Best of the Alps - FISE Up august

Best of the Alps

After last month's folio video, FISE up continues to test different formats to highlight disciplines and people that fascinate us. This month we are interested in wakeskate by following Max Giry, a very fresh young guy who we follow during the recent Wakeskate Week end organized by Léo Labadens at the Poulewakepark in Savoie. A sort of hybrid document between Vlog and archive compilation that shows us how wakeskating is the extension on the water of skate culture. So obviously, when you battle for hours in the water to land a trick, it tends to weld the community of riders. Let's see this in this exclusive video and take advantage of our visit to the Alps to list below the essentials of the Savoie / Haute Savoie region, which has increasingly become “the place to go”.

In recent years the phenomenon has been clear, more and more riders are placing the Alps at the heart of their summer road trip, it must be said that skateparks and pumptracks have flourished recently, adding to the beauty of the landscapes, the freshness of lakes and pure air. So let's take a non-exhaustive tour of the essentials of the Savoie and Haute Savoiearea.

WAKEBOARD

With its many bodies of water and talented snowboarders, the region lends itself perfectly to the development of wakeboarding, the proof with the young Loic Deschaux already at the top of the discipline. So if you need to refresh yourself at the same time as having a good feeling, we recommend the Wampark, the Exo 73 and the famous PouleWakepark seen in our video with Max Giry, the other youngster who wins everything in the area.

MTB

Who says mountain says …Mountain bike hey! I am not teaching you anything the Alps has become the logical paradise for downhill mountain biking with resort open all summer and more and more shaped slopes like out in the mecca in Châtel or the very good bike park in Morzine. With a little luck you will see the famous Vincent Tupin, a regular of the Rampage, go by…fast. Let’s also mention the very good Kevin Meyer from the Looseriders crew.

BMX

For many years the Bmx scene was mostly concentrated around Annecy, its old bowl and its local hero Kevin Kalkoff. The spot is still as interesting as ever, and the lake beach has not moved either. But recently the Inout company has been giving us pretty little bowls that are more modern and really well done; Thonon les bains, Anthy sur Léman or even Evian. Your curiosity will make you discover others and perhaps gives you the opportunity to meet Thomas Benedetti or even Cédric from the Pandémic trail, a radical pump track that he dig out of his garden during the first lockdown.

SKATE

Let's stay in Annecy to salute the talent of Nabil Slimani, who is close to the very active ABS shop, but we admit that it is at the DIY of Saint Jean de Maurienne that it is mostly happening. A fabulous spot that manages to combine ultra creative modules as DIY knows so well how to offer them and to do so in an irreproachable quality of finish. Starting from a desire of the local Skate and Create association, which has been sweating for years to make partnerships (see this giant opinel volcano), to convince thecity, the initiative is undoubtedly the benchmark of DIY in France. An unmissable spot that keeps growing along with a whole generation of young, highly motivated skaters.

WITHOUT FORGETTING...

So here are some spots to check off in your next summer trip to the Mountain; but don't be surprised to pass a lot of good pumptracks, even at the top of resorts like La Plagne, La Toussuire or Les Saisies. Maybethe trendof pumptrack was born around here. And because with all of this you will no doubt have some body aches, take the time to take a dip in the rivers, it is water sports paradise out there. Hikes everywhere, ride the Tignes glacier, see the view from the Aiguille du Midi, follow street art route of the Art By Friends gallery in Annecy, try a raclette in the middle of summer (?), you are not ready to get bored at the mountain. But enough talking, we'll meet around there for the closing of the Savoie Mont Blanc Freestyle Tour in La Clusaz on September 25th.