An intern invents the cult
Fort William, World Cup 2023: The four-man film crew from Sleeper are working at the limit. They film for Pinkbike Racing, for Red Bull, for various manufacturers. Then Archie Macdonell, 18 years old, comes on board as a new intern. "He suggested we put together a lively edit from all the footage," recalls Max Rendall. The crew didn't have time. So the intern does it himself.
The first shreddit is born.
"Damn, it wasn't even our idea," says Rendall today. The opening clip is well received. The crew continues. A best-off of the season follows at the end of 2023. Result: 1.7 million views. "We hadn't expected that at all."
Tagging instead of sifting
The secret of success lies in the system. Each World Cup produces 3.5 to 5.5 terabytes of material. Four filmers on the mountain, cameras everywhere. The trick: direct tagging. Crash, rider, team - or Sleeper. "Everything tagged with Sleeper goes into the Shreddit," explains Rendall. Otherwise you'd have to sift through everything again. "That would take forever."
This turns every shreddit into a one-man show. The four crew members take turns. This resulted in an internal competition. Rendall offered 100 euros. And won it himself. "Thank God I don't have to pay it," he laughs. His most successful clips: Poland and Red Bull Hardline.
No rules, no limits
The name Sleeper comes from the railway sleepers Rendall used to play on as a child. "We spent so much time there that we looked like railway sleepers - always on the tracks." He also liked the word as a term for camouflaged cars: VW Beetles with Porsche engines. "Everyone has something special about them. I find stories of outsiders the most inspiring."
This attitude characterises the Shreddits. "No rules, no boundaries, do what feels good," says Rendall. Sometimes the music doesn't suit everyone. Sometimes some people love a clip that others hate. No matter. Incidentally, the motto comes from a spectator in Fort William: "Hesitation kills". Applies to slippery shoes as well as downhill racing.
The drivers love it
Most drivers are happy when they appear on the Shreddit. Ronan Dunne thanked us personally for the Les Gets clip. "Ronan makes it easy for us," says Rendall. "The guy is usually super sketchy and on the limit." Bodhi Kuhn is also extremely stylish, Jackson Goldstone can look damn good and Amaury Pierron looks incredibly fast.
Sleeper earns money with commissioned work. The shreddits are a hobby. "We did it just for fun. For the bike scene." Merchandise has been available since this year. Intern Archie Macdonell is now studying at a film school. "He will certainly join us again."
Enduro shredding? "I'd love to try it out," says Rendall. "But we've got our hands full." For now, it's downhill. Cut one day, online the next. Just cult.
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
