sleek and lightweight design made for
the active parent. Thule Urban Glide is perfect for urban mobility or
jogging on your favorite path.
Winner of the Red Dot Award.
Winner of the Red Dot Award.
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
J IM H ER R INGT ON
Every photo
tells a story
Meet Jim Herrington, a passionate photographer from New York City,
who grew up on a diet of great storytelling and his father’s collection
of Life Magazines. Both have had an immense impact on him as a
photographer and encouraged him to always look for the good story
in his assignments. Jim has worked with some of the biggest stars
in music and entertainment, including the Rolling Stones, Willie
Nelson, and Dolly Parton. However, what always seems to captivate
people the most is his warm and heartfelt documentation of some of
the world’s finest and most iconic rock climbers and mountaineers.
Jim was kind enough to sit down and share a few of his best photos
and stories with us. Two hours never went by so fast.
\ 101 \
How did you first get interested in photography?
My dad had a collection of old Life Magazines from the ‘30s and
‘40s. I remember looking through those when I was very young,
marveling at the people, places, and things depicted in black
and white with full bleed. It gradually dawned on me that the
photos didn’t just happen, somebody went out and made those
photographs. This sounded like the life for me, traveling far and
wide, hobnobbing with interesting people and being paid to show
my version of the way the world looks.
How did you find your direction, your style?
I practiced the age-old method of stealing and copying from my
heroes, which is what you do when you’re young – you mimic those
that you admire. Hopefully by a certain age you stop doing that and
your style ends up being some combination of those influences
blended in with your own unique qualities.
I take it you’re interested in music—you’ve worked with a lot
of great musicians. What’s your taste in music?
My tastes run deep, wide and tall and just about every genre is fair
game. But most of my musical interests are rooted in American
music that was made between the 1920s and 1970s—soul, country,
R&B, rock & roll, blues, jazz as well as the many hybrids, crossbreeds
and mongrels that spun off.
Any particular favorite?
If I had to choose just one… Jerry Lee Lewis. You’d have had to
have seen him live back when he was still firing on all cylinders.
Ferocious, leering, and dangerous, with vocal and instrumental
talent to spare.
passion by Thule
Photo of Jim Herrington by Erin Wilson.
How did you start out in the music business? How did you
get access?
I started out by shooting live shows. I shot Benny Goodman in the
mid ‘70s when I was quite young. Then in 1979 I started taking
my camera to rock and roll shows and from there I’d end up
doing a publicity shot here and there. Before long I had enough
of a portfolio to show people and things progressed. I left North
Carolina and moved to LA but I didn’t shoot live music as much
out there, I was more interested in doing portraits and that’s what
I concentrated on with the music stuff. The work started coming
in from different sources—the bands themselves, management, the
record label, magazines, etc. I made it my mission to get around and
meet people.
Who was the first musician you worked with? Do you
remember the shoot?
I really can’t remember the first musician that I actually worked
“with” as opposed to just shooting live. I’d worked with a lot of
musicians, some really good
ones, but no particularly big
names yet. The one that was the
fork in the road, the one that
changed things for me, was Tom
Petty, around 1987. I got to know
Tom via a mutual friend and he
kept me around doing photos for
a couple of years. Things started
taking off for me after that.
other times I’ll have two days. It’s different every time. Ideally I like
those situations where I can be one-on-one with people.
Have you ever failed?
Oh yeah.
I was more thinking of not getting that Herrington style or
the Herrington atmosphere.
Everybody has bad days and I’m no different. But it’s showtime and
you have to deliver.
How do you feel about that?
Nobody likes having an off day. But at the same time, I do push the
edge on the ways that I shoot. It’s a double-edged sword. When
it’s successful I think it’s really great—like the Cormac McCarthy
shoot, for instance. That was shot in what normally is the crappiest
light on the planet; high noon in the desert, everything is bleached
out and blasted with light. I decided to knock the sunlight down
with the exposure and use a
flash and kind of make it a studio
shot. I think it worked great with
his noir sensibilities and dark
stories. That was to me a total
success, because it was a very
Herrington shot and I thought
it conveyed Cormac in a great
way. And it also solved a problem
when I didn’t have that many
options. But then there are other times, when it’s really tough to
pull it together. I’ve been shooting a long time and I feel like “Damn
it, I should be able to do anything anywhere!”. Sometimes the magic
just isn’t there—and I rely on a lot of magic.
Everybody has bad days
and I’m no different.
But it’s showtime and
you have to deliver.
What’s it like to work with some of the biggest names in
music? How do you approach them? How do you “sell” your
ideas, your vision to them?
/ 102 /
It’s a lot of fun most of the time. I’ve been lucky enough to work
with a lot of my all-time favorite musicians. Usually I’m assigned by
a magazine or record label, so the approaching part is handled by
someone else. As for the ideas, if I’m being commissioned for a job
then it’s usually some combination of me being hired because of my
previous work—they’ve seen how I shoot and they want that look.
And then there may or may not be a concept from an art director
that needs to be addressed. Again, it’s always different. Sometimes
I have total freedom, sometimes there’s a more strict agenda. As
much as I love having carte blanche, I also really like collaborating
with smart art directors that have interesting and creative ideas.
What’s your ambition when shooting them?
Overall, and aside from visual/artistic matters, I suppose what I
want to achieve in a portrait is to have someone who’s looking at
the photograph—if they don’t know who the person is already—to
be extremely curious as to who they’re looking at. I want the people
to have a certain gravity or importance.
Seems you’re rather accentuating their integrity or personal
strength. You make them look even stronger. Would you agree?
I would hope that it’s something like that.
How long does a shoot take for you? With Cormac McCarthy,
you were out there walking the hills. Is that part of your
setup? Do you first try to hang out and get to know them?
It’s different everytime. The Cormac shoot was one of those ideal
ones. It was just he and I walking through the mesquite hills
outside of Santa Fe for a couple of hours. Sometimes I’ll show up at
a location and there isn’t enough time to scout things out. I might
get there and have only an hour with someone and I’ll have to figure
out things very fast: Is there anything at all photogenic here that
works for me and my way of shooting? Does it serve the purpose of
this shoot or this person? How’s the light? So there are important
things to figure out fast and sometimes these places are just
challenging and terrible. Sometimes I might have only 20 minutes,
Do people notice the difference between a good shoot and a
bad one? Or are you just a slave to your own standards?
Oh, I beat myself up. I’m definitely a slave to my own standards.
But sometimes I’ll be distraught about a shoot and I turn it in and
everybody loves it. And then I’m like “Aw, are you serious…?”.
So about your way of working. I gather you “like anything
that has a story” and that you don’t really go out shooting
“visual candy”. How do you prepare for a shoot? Do you read
up on them?
First off, not just any story. I have to connect with it on some
level. But Cormac, for instance I knew a lot about him, I had read
all his books, actually I was a big fan. But if it’s someone that I’m
not familiar with then I do a lot of research. I prepare, but I do like
leaving room for “spur of the moment” things.
Most of my life I’ve sat down the night before a photoshoot
with a pad and I’ll do all kinds of sketches and lighting scenarios.
And I still think that’s nice, because it gives you something to fall
back on if you show up at a place expecting magic to happen and
it doesn’t. Then at least you have the rehearsed thing and can say,
“OK, we’re just gonna do this”. But what usually happens is that
I stay up all night, doing these sketches, and then don’t do any of
them on the location, because I happen upon more interesting,
unexpected things.
If you look at my pictures you’ll notice that a lot of times the
locations aren’t very special at all. I don’t really like the “grand
location”. I like these sort of off-hand places—it’s more about light
and circumstance for me.
So does that mean that you look for, and find, your story
on location? You don’t necessarily have or need a plan
beforehand?
Obviously, if I’m on an advertising shoot or a shoot with a lot of
people and shots involved there needs to be a plan. I’m much looser
when I’m on my own, but either way I prefer having surprises
passion by Thule
Thomas Hornbein Photographed at his home in Washington state.
Hornbein is a climber from the Pacific Northwest who’s most known for making the first ascent
of the West Ridge of Mt. Everest in 1963 as part of the American Everest Expedition.
Jim Bridwell Photographed at his home in Palm Desert, California.
Bridwell is an American climber who’s been active since the mid-1960s. Known for pushing
standards in big wall climbing in Yosemite Valley, Patagonia, Alaska, and elsewhere.
Chuck Pratt Photographed outside of his cabin at the Teton Climbers’ Ranch in Wyoming.
Pratt was a California climber known for his superb free climbing abilities as well as being a pioneer in big
wall climbing, especially in Yosemite Valley. Active climber from the 1950s until his death in 2000.
Doug Robinson Photographed on the first ascent of Backside
of Beyond on Temple Crag, Sierra Nevada mountains, California.
Robinson is a climber and a pioneer of “clean” climbing and
off-piste or backcountry skiing. Active since the 1960s.
Sir Chris Bonington Photographed at his home in Cumbria, UK.
Bonington is a British climber known for nineteen expeditions to the Himalayas, including four to Mount
Everest and the first ascent of the south face of Annapurna. He started climbing in 1951.
Doug Scott Photographed at the Royal Geographic Society, London, UK.
British climber active from the 1950s through the 1980s with over 30 expeditions to Asia. Including first
ascents of the southwest face of Mount Everest and his epic climb of The Ogre in Pakistan.
Charlie Rich
Photographed at his home in Memphis, Tennessee.
Charlie Rich was a singer, songwriter and piano player
whose career started at Sun Records in the 1950s.
Dolly Parton Photographed outside of Nashville, Tennessee.
/ 108 /
Chuck Mead Singer, songwriter, guitar player.
passion by Thule
happen and seeing how things unfold. The best photos are almost
never planned, in my opinion.
How would you describe your style?
You know that photo of me that you’ve got at the front of this
article? In a way I feel like that describes it. It looks like I fell out of
a moving vehicle and got up and started shooting my Leica like it’s a
weapon. Otherwise, it’s not my place to talk about my style… that’s
what the photos are for.
It’s not my place to talk
about my style... that’s what
the photos are for.
What do others usually say about your style? I guess they
source and commission you for a reason, wanting that “Jim
Herrington style”.
I don’t know. Gritty. Edgy. But I think those words are useless
really. Maybe a kind of film noir quality? I guess there’s a darker
edge to a lot of them. I’ve heard “honest” and “real” but that could
also describe a cow, couldn’t it? Words always seem to fall short. I
hate hearing someone talk about their stuff in that kind of way. My
style? I don’t know. I think you just look at the photos and you can
tell. That’s my style.
What’s your take on “passion”? What does ”passion” mean
to you?
Morgan Freeman Photographed in Mississippi. Actor.
Well, I told you how I like stories and the way I approach the people
I shoot. I get obsessed by these people. Like my monkey picture.
Have you seen that? The picture itself doesn’t mean much without
the story.
It’s a photo of this chimpanzee that for decades was rumored to
be the original Cheeta from the Johnny Weismüller-era Tarzan
movies from the 1930s. It’s incredible he’s still alive. He’s in the
Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest chimpanzee.
So I take my last—literally my last—250 dollars and I flew out to
Palm Springs to photograph him. This was a natural Herrington
story. An aged showbiz monkey who drinks beer and smokes cigars
and has a swimming pool. He’s like Sinatra, or an old Hollywood
actor, living out his retirement on a chaise lounge. Right down my
alley in every way. So I took the last bit of money I had and went out
there to photograph him. Is that passion or insanity?
What about the old image of artists suffering for their art?
Have you suffered anything?
Oh, I’ve had my share. Except for a few jobs I had when I was young,
photography is what I’ve done my whole life. I was a paper boy, I
sold shoes to old ladies when I was sixteen, I was a waiter once for
about ten minutes. Otherwise I’ve been doing photography forever,
so sure, there’s been some up and down times.
Photography has gone through a lot of changes since I started,
along with the economy, the music business, and other factors.
Aside from the occasional financial dips, hopefully you’re also
always trying to evolve. I think anyone in business for themself
has periods of suffering. It’s probably a healthy process if you don’t
wallow in it.
Ever felt like giving it all up and getting a 9-5 job instead?
Not really, no. Once in a long while I might wake up and say “Man,
it must be great being a garbage man. You just wake up, you empty
trash till 5 PM and then go home and you don’t give work another
thought until the next day.” But this is what I do. I couldn’t quit it
even if I tried and I would definitely still do it even if I never made
another dollar doing it.
However, stability is nice. I’m 50 now. And there have been
periods in my life that haven’t been that stable. But I’m stubborn
and I love what I do, whether it’s for money or not.
It’s as much about the stories and experiences as it is about
photography. The camera’s there to connect me to these things. I
love cameras and I love the art and craft of it all—and I can be quite
fetishistic about gear. But had I picked up a paintbrush first I’d have
been just as happy.
Willie Nelson Photographed on his bus in Beverly Hills, California. Singer, songwriter, guitar player.
passion by Thule
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Have you always been a storyteller? Even as a kid? Without
the camera, I mean.
Before me, my family was. I’m from a small town in North Carolina.
I think when you’re in a somewhat boring place the stories get
better. We had some very good storytellers in the family, all prone
to flourishes and embellishment. My grandmother, my aunt, my
mother. There was an enthusiasm for the outside world within my
family that I think helped a lot in forming my somewhat journalistic,
butterfly-collecting approach to these stories that I like.
Was it always visual for you? What about writing?
I’ve always enjoyed writing, that was my favorite subject in school.
I’ve posted some of my stories on my Tumblr page… they’re more
like long captions really. A lot of the things I photograph have a
story that may not be readily apparent, like the monkey photo. “Oh,
look, he shot a cute picture of a monkey”. But if you read the story
you’ll find out that monkey had a secret!
What about climbing? When did you pick that up? And why?
When I was very young I had seen climbing depicted in my family’s
old Encyclopaedia Britannica and in those old Life Magazines of
my father’s. It immediately seemed like something I wanted to do –
the combination of physicality, adventure, exploration, wilderness,
and aesthetics appealed to me straightaway. I had a lot of physical
energy as a boy but I wasn’t that interested in normal ball sports.
Climbing seemed perfect for me. Trouble was, I couldn’t drive and
I didn’t know anyone who did this activity.
One day in 1976 a man from the YMCA came to our school looking
for kids to sign up for a program
called Discovery. If you signed
up you could go backpacking,
caving, skiing, biking, and, best of
all, climbing. So that was my first
time doing proper climbing with
ropes, there on the local crags
outside of Charlotte.
some great writers, artists, photographers… I’ve always been drawn
to that area.
So back in the ’90s I thought I would do a short photo essay on
the old Sierra Nevada climbers. I started shooting them and it was
great but then I had the chance to shoot Bradford Washburn. He
was not a Sierra Nevada climber, he was from Boston and he had
climbed important first ascents in Alaska. So, you know, there’s no
way to turn him down. He was 95 and had quite the climbing career
as well as being a great photographer of mountains. So I went
and photographed him. And that’s when I decided, it’s not going
to be Sierra Nevada climbers, it’s going to be American climbers.
But then I shot Riccardo Cassin in Italy, Doug Scott and Chris
Bonington in England, and others, and the project became what it
is now—climbers from around the world that were active between
the ’20s and ’70s.
Any climbers left to shoot?
Yes, I have roughly 20 more to shoot. Some in Europe, quite a few in
America, a handful in Asia. Once I finish the shooting part of it I can
finally get the book finished and published.
You started this final phase yet?
I did. I just shot three people in the last few weeks, all in the NYC
area. Most of the final 20 have agreed to do it, and I’m still trying to
contact the ones in Asia. I’m trying to get funding to help with this.
I’ve been paying for it out of my own pocket for the past 15 years
or so. There’s plane tickets, travel, film, and processing. I’m still
shooting the whole project on film.
Are any of them still climbing?
This was a natural Herrington
story. An aged showbiz monkey
who drinks beer and smokes cigars
and has a swimming pool.
“Legends of climbing”. You’re
shooting some of the world’s most iconic rock climbers and
mountaineers. Tell us more about that! How did you come up
with the idea?
For decades, there were rumors that the original Cheeta, from the Johnny Weismüller Tarzan movies
back in the ‘30s, was living the life of an old retired Hollywood star out in Palm Springs, drinking
beer and smoking cigars by the swimming pool. These rumors sounded too good to be true, so
Jim Herrington took his last 250 dollars and flew out to Palm Springs…
I’ve been interested in climbing since I was a small boy after
seeing pictures of Himalayan expeditions, maybe in those old Life
Magazines and National Geographics, and photos of the Eiger and
the Matterhorn. It really made a huge impact on me. This suddenly
seemed like my thing.
I always wanted to be an explorer, to be the one at the front of the
ship, sailing into some desolate, unknown polar region. So there was
an exploration quality to climbing that was attractive. Maybe a bit
of a nerdy scientific aspect as well since it’s helpful to know about
weather, geology, maps – I love maps and geography in general.
As a young boy I fancied myself as someone who was a good
climber. I thought “This is a talent I have”. I’m definitely not
dunking a basketball. But it took a long time, I had to meet people. I
was a small boy with no car. Finally I found others to climb with and
then I got heavily into it and started traveling all over—at the same
time getting more into photography.
My home range, my favorite place to climb and ski, is the Sierra
Nevada mountains in California. I call it my home range, I’m from
North Carolina, but the Sierra Nevada is my home away from home.
Sierra Nevada, east side. My original plan for the climber series was
just to photograph the old guys that had climbed in the Sierra, but
obviously the project got much bigger than that.
So did you just stumble upon these climbing legends?
Again, like most things, I got into the history of it. The Sierra
Nevada, being close to San Francisco and LA, attracted some
interesting people, not least climbers. Ansel Adams, Jack Kerouac,
Pretty much none of them.
Riccardo Cassin was 100 years
old when I visited him and was
literally dying in front of me.
He died a week after I left him.
There’s a few of them climbing,
Doug Robinson for one, who’s my
favorite climbing partner. He’s in
his late sixties now. But a lot of them are quite old and infirm. Half
of the ones I’ve photographed have died already.
Will that scare the rest of them off?
My whole career has been like Dr. Doom of the camera. I’m
interested in these old musicians, old people in general, I guess.
For a while it seemed that everyone I shot died a month later.
“Don’t get Herrington to shoot you, you’ll die”. I had to come up
with a sheet of paper saying, “Look, here’s all the people I’ve shot
who haven’t died, they’re living robust healthy lives after being
photographed by me!”. I just have a preternatural interest in
old people. So the odds are against me. Or rather, the odds are
against them!
What’s next? In your photography and in your climbing?
Besides doing regular photography jobs, the main thing now is
definitely finishing the climbing project. That’s what I’m putting all
of my energy into completing by the end of the year. I’ve had one
gallery show for the project, and I’d like to have a few more as well
as get the book out.
There’s a lot of travel involved that I would like to do this summer,
through Europe, Asia and America to get all these people. Time is of
the essence, to really get some of the older ones. And then there’s a
lot of work to do on the pictures.
It’s been interesting to see how people are reacting to the
climbers series, quite positively. It’s surprising to me, because I
thought it would have been one of my more quirky, under-theradar projects.
passion by Thule
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Robby Naish became a world windsurfing champion in 1976. Back
then, the sport of windsurfing was in its infancy, Jimmy Carter was
President of the United States, and people were still grooving to Pink
Floyd on 8-track cassettes.
Fast forward a generation or two, and Robby is still a vital presence
in today’s flourishing, global windsurfing movement. Most recently,
Robby took part in the Professional Windsurfers Association JP
Aloha Classic in Maui, Hawaii, a prestigious event that attracts the
world’s most dedicated windsurfing champions. We caught up with
him there to revisit the past and discover what the future holds for
this living legend.
What was it like to return to competition at this year’s
Aloha Classic?
I grew up at the beach, and my
father was a surfer and Hobie
sailor. I began surfing when
I was old enough to swim—
more precisely, 1974, when I
was 11 years old.
There were only a few
windsurfers in Hawaii at that
time and I was intrigued when
I saw them, as it combined
my two passions—surfing and
sailing—and I wanted to try it!
I was inspired by the challenge
and difficulty of the sport, and
was committed from that day.
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ROBBY NA ISH
passion by Thule
What’s your vision? Where is the company heading?
We have no long-term vision. In our business you need to be
spontaneous and flexible and be able to ride the wave wherever it
takes you.
How important are sponsors and the media for athletes?
It was pretty much the same. You sit around and complain about the
conditions in your heat. I am at Ho’okipa all the time anyway, so it
was just like any other day. It was not like going back and competing
at big events like World Cup Sylt. The Aloha Classic is very low key.
What inspired you to try
windsurfing?
Maui, and R&D teams for windsurf, stand-up, and kitesurfing.
The center hub of the operation is the art department, where all
photos, print ads, marketing, and web content are created. With all
of the products that Naish makes, we create an immense amount
of product graphics, tech sheets, ads, etc. My time is mostly spent
between R&D and graphics and marketing.
It always depends on the sport, but in general it’s pretty important.
For sports like ours, they are a critical part of the equation in many
respects, ranging from equipment to media reach to sponsorship
dollars and paying your bills.
Media pressure affects some athletes much more than others.
There are certainly athletes
that live and die by their
social-media footprint and are
obsessed with it. I am certainly
not one of them.
Do you have a social media
presence?
I am not mister social media
by any means, but I do at
least the minimum of what is
required in this day and age.
Tell us about your longstanding relationship
with Thule.
I have always been extremely
The Naish family in 1978, on vacation in Sardinia, Italy.
passionate about cars, and
partnering with a brand like
You also began kitesurfing
Thule, which is the premier
and stand-up paddling ahead of the trend.
roof-rack provider, was a perfect fit and a valuable asset for
I got into both sports in the beginning to enjoy the wind and
protecting both my cars and my equipment.
waves in new ways. Those three sports are all very similar, yet still
different. The feeling of gliding on the water is very unique and
Do you have any memories from those early Thule days?
enjoyable no matter what kind of board you are riding.
I remember doing a photo shoot with my slant-nose Porsche 911
together with my daughter Nani when she was about 7 years old. I
Do you remember your first competition?
still have that photo on my office wall.
I don’t remember my first local competition in Kailua, here
in Hawaii; but my first big competition in 1976 was the North
What do you think of Thule now?
American Windsurfing championships in Berkeley, California.
It’s great to see the brand still thriving and doing well. Here on Maui,
most people that carry gear either put it inside their car or on their
pick-up truck, and Thule truck racks are everywhere here on Maui.
What does passion mean to you?
Doing something with purpose, commitment, focus, and heart. I’m a
very passionate person—almost to a fault. I am probably too passionate.
What are you most proud of in your career?
I am proud of my longevity, the fact that I am still very active and
passionate about my sports, and that I am still able to ride at a
Have you suffered in pursuit of your passion?
decent level.
Considering what I have been putting my body through for so many
years, not really. Fortunately, having water as a medium is a very
good thing. Falling in the water is much more forgiving than just
Why do you still surf after all these years?
about anything else you could fall into, which has allowed me to
So many reasons. It’s fun, obviously. I still get a kick out of it. I’m
continue to push myself for so long.
still chasing the perfect ride—the perfect wave, break, barrel… Also,
I like trying out new gear. Most importantly, I still make a really
great lifestyle out of it.
Tell us about the Naish Boardriding Company.
I founded Naish Sails Hawaii in 1995. We are a pretty small
company, with our development and marketing base on Maui.
What’s your essential windsurfing gear?
We’ve grown steadily and constantly as our product line has
Hmm. A pair of board shorts and a board of some sort. Those are
evolved and expanded. I am still the only shareholder, but we work
the only two things that are mandatory.
as a team, with everyone sharing in the fruits of our labor.
It is a very fun and fast-paced atmosphere at Naish. Not
How long do you plan to keep surfing?
glamorous but rewarding. I have a general manager here on
Hopefully forever.
passion by Thule
\ 115 \
Robby, age 13, calls home after winning his first World Championship.
/ 116 /
\ 117 \
Robby’s sail and board line in the early 80s.
Robby in 1976, surrounded by his trophies.
passion by Thule
passion by Thule
/ 118 /
\ 119 \
Photo shoot for Robby Naish
product line.
The legend lives on.
Robbie in action recently.
passion by Thule
passion By
by Thule
Passion
Thule
Marathon
Des Sables
T H E T O U G H E S T F O O T R AC E O N E A R T H
/ 120 /
The
best surf
movies of
all time
BIKE
FAC TS
Source: marathondessables.co.uk
1. The Endless Summer (1966).
The greatest surf movie ever made.
”On any day of the year it is summer
somewhere in the world...”
2. The Endless Summer II (1994).
Twenty eight years after directing the
hit documentary, Bruce Brown went
on a similar quest with two surfers to
find the perfect wave.
4. About 100 million bicycles are manufactured
worldwide each year.
2. Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who built
the first flying airplane, operated a small bike repair
shop in Dayton, Ohio. They used their workshop to
build the 1903 Wright Flyer.
6. Mountain Biking entered the Olympic program
in 1996 (Atlanta, US), followed by BMX in 2008
(Beijing, China).
3. There are over a half billion bicycles in China.
Bikes were first brought to China in the late 1800’s.
5. The Tour de France is the most famous bicycle
race in the world. Established in 1903, it is considered to be the greatest test of sports endurance.
\ 121 \
Source: ”Bicycle: The History” by David Herlihy.
Thule Employees in front of Calgary Farmers Market.
Thule
Atmos
TH E M E AN I N G
Passion (from the Latin verb pati meaning to suffer) is a
term applied to a very strong feeling about a person
or thing. Passion is an intense emotion, compelling
enthusiasm or desire for anything.
3. Big Wednesday (1978).
“A day will come that is like no other...
and nothing that happens after will
ever be the same”
4. Castles in The Sky (2010).
Filmed in five countries over three
years, the movie delves into the true
heart of the locations while the surfers travel through them with a sense
of open-minded awe.
1. German baron Karl von Drais invented a horseless carriage that would help him get around faster
In 1817. The two-wheeled, pedal-less device was
propelled by pushing your feet against the ground,
The machine became known as the “draisine,” and
led to the creation of the modern-day bicycle.
There’s nothing more annoying than a chipped
corner or a damaged screen on your iPad.
The Thule Atmos X3 for iPad Air and iPad Mini
cases use a unique dual-density, Bi-Component
Armor that provides anti-shock protection
for your hardware.
Source: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
90 km of
Passion
5. Bra Boys (2007).
A film about the cultural evolution of
the inner-Sydney beachside suburb
of Maroubra and the social struggle
of its youth—the tattooed and much
maligned surf community known as
the Bra Boys.
Vasaloppet (literally, The Vasa race) is the
world’s oldest, biggest & longest crosscountry ski race. On the first Sunday of
every March, 15.000 people come to Dalarna
in Sweden to ski the 90 km (almost 60
miles) between the village of Sälen and
town of Mora. The first race was held in 1922
to commemorate the Swedish king Gustav
Vasa’s escape from the Danes in 1521.
Today the Vasaloppet winter week holds
eight different races over ten days, with
various distances. Anyone from World Cup
skiers to dedicated amateurs can enter.
Source: www.surfertoday.com
Source: www.vasaloppet.se
passion by Thule
Commuting
by bike
Making Calgary that bit greener
Thule Group is taking more and more
green initiatives. This one comes
from Calgary, Canada. Calgary is
a city known for its Oil and Gas
Industry. And for how much oil and
gas it uses. Cars are by far the #1
way to get around but there are
Thule employees in Calgary who bike
to work all year round regardless of
the weather; rain, snow or sunshine.
They’ve been riding around 18,000
km (just over 11,000 miles) a year.
That saves about 2,100 liters (560
gal) of fuel every year. 25% of our
people commute by bike, pool car
or public transport. Think of the
effects on the environment if every
company did the same.
Photo: Vasaloppet
passion by Thule
www.thule.com
5
Known simply as the MdS, the race is a grueling multi-stage
adventure through a formidable landscape in one of the world’s
most inhospitable climates—the Sahara desert. The rules require
you to be self-sufficient, to carry with you on your back everything
except water that you need to survive. You are given a place in
a tent to sleep at night, but you must carry other equipment
and food. If you complete this tough race you will have run
the equivalent of five and a half marathons in five or six days,
a total distance of some 251 km (156 miles).
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Cover photo front
Chris Van Dine has been taking cycling to new heights.
Here in Horseshoe Bend in Arizona, USA.
Cover photo back
When he’s not snowboarding, Flo Orley’s passions also
lie in surfing, BASE jumping, hanggliding and sailing.
Photographers
Aidan Bolger
Alek Morawski
André de Loisted
Clark Little
Cole Elsasser
Daniel Durand
Erin Wilson
JD Photofairy
Johan Persson
Klaus Poltzer
Marcel Pabst
Martin Johansson
Peer Eriksson
Peter Sutherland
Stephen Whitesell
Steve Wilkings
Marita Kuntonen
Repro and print
Elanders Fälth & Hässler, Värnamo, Sweden
Paper
Cover: Ensocote 270 gr
Inlay: Munken Polar rough 150 gr
Inlay glossy section: Arctic Gloss 150 gr
Concept & design
Guts & Glory
The art of cool.
Roofbox image by
Alek “Lis Kula” Morawski, Poland.
passion by Thule
/ 124 /
Bring your life
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