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Superstunt by Eliott LapotreDive Bomber - monster drop with ramp take-off

Eliott Lapotre

 · 30.04.2023

It looks like a steep descent, except that there are almost ten metres missing in the middle. "The view down was scary," remembers Eliott.
Photo: Damien Guiot
In the Vosges, not far from the Lac Blanc bike park, GT rider Eliott Lapotre (30) realised a dream and built his own freeride line based on the Canadian model. This monster drop with ramp take-off marks the start.

High drops are fascinating. Whether old or young, crack or beginner - every freeride fan is fascinated by drops. I think this tree drop is responsible for the fact that the clip has been clicked so often, because the stunt looks pretty crazy. And it was crazy too.

I've been harbouring the idea of a superdrop for a few years now. A drop without an approach. I wanted to drop out of the trees. But where and how? I had no idea. Then I spoke to my friend Antoine Devos. Antoine is an arborist, climber and technical expert. Not only can he climb any tree, no matter how high, he also knows all about ropes and pulleys, statics and construction.

I, on the other hand, can't do any of that, and what's more, I'm even afraid of heights. In other words: no drop without help. And then there's Antoine's friend Nolwenn. She works with Antoine and simulated the drop for us on the computer. She was able to calculate exactly what we would need for the construction - magic! She gave us a shopping list for the DIY store, a kind of recipe for the drop.

Professional help: arborist Antoine attaches the drop platform between the beech trunks - without the trees suffering.Photo: Damien GuiotProfessional help: arborist Antoine attaches the drop platform between the beech trunks - without the trees suffering.

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One of my friends owns a forest, his name is Guillaume. And he owns an excavator. It gets even better: my friend loves freeriding and my crazy ideas. He gave me the green light for my project and rolled into the forest with the excavator. We started on my line in April 2021, but it wasn't finished until September 2022.

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I expected a lot of work, but we dug much longer than expected until "Lost Paradise 2" was finished. - Eliott Lapotre, MTB freerider

She would never have finished without her friends. And not just because my damn fear of heights meant I could barely support Antoine with the tree drop. He swung through the branches like Spiderman, dangled in the air on a rope, heaved beams and boards up into the air and lashed everything together to form a platform, while Guillaume piled up the landing mound with his excavator.

Raw state: "It often rained, often nobody had time, but often we also worked like mad," says Eliott. It took over a year until the line was finished.Photo: Damien GuiotRaw state: "It often rained, often nobody had time, but often we also worked like mad," says Eliott. It took over a year until the line was finished.

I call my clips "Lost Paradise". I like the name because the spots are a paradise: hidden, forbidden and somehow lost. When I stood on the platform for the first time, I was breathless. I had just enough space between the beech trunks to set up my GT Fury, climb on carefully and crank maybe half a turn of the pedals. That's why we built a suspended wooden ramp. It was supposed to give me momentum and direction like a rifle barrel to a bullet.

The height looked terrible from above, as the view plummeted 15 metres down to the landing. I couldn't climb to the edge of the ramp - it was far too steep. I would have slipped down and crashed. You can imagine my excitement when I was finally ready. Was I ready?

It looks like a steep descent, except that there are almost ten metres missing in the middle. "The view down was scary," remembers Eliott.Photo: Damien GuiotIt looks like a steep descent, except that there are almost ten metres missing in the middle. "The view down was scary," remembers Eliott.

I heard no leaves rustling, I heard no friends calling, my heart was beating so loud and so fast that I couldn't hear anything. I only saw the drop. Doubts flashed through my head like warning signals. What if I jumped too short? Please not too short! What if I jumped too far? Please not too far! My friends were freeriding too, but none of them wanted to try the drop. Neither did I and yet somehow I did. Now it was up to me. These are the moments when I hate freeriding. And love it. Because the greater the challenge, the more glorious the feeling of happiness.

Anything please, just don't jump too short! That's why I gave myself momentum. It was just under TEN metres from the end of the ramp to the landing hill. - Eliott Lapotre, MTB freerider

At some point, I got on, pedalled, rolled between the pink markings and sank into the depths. The impact was harder than I had expected. Klonk - but I landed, rolled out, done. Happy. I let myself topple off the bike, closed my eyes and was happy.

It's about to get serious: "I was scared of going down and up, because I'm afraid of heights," says Eliott.Photo: Damien GuiotIt's about to get serious: "I was scared of going down and up, because I'm afraid of heights," says Eliott.

All my friends were delighted with me. It's incredible how much enthusiasm and idealism they showed in supporting me - out of love for freeriding. Filmmaker Jules Bellot, for example, had travelled seven hours up here from the French Alps, slept briefly, set up his cable pull camera, filmed and drove home again. Simply because he wanted to be part of "Lost Paradise 2". We dismantled the drop straight afterwards. As a tree lover, this was very important to Antoine, he wanted to free the beech trees again.

The Alsatian Eliott Lapotre performing the first stunt of his freeride line. Can be seen in the web clip "Lost Paradise 2". Eliott is already planning the third part.Photo: Damien GuiotThe Alsatian Eliott Lapotre performing the first stunt of his freeride line. Can be seen in the web clip "Lost Paradise 2". Eliott is already planning the third part.

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