Mega interview: Daniel and Elias Ruso: The freeride pros in a double pack

BIKE: Did you grow up as rich kids?

DANIEL: No, we're not. Our parents separated early on. That wasn't a bad thing for us because we had to be independent quickly. We moved from Vienna to the countryside - that also gave us freedom. ELIAS: We were dirt jump kids, not rich kids. We rode the cheapest bikes. I got the old one from Daniel when he bought a new one. At some point we were shovelling jumps - Daniel was the driving force. I got on later, with the result that Daniel was already jumping 360s and I couldn't even do the bunny hop.

What do you do as a young person in the Vienna region?

ELIAS: Playing football. Maybe tennis or volleyball. Nobody was a dirt jumper. We took the train to Wiener Neustadt because there was an old, pretty run-down fourcross track there. Ever since I rode there for the first time, I was completely hooked - the fact that I could jump on a bike blew me away.

DANIEL: As dirt jumpers, we were exotic in the village.

Which of you is more talented, which is more disciplined?

DANIEL: We have similar talent when it comes to biking, albeit in different areas. Elias is more disciplined as a person.

ELIAS: Daniel is definitely more talented when it comes to discipline and tricks. I am more of a

An all-rounder who wants to do lots of things at once. I like big jumps when I'm biking, I feel a bit more comfortable there than Daniel.

Who jumps first?

ELIAS: As a straight jump, mostly me. When it comes to tricks, Daniel. Exception: At Darkfest, I was the first one of us to flip the 90-footer (27 metres).

Did you do an apprenticeship?

DANIEL: I started studying economics, but quickly realised that it wasn't for me. Later on, I started a degree specialising in AI, but also rejected it. Now biking is my plan A.

ELIAS: I briefly studied mechanical engineering, then psychology, because I was fascinated by mental training. There are many parallels with sport. As an engineer, I would hardly have got into biking. Once I had my bachelor's degree in the bag, I wanted to put everything on the professional biking map with Daniel. That's why we trained at full throttle.

You've made it into the professional business. How well can you make a living from it?

DANIEL: Better every year.

ELIAS: I'm super happy that the dream has come true thanks to our great sponsors. We make a good living from it. Not like the emperors, but a bit above average - our lifestyle is quite modest.

Are you only available as a double pack?

ELIAS: We actually sell ourselves as a brand. The Ruso Bros is our USP. Whether it's Rampage, where we go as trail builders in pairs, or as riders at Darkfest, where we turn up in a double pack. When Endura approached me about a sponsorship, I said: I'd love to, but then you have to take both of us.

DANIEL: We have 95 per cent of the deals together.

When Rampage organiser Todd Barber calls and offers a starting place, do you also say: only two people?

ELIAS: Maybe not there. Because for me, the Rampage is at the top of the priority list and for Daniel it's lower down.

DANIEL: That's true, but I wouldn't rule out Barber inviting us both. It was the same with the McCaul brothers. Provided, however, that we both deliver.

Have you ever been jealous of your brother because he got an enquiry and the other one didn't?

DANIEL: We are often asked the envy question. I have to disappoint you: I don't feel any envy.

ELIAS: We are indeed ambitious types and are constantly "fighting" with each other, but always constructively, never with resentment.

Elias has 160,000 more followers on Insta than you, Daniel. That doesn't bother you either?

DANIEL: (Laughs.) No, really not. And it was only two reels that did it.

What do you say, Elias?

ELIAS: Firstly, the social media game is difficult for me to understand and secondly, it's not particularly meaningful. But there is no envy among us. Even when I became "King of Darkness" at Darkfest - zero per cent. Daniel is my biggest supporter - and vice versa.

Does the double pack principle sometimes get on your nerves? DANIEL: Rarely. Of course we have stress with each other. But it never lasts long.

ELIAS: It can also escalate between us and we argue like roosters - but that is normal between brothers.

Georg Fechter is your manager. Is he instrumental in your success?

ELIAS: Definitely. Especially at the beginning. He gave Daniel the chance to ride in the Masters of Dirt. That was the breakthrough for him, because he realised that he could compete in one of the biggest freestyle shows in the world.

We are often asked the envy question. I have to disappoint you, I don't feel any envy.

Have you arrived at the A-camp of the freeride pros?

ELIAS: Of course, it depends on how you define the A-camp. We are at the forefront of big airs.

DANIEL: Yes, I think so too.

Could you call Brandon Semenuk and he would answer?

DANIEL: Probably not, because we don't know him personally.

ELIAS: Semenuk is crazy, totally crazy - does he even exist? (Laughs.) But all the other freeride stars are our homies.

Rampage hero Cam Zink? DANIEL: Zinc would decrease.

ELIAS: Logical! Cam knows us.

Which drivers have inspired you?

DANIEL: For me, it is and always has been Andreu Lacondeguy. Now it's also Nicholi Rogatkin. Nicholi is a good guy - as a person and a bike pro.

ELIAS: Szymon Godziek. Szymon is by far the one who can do the best extension tricks. The fattest Supermans, Superman Seat Grabs, Flip Superman Seat Grabs, Cliffhanger Flips, Double Grabs, Rock Solids. Godzi can do everything when it comes to extension. And remember the Rampage: Godzi is a machine!

Who is the most stylish rider?

Andreu Lacondeguy. He is the most stylish rider of all time. Whether it's motowhips, backflips or 360s. There is no one who rides a bike more stylishly than Andreu.

DANIEL: That's how I see it too.

What do you think of the following keywords: Red Bull Rampage?

DANIEL: Legendary event where careers were created.

ELIAS: The pinnacle of the sport and my goal.

Red Bull Hardline?

DANIEL: Sick!

ELIAS: Megawesome. I'm an absolute fan. I would dare to do the jumps, but I wouldn't have the skills for the technical passages.

Red Bull Cerro Abajo City Downhills?

DANIEL: Questionable, because it's very dangerous.

ELIAS: Too dangerous, too sketchy. Our friend Franz Grossmann shot himself into a coma on the Cerro Abajo in Mexico in 2017.

Crankworx Slopestyle?

DANIEL: Legendary, a goal for me for a long time. I haven't completely finished with it yet. Maybe I'll train really hard and get back into it.

ELIAS: It's a cool show that I enjoy watching. But I've decided for myself that I no longer want to compete in slopestyle. It's become too technical.

Your favourite event?

ELIAS: Darkfest. Because of the big jumps and the incredible airtime feeling. The track layout is perfect, just like the vibe. It's a togetherness, not a competition. In my eyes, big air is the coolest thing in our sport anyway. We will fly much further on the bikes, there are hardly any limits.

DANIEL: Darkfest!

Where do you get the most goosebumps?

ELIAS: Rampage - I'm already visualising myself standing at the top of the starting line. That must be crazy pressure. The helicopter is whirring in the air, all eyes and cameras are on you - and then you have to deliver! Maximum pulse, maximum goosebumps!

DANIEL: Darkfest, no question about it. It's pure magic: the jumps, the people, the action. It kicks hard.

Do you sometimes have doubts?

ELIAS: Neither of us doubts! We are both confident in our abilities, and we both know that we will always find a way together. DANIEL: Of course there's self-doubt. If something is bothering me, I like to talk about it, meditate and have no problem getting professional help. That has helped me. Elias often manages it better. He has a tremendous inner calm and seems to be at peace with himself, whereas I'm more of a mess.

Who finds it harder to apologise?

ELIAS: Daniel finds it easier. But he also has frequent outbursts, which he takes out on me. (Laughs.)

DANIEL: Elias is more vindictive than I am. I have no problem apologising.

A crazy pressure. The helicopter buzzes in the air, all eyes and cameras are on you - and then you have to deliver!

Who is moodier?

DANIEL: Me!

ELIAS: I am a happier individual, more emotionally stable, more content.

You live together in a shared flat. Who teaches the other more?

DANIEL: Elias, for example, when I go into the flat wearing shoes.

ELIAS: Daniel accuses me of being a know-it-all. I accuse him of being a slob and not having his structure under control.

What is the brother's best character trait?

DANIEL: Elias is extremely fair.

ELIAS: Daniel has insane stamina and grit. And Daniel is one of the most passionate people I know. And the most beautiful soul. When Daniel likes you, he likes you forever. That's really cool.

What is the stupidest character trait?

DANIEL: Elias is sometimes like the neurotic TV detective Monk. It kills him when I sit on his side of the bed or leave my shoes on in the hotel room.

ELIAS: His naivety and naivety. Daniel drives into speed traps seven times a week and doesn't learn from it.

What can the brother do better?

DANIEL: Elias can assess things more realistically than I can. I'm a dreamer.

ELIAS: Daniel is much more visually and graphically gifted than I am.

I see myself as a grandpa who gives his grandchildren Backflips teaches.

What skill would you like your brother to have?

DANIEL: His cool head.

ELIAS: His discipline, whether on the bike or in the gym.

Three things that really annoy you about your brother?

DANIEL: 1. that he still hasn't repaired his car radio and is driving around with the stupid JBL box. 2. that he's not flexible when something spontaneously comes up. 3. when he gets on my nerves about bookkeeping.

ELIAS: The only thing I can think of is that his constant speeding and sketchy driving really makes me sweat.

Who is more attached to their mobile phone?

DANIEL: Probably me.

ELIAS: Daniel. I hate my mobile phone.

Who is more popular with women?

DANIEL: We both go down quite well.

ELIAS: Danny is the prettier one and therefore has the edge with the women. I have to play the charisma card. (Laughs.)

What do you completely disagree on?

DANIEL: Women. We talked about it recently. We should each take a leaf out of the other's book. I'd like more of his cool, rational judgement. And he could do with some of my gut instinct.

You were in Saudi Arabia for a freeride event. Is that morally okay?

DANIEL: I had moral doubts, but when I realised that I wasn't making a political statement, but just doing my tricks in the desert, I was OK with it.

ELIAS: Great question! We really do make sure we send the right message. Especially for the kids out there. Riding a bike is cool, do something with your life, get moving! Because there's already enough rubbish happening in the world. The number in Saudi Arabia doesn't fit in at first glance, that's true. I was torn myself, because I'm a punk at heart and tend to be on the left. Wasting resources, just blasting out and not giving a shit about what happens in 20 or 30 years' time - that's anathema to me. But the event in Saudi Arabia was totally okay, and the bike fans were really happy to see us.

It seemed as if the money had lured them in.

DANIEL: If you earn money with your sport, that's never a bad thing. (Laughs.) In this case, however, we actually made a loss because there was no fee. And then my bike broke down. But I admit that we saw it as an investment in the future.

What's annoying about the freeride scene?

ELIAS: That people, even the sponsors, think that freeriding is easy, always fun and everyone does what they want. But the opposite is true. Along with downhill racing, freeriding is the most mentally challenging discipline in cycling. The consequences are blatant. If you make a mistake on a 30 metre jump, you could be dead. That's why it annoys me when some sponsors say: why don't you ride an enduro race? Then I think to myself: Come to the events and watch a 110-footer at Darkfest. The jumps are so huge that you'll wet your pants just looking at them. But in general, I'm enthusiastic about the freeride scene.

If the professional life does come to an end, what jobs would you work in?

DANIEL: I would take it easy. Maybe teachers: sport and history.

ELIAS: I would want to use my knowledge of psychology, maybe work as a mental coach. Mental training is still hardly used in our sport, which is crazy, because even sport is 90-95 per cent mental. But of course I always want to bike. That's my goal. I see myself as a grandad who shows his grandchildren how to do backflips.

QUICK SHOTS

DANIEL RUSO

What can you laugh about? My homies. Which gift are you looking forward to? Time is the most beautiful gift. What question would you like an answer to? How to remain constantly centred. Which superhero abilities would you like to have? Check the time. What did you want to be when you were little? Palaeontologist. Who would you like to meet? Tupac. What was your biggest test of courage? Still to come. What have you missed in life so far? I try everything. What can't you do? Singing. And waiting is hard for me. Where do you get stuck when you flick through the TV programme? History documentaries. What challenges you? Interpersonal conflicts. Best sport, apart from biking? Cross Fit (do it yourself), motocross (watch). What gives you nightmares? Focal points in geopolitics. Which phrase do you use too often? "Everything has a purpose." If you could travel back in time, which era would you choose? Ancient Rome. When was the last time you bit your fist out of happiness? With the last big send. What tempts you? Women. Your favourite motto at the moment? Amor fati. Your favourite film? Shawshank Redemption. Your favourite book? Sapiens. Which dream have you already said goodbye to? To become a rock star. If you could only hear one more song? Forgive and Forget (Miss May I). What triggers you? Violence against women. What would you never wear? Chinos. Favourite series? Peaky Blinders. Which celebrity have you fallen in love with? Avril Lavigne when I was little.

ELIAS RUSO

What can you laugh about? About everything, when told with humour and a punchline. Which gift are you looking forward to? Socks. What question would you like an answer to? What the earth will look like in 100 years. Which superhero abilities would you like to have? Be able to fly! What did you want to be when you were little? Bauer. Who would you like to meet? Bill Gates. What was your biggest test of courage? 110 Foot Jump at Darkfest. What have you missed in life so far? Nothing! What can't you do? Skateboarding. Where do you get stuck when you flick through the TV programme? The millions show. What challenges you? Political discussions. Best sport, apart from biking? Motocross. What gives you nightmares? Climate change. Which phrase do you use too often? Do you know what I mean? If you could travel in time, which era? Around 1900. When was the last time you bit your fist out of happiness? Three weeks ago while landing a new trick! What tempts you? Good music in the club! Your favourite motto at the moment? Spread positivity, get positivity back! (Law of Attraction). Your favourite film? Good Will Hunting. Your favourite book? Who am I - and if so, how many? (Richard David Precht). Which dream have you already said goodbye to? Freestyle Motocross Pro. If you could only hear one more song? Earn It (The Ghost Inside). What triggers you? Racism. What would you never wear? Pink shirts or Yeezy shoes. Favourite series? Peaky Blinders or Mindhunter. Which celebrity have you fallen in love with? Margot Robbie.

What else might interest you:

>> Elias Ruso in a short interview
>> Daniel Ruso: The secret of his athlete's body
>> Bodycheck with Elias Ruso. Little bruising thanks to Muckies