You were Germany's most successful slopestyler. Now things have gone quiet around you. Is there a reason for this?
I recently cut myself up pretty badly, breaking two ribs and my hand. My spleen was also stolen in hospital. So I'm currently in a recovery phase. I'm also not as active on social media as I used to be because it's getting on my nerves. If you don't get in touch for a few days, people immediately say: "He's gone quiet." But that doesn't mean I've ended my cycling career.
So quitting is out of the question for you?
No, by no means. Cycling has made me the person I am today. It's my passion and I love cycling! I may have added another hobby, but cycling is still number one and I never want to stop.
What new hobby have you discovered for yourself?
I discovered surfing three years ago. It's just the coolest and most awesome thing. Surfing is great for me. Unfortunately, surfing on the Rhine is difficult. That's why I've focused my holidays on surfing for the last three years. Mountain biking and surfing are very similar. Somehow you also surf through the trail. I need the rush or kick from sport. I used to try every sport and the reason I stuck with MTB is because you feel so alive. Biking is versatile, it's physically and mentally very demanding. And that's also the reason why I'm still doing it after 15 years.
Despite the fact that you love biking, you've left your slopestyle career behind you. But what about your slopestyle skills? What trick could you conjure up over a jump at the first attempt?
I'm rarely on the jump bike. But when I do ride the dirt bike, it still works. About 90% of the tricks still work. I still feel very fit, even on the small bike. Flip whips or 360 whips still work. It would be really cool if I could still do the tricks when I'm 50. That's why I still practise regularly. Because if I don't do tricks for a long time, I first get respect and then fear. That's dangerous.
Which trick have you already forgotten?
To see if I can still do the tricks I would have to do them. I don't know if I can still do the flip-double-whip or 360-double-whip. You have to be on fire to do them. I probably wouldn't be able to do them straight away.
Which trick would you still like to learn?
I like flying through the air. That's fun for me. Tricks too, of course. But I'm more into the flowy mix. I don't necessarily have to learn a new trick. Because I no longer go to contests. I also put less pressure on myself these days. And that's a good thing.
Is there still a trick you would like to learn?
I like tricks that you land in the manual. I've always wanted to do a flip combo and land in the manual. I think balancing stories and tricks on the back wheel are cool. Ideally combined with tricks. That kind of thing challenges me. Today perhaps more than ever. They enhance every ride. But I'm less interested in tricks that I have to practise in the Foampit. Trail riding gives me the bigger rush. I'm out in the woods here at home almost every day. I do my thing and don't post everything to please potential followers. I want a bit of time for myself and to reorientate myself.
Reorient yourself? What did you dislike about your professional career?
The whole sport, including the media, has changed dramatically. At the beginning of my career, I competed very successfully, did great photo projects on the side and worked for magazines. It was all high quality. Today it's all about reach. That works by being seen as often as possible on social media. The content is secondary. I'm not going along with this development. I was dissatisfied with what I "should" be doing to fulfil my job as a product ambassador.
What do your sponsors say about your orientation phase?
I informed my sponsors last year that I wanted to pedal more quietly. I get less support in return. But I just need the time to see where the journey takes me.
Two months ago, your edit "Kabbani" was released on Vimeo. Bike clips with such a deep message are rare.
That's right. But my mate Lukas and I were up for it. I know that such clips are often not very lucrative for sponsors in this fast-moving media world. I've been focussing on videos for a long time now and have fulfilled a dream with the "Kabbani" edit.
How did your sponsors react to your announcement and the clip?
We were a little nervous at first when we presented our concept to the sponsors. But they liked it. The users also reacted positively. In the end, the companies are all about selling bikes. It's about business. The companies need a lot of views to sell a lot of products.
And other clips are better suited to this?
Yes, it's clear how you have to present a film today in order for it to be successful. But we don't like that. Films like "Kabbani" used to be successful, but not anymore. We did it anyway.
Is your sponsorship money enough to live on or do you still work on the side?
No, I can't live on it. I have to earn something on the side. But back then I built up a cushion that makes my orientation phase easier today. The current phase is important for me. I used to live for competitions. Then I made videos. But videos have changed enormously in recent years and now I have to decide for myself what I want to do. And of course whether there are sponsors who will support it.
Do you miss the FMB World Tour?
No. I admire it all and am really glad that I was able to experience it. Maybe even helped shape it. It's become so blatant and crazy. To get back into it, I'd have to start with a body that's 15 years younger. I'm 31 now and my body is already rubble here and there.
Is it more difficult to be a slopestyle pro today?
Timo Pritzel used to do backflips and was a star. Today, some say that was easy money, because a backflip is the easiest trick in the world. But of course you always have to look at it in the context of the time. Nobody did backflips like that back then. And nobody had any idea what would be possible. The tricks have become much more blatant. But it's easier to get there. You can watch a thousand tutorials on YouTube in which a star explains the trick to you in detail in 30 minutes. Back then, you might have watched a BMX video and got a bit of inspiration. You had to learn the trick on your own. Back then, there wasn't that much money in the sport. You had to go to work to be able to afford your "hobby". Of course, that meant you could spend less time training. But today there's more competition. I think it was difficult in the past and it's difficult today too.
Competition is one way to make a career - the other is YouTube. What do you think of this development?
Anyone can film their runs with an action cam and produce YouTube videos. As a result, the focus is shifting more and more to vlogs and less to elaborate edits. It's all become much more fast-paced. But what I miss with all the vlogs are high-quality short clips, like Brandon Semenuk does. Tutorials make it really easy to get inspired and learn a better riding technique or new tricks. I take a critical view of the fact that, in principle, anyone can proclaim themselves a cycling pro and then fill their channel with half-knowledge. On the other hand, nobody is forcing you to watch these videos. If you want good content, you have to choose what you like, who you trust and what suits you.
