DJ Brandt presents "Wabi-Sabi", a new video that shows the beauty in the imperfection of mountain biking. For his latest project, the freeride pro has teamed up with filmmaker Jasper Wesselman and Canyon Bicycles to document the chaotic process behind spectacular mountain bike footage. On his Canyon Torque, he takes on the challenging trails in Utah and gives an unembellished insight into the reality of freeriding - with all its highs and lows.
Wabi-Sabi: The philosophy behind the project
The name of the video is no coincidence: "Wabi-Sabi" refers to a Japanese philosophy that finds beauty in the imperfect, transient and impermanent. It is a way of life that emphasises the appreciation of naturalness, simplicity and the traces of time. At first glance, challenging your own destiny while freeriding doesn't necessarily seem compatible with Zen Buddhism. But DJ Brandt's video proves that the sum of all chaotic attempts to play with gravity can result in something beautiful in the end. The film shows that perfection does not lie in a flawless one-take, but in the sum of all attempts, falls and ultimately successes.
The development process: between challenge and perseverance
The filming of "Wabi-Sabi" was anything but a smooth process. As filmmaker Jasper Wesselman explains: "Filming was anything but easy. Life kept getting in the way. But the process of sticking with it, despite many imperfect, frustrating moments, ultimately produced a result that I'm sure someone somewhere would describe as perfect."
DJ Brandt's personal philosophy
DJ Brandt himself has developed a clear philosophy of life, which he shares in connection with the project: "I've realised one thing over time," says Brandt, "you can't force life to be the way you want it to be. Just get up every day, do your best. And in the end, life will take you exactly where you want to be." This attitude is reflected in his riding style - a balance between control and letting go, between technical precision and confidence in his own abilities, even if not everything goes according to plan.
The Canyon Torque as a reliable partner
For his challenging freeride manoeuvres in the rugged Utah landscape, DJ Brandt relies on his Canyon Torque. The enduro bike from Canyon is specially designed for aggressive trails and big jumps and offers the necessary stability and robustness that Brandt needs for his daring manoeuvres. In "Wabi-Sabi", the bike is pushed to its limits and proves its reliability even under the most extreme conditions. The footage impressively shows how Brandt and his Torque form a unit that masters even the most technically demanding passages.
The visual realisation of the concept
As a filmmaker, Jasper Wesselman has a special perspective on the project: "I related what DJ wanted to express with this project to the Japanese aesthetic philosophy of Wabi-Sabi." This approach is reflected in the visual design of the video. Instead of just showing the perfect takes, the failed attempts, falls and near misses are also documented. This decision gives the video an authentic and honest quality that gives viewers a realistic insight into the world of freeriding. It shows that behind every spectacular clip we see on social media, there are numerous attempts and sometimes painful experiences.
- Discipline: Freeride mountain bike
- Instagram: @djshreda
- Bike: Canyon Torque
Jasper Wesselman:
- Activity: Filmmaker
- Instagram: @jasperwesselman
- Project: "Wabi-Sabi" in collaboration with DJ Brandt and Canyon Bicycles
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Laurin Lehner
Editor
