Richie Schley says of himself that he is one of the privileged people who have been able to turn their passion into a profession. The 53-year-old Canadian was one of the freeride pioneers as a member of the Frorider gang at the end of the 90s and one of the first e-MTB pros in 2015. Schley lives in Laguna Beach. One of his favourite travel destinations worldwide is the Dolomites in Italy.
This is where Schley likes to satisfy his longing for high mountains and the Italian dolce vita, as he explains in the interview below. And this is where he shot his new video The Draw. His friends Stefano Davarda (mountain guide) and Ale Di Lullo (photographer) took him into wild and lonely, previously unknown terrain.
Interview: Richie Schley
EMTB Magazine: Richie, you've been travelling the world for 30 years. Do you ever get tired of travelling?
Richie Schley: To be honest: yes. But I also get restless if I'm at home for too long. That's mainly because we only have hills here in Laguna Beach. At some point, my longing for high mountains lures me out into the world again.
And often to the Dolomites. Why there in particular?
Because I love the Dolomites, because I love the Italian culture, and because I now have many friends there with whom I have a lot in common - my enthusiasm for e-MTBs, for example.
The Dolomite climbs are long and steep - the ideal terrain for an e-mountainbike?
Yes, definitely perfect! What's more, some mountain railway companies still don't allow bikes to be taken along. And the lifts on the Marmolada are still out of service due to the major glacier collapse in July. A paradise for e-mountain bikers.
Some of the trails in your video are extremely exposed. Do you like this kind of thrill?
Yes, sometimes yes. But it also depends on the surroundings. High up in the mountains, especially in the Alps, this exposure feels very intense, sometimes threatening. Not to mention the danger of being far away from help in an emergency.
What does the ideal E-MTB tour look like for you?
Steep climbs that are difficult to tackle on a normal mountain bike. Long distances that would take a long time to cover on a normal bike. And long, beautiful descents. The E-MTB expands your possibilities, your horizons.
And yet you still encounter prejudices, especially in your home country.
Yes, all the time: Cheat bikes, too old for normal bikes - people say all sorts of things like that. I love e-bikes just as much as normal bikes. But above all, I see myself as a pioneer: I'm curious and look for new possibilities. Many people are afraid of new things, which is why they criticise them. Until they also recognise the possibilities.
Josh Welz
Editor-in-Chief
