Video Material; Schladming Is Back

Shame on me, I actually can't remember who said the legendary 'Schladmingaaaa' into the Camera, was it Sam Hill or Sam Blenkinsop? I'm pretty sure it was Sam Hill, but I don't knooow, help me out!

Anyways, Schladming always had an exceptional aura back in the days when the World Cup took place. It always felt like absolutely everybody went crazy over the fun they had on this track, I remember Brendan Fairclough saying that he just wouldn't stop doing training runs.

I cleary remember Blenki taking his first World Cup win in 2008, Rob Warner shouting 'look at the no gloves!' - 'No gloves no love' got THE quote of the year and not wearing gloves was SO fashion, thanks to Blenki.

One year later, 2009, Sam Hill took the win in Schladming and also won the overall ranking. Him stepping on top of the box in a golden blazer also entered the historybooks.

But unfortunately, it ought to be the last year of Schladming holding a World Cup.

Back in these days, I actually wasn't riding downhill, I had fun on my Norco 4Hun hardtail, racing a little bit in the national 4x circuit. Somehow I got to know some downhill riders who took me with them to the national iXS Cup Series, so I started to follow the downhill circuit, too.

I had a lot of fun cheering and meeting new people but I always had too much respect for this discipline and I constantly kept saying that I would NEVER step onto a downhill bike.

In the same year of Schladmings farewell, my friends finally talked me into riding a fullsuspension bike, after my 4Hun stopped seeing 4x tracks and got ripped through the local downhill trails instead.

One day after my debut, they already took me on a race! It went really well, too well, winged by my motivation I got too cocky and broke my collarbone - for the third time. I pestered the paramedics with my self-diagnosis, they tried to calm me down somehow but when you know, you just know.
Of course I was right, unfortunately.

But yeah, It was already too late. I got infected and there was no way back - After 2 years of saving money, in 2011, my first big bike moved into my room. Stupid as I was (and still am), the first trails me and my bike saw were in Finale Ligure. In pouring rain. After a lot of shoving and remorse I somehow managed to get down without stopping, which made me really proud.

It took me another 3 years, 2 new bikes and a lot of ups and downs to finally be completely happy on the bike.

But what the heck does all of this have to to with Schladming?! Let me tell you.

Now that I think about 2009, I notice that all that I saw was the fancy World Cup curcuit, the fangirling over the riders and choosing by sympathy. Just like all the soccer fans who don't play soccer. Like a good friend keeps saying 'There are the people who talk and there are the people who ride their bikes' - I was the talking one. I still am an annoying chatterbox, but now I know how to ride my bike, too.
Now that I got the chance to look back, I'm really happy about the progress I made, even if it took a long long time. But if there's one thing I've learned then it is: In my case, everything takes a little bit longer.

Today, in 2014, Schladming is back. 'Only' as a stop of the iXS European Downhill Series, but as the EDC is the biggest series after the World Cup, I would say the comeback is quite big!

And the list of the riders, too.

Thanks to Instagram and all the others social platforms which bring you near places you aren't at - I see the track and WHY everybody loves it so much - and I want to go there so bad. It seems like almost ALL of the riders already spent the whole week before the actual Raceweekend and turned Instagram into Instaschladming, endless posts about HOW FUN THIS TRACK IS. Damn it.

And as if this wasn't enough - the talented filmer BK-Productions knocked out suuuch a sick edit of the SC-Intense World Cup team ripping Schladming. You NEED to watch this!

...and then decide if you wether want to cry or laugh!

To underline my sentimental moment, this song (being played on the radio, shame on me...) just won't stop giving me goosebumps! I have no idea why, I'm going crazy over it! 
THERE'S NO PLACE I'D RATHER BE, lalalalalalalalaaaaa!



Also check out his overall edit, thumbs your nose even more.



Love,
pwp