23  - 26 February 2006 - Switzerland

Watch out when Vinz and Alex turn night into day!

Lots of lipstick and no chairlift - and with imagination, perseverance and riding skills - eight snowboard and ski teams produced convincing results at the fourth Red Bull Hike&Ride in Portes du Soleil. After just three days of intense work, they screened their own films at the Mascotte in Zurich, bringing with them an ample portion of winter feeling to the metropolis.

"That was the best contest of my life!" exclaimed an overjoyed Vinzenz Lüps on Sunday at the Red Bull Hike&Ride party at the Mascotte in Zurich. Understandably so, if this statement were to come from an Olympian athlete in Turin. Already having gained a bit of attention in the halfpipe at Bardonecchia and now looking somewhat eccentric with his red lips, Vinz offered the explanation for his enthusiasm: "I have never experienced three days of such intense snowboarding. You have to be creative, have to think and snowboard all at the same time. What's more, there is a high standard—and no sleep!" Just 72 hours were allotted the eight teams of two to shoot, edit and add the soundtrack to their own films. This year's edition included fourteen of Europe's best freeskiers and snowboarders: among them, ski legends such as Robert Olsson and Kaj Zackrisson, snowboarders Fred Serin and Alex Schmaltz, guitarist Martin Winkler, as well as Nicki Langer and Jakub Malik from Zurich. The public team had to qualify prior to the Red Bull Hike&Ride with its own film. Via Internet voting, Langer's and Malik's film was selected from the finalists with 789 votes. "We really plugged for it at the university," replied the sport and neuropsychology students with a grin when asked about their victory with the Internet voting.

Go west
"Very dangerous," reported mountain guide Thomas Theurillat to the riders when asked to comment on the danger of avalanches. That's why organiser Nicolas Hale-Woods was particularly adamant at the rider briefing on Thursday: "We want to see you all back at the party on Sunday - safe and sound! Take no unnecessary risks - and don't be careless!" Föhn storms in Eastern and Central Switzerland rendered the various layers of snow cover there extremely unstable.  For this reason, it was decided that the region of Chablais Portes du Soleil would be the venue for this year's Red Bull Hike&Ride. The weather there should be good on at least one of the two days scheduled for shooting the films. In addition, Ovronnaz and Les Marecottes are especially appealing because together they form one of the largest internationally connected ski areas in the world. Not only that, there are about 209 lifts, even though no one in this crew was really interested in using the lifts. Hiking and riding was the motto of the eight teams, as well as powder and park, untouched slopes and awesome kickers—with everything filmed on camera! The riders were professionally equipped for this with the newest Sony HDV cameras, a mountain guide and sufficient number of maps from Thomas Theurillat.

Halfway there with good preparation
The teams were responsible for bringing loads of energy, endurance and their own storyboard with them. According to Nicolas Hale-Woods, "Past years have shown that very few contestants ever slept at all. And those who had a good plan in advance also had better films in the end." Promisingly enough, the stories appeared to be thought through in detail right up to the last seconds, as was the case for the two French Brice Lequertier and Fred Serin, the Austrians Martin Winkler and Alois Bickel, as well as the two Brits Scott Mc Morris and Tim Warwood. The two Swedes Sverre Liliequist and Kaj Zackrisson - old hands in front of the camera, but behind it novices - were nevertheless convincing thanks to a good script. And video technique? Well, it seemed that a brief introduction was necessary. Already at the briefing they all adopted the motto "Be well prepared and you're halfway there" and from Markus, who instructed them on the most important steps for digitalising the film footage, "The pro leaves nothing up to chance". Their eager anticipation "So that we can begin editing as quickly as possible on Saturday," came as no surprise, knowing that in the end every second would count.

Czech it out!
"We don't want to tell a complicated story. We just want to portray one day in the life of a freerider. Lots of action. That's all!" With this, Robin Kaleta and Jiri Lausecker, both from the Czech Republic, struck a somewhat revolutionary tone at the briefing. The fact that the team not only made sure there was a lot of action on the screen with photographer Pedro, but also rocked the film party at Mascotte, was well received by the six hundred guests at the premiere. "You at least get your money's worth!" exclaimed one of the spectators in awe of the Czech ski and party action. The audience developed a downright sense of local patriotism when the film by Malik and Langer - both from Zurich - was projected on the screen. With thunderous applause, their work was selected as the public's favourite within a short time. On the other hand, the Germans Vinzenz Lüps and Alex Schmaltz were responsible for providing plenty of naked skin on the screen at Zurich's oldest nightclub. Announced as a porno film, the audience had their share of birthday boy Vinz's firm bottom, Sophia's perfect pout and lots of kicker action all in the same four-minute clip. Thus, the two actors, directors and screenwriters pocketed both the Sony Master Shot Award for the best camera shots as well as the main prize, which says it all for their artistic flair. However, when asked why he voted for the Germans, skier and woodcutter Sverre Liliequist, who also crochets caps, answered later with a grin: "Because of the great riding scenes, of course!"