The Aggy Profile Video

Feb 14, 2012
by Kona Bikes  

Views: 93,417    Faves: 1,940    Comments: 88


Every once in a while, a rider blows us away. Not by the mind-over-matter rawness of balls-out-bravado, or the speed and power of physical prowess. No, they blow us away with style.

Style is somehow untraceable. Its headwaters are mysterious and unknown. One thing is for certain though, when it comes to style—you either have it, or you don’t. Those who have it in spades, well, they are the steezy ones. The stars. The ones we love to watch. Graham Agassiz, who's better known as "Aggy", has boatloads of style.

photo
  All black and green at Crankworx. Photo: Dave Mossop

Sure, a lot of it must have to do with his roots. Born and raised in Kamloops, BC, one of Canada’s most prolific cycling centers, Aggy spent the better part of his childhood racing BMX. He was a keener, and it wasn’t long before he started experimenting with mountain bikes. His first sponsor was the Bicycle Cafe, an iconic Kamloops shop who saw potential in the then 14-year-old shredder. “We got him a Kona Chute frame in 2005,” says shop owner Cheryl Beattie. “Then we got him on Konas Grassroots Program a couple years later. We just thought he was going to be good. He was really focused on being a pro, it felt like he was going to be champ.” “I shredded Rose Hill every day after school on that bike,” explains Agassiz about his first mountain bike ever. “I learned how to flip and 360, I sent the Rose Hill road gap. That bike was solid.”

Photo by Blake Jorgenson
  Aggy, the country bumpkin. Photo: Blake Jorgenson

Some 20 Kona’s later, Aggy represents the prodigal Grassroots rider, from grom right through to professional team rider. “Kona seemed like the right type of fit for him, he loved riding their bikes” explains Beattie. “I always told him, ‘better to pay for something you like than ride something for free that you don’t like.’”

Seven years later and we set out to test Aggy’s mettle deep into the wilds of coastal British Columbia. In the big mountains a few hours north of Whistler, Aggy and the Kona film crew would take that style, add a dose of bravado in the form of nasty first descents, and bring it to life in The Aggy Profile.

Photo by Blake Jorgenson
  Suited up and heading into the wild frontier of big mountain riding. Photo: Blake Jorgenson

The following are recounts of what would end up being a most epic adventure. From whiteouts to near death experiences, straightlining through head-sized boulders straight through to the precarious edge of modern big mountain riding. Here’s our journey to the heart of one of mountain biking’s most exciting riders.

Aggy
Well to start it all off it was definitely exhilarating yet terrifying to be the first one down all of these big chute lines. Getting up to the zone early to scout these out was a definite key factor in the entire mission. Then to take photos and study the lines and figure them out turn for turn. It was a real learning experience and a totally different style of scouting than I have never had to do before. The incredible rush that jolts through your body while dropping in nearly completely blind, having complete confidence in yourself as your visions of flying down the face of the mountain quickly become real life. The speed and control, surfing your way down the steep slope. Then at the bottom a big sigh of relief, "lets f*****g do that again!" Unforgettable.

Photo by Blake Jorgenson

When filming in such a remote area you can’t just pack up everyday, go home, and sleep in your big comfy bed. No, you’re camping! Which most people will agree with me here, is fricken awesome! No TV, no cell phone, no Internet, no worries and no care or stress of anything that’s going on in the outside world. Just you and your crew, tents, fire, beer, whisky, harmonica. Only the simplest necessities for a carefree environment.

Photo by Blake Jorgenson


So if you know me well enough, you probably know that I am pretty much terrified of heights! Don't ask me why or how but I am. I find myself in a constant battle with this fear, although I am always trying to conquer it. I have done the Whistler bungee and all that jazz and have been on a small heli ride once before but nothing really quite like this! To also fly over and then land on the top of these big mountain peaks with cliffs on either side, and the thought of the chopper blades taking off my head. Aaagghh! I was stressin’. Eventually, I had to just tune that all out of my head and focus on the other ride that I was about to embark on. I think after all that Im feeling a little better about helicopters but still piss my pants over heights!

Photo by Blake Jorgenson

Blake Jorgenson
I have done quite a bit of exploring over the last ten years in the Bralorne, Gold Bridge, Chilcotin area. Buying a little shred cabin was some good friends turned out to be one of the best things I ever did. Skiing, snowmobiling, mountain biking, motor biking all right out the door in a monster amount of terrain with only a few hundred permanent residents makes it the ultimate outdoor shred paradise just north of Whistler.

photo

Truax Mountain towers over the Bridge River Valley at 7,800 feet above sea level. While dirt biking a few years ago I discovered a steep quad trail that went 5,000 feet straight up into the alpine and accessed a few mines. There I discovered a few ridges over 1000 feet in length that had the right kind of “magic dirt” for some big mountain riding. Combined with epic views I knew it would be the perfect shooting location.

Photo by Blake Jorgenson

After some burly weather, and a great first day of heli shooting, we awoke to a surprisingly perfect bluebird day. Another heli day had to be done. After convincing Eddy from Kona to flex the card one more time we were back up in the same location above our camp and had our eyes set on some bigger lines on the backside of what the boys rode the other day. These descents were close to 2000 feet long running into a creek drainage that would require a half-kilometer hike to the nearest logging slash for pick up. The boys picked out their lines and one by one dropped into the high speed hang on for your life descent down the massive slope. After some crazy bushwhacking we found the boys making there way over and under some deadfall. We only had a bit of time left so we went back to our original zone for some more lines.

Photo by Blake Jorgenson

Graham scoped out this line that had a mandatory snow run out in this ridiculously steep and narrow couloir. He gave the thumbs up and we fired up the heli and got in position. From an opposing angle the line looked insane. I had never seen anything like this attempted on a mountain bike. He dropped in and navigated the rocky cliff section with ease and picked up a ton of speed as he entered the choke full of snow. Rocketing down the hundred foot long stretch of snow his front wheel augured at the last bike length and sent him tomahawking down the slope. He shook it off jumped on his bike and rode down to the pick up.

Photo by Blake Jorgenson


This was a Thanksgiving to remember. Everybody was super stoked on the entire experience. We were blessed by the weather and overcame an endless chain of logistical problems to make it all happen. Now I’m wondering if big mountain mountain biking will become more like skiing and snowboarding with heli access to huge terrain and the budgets to explore it. I can’t wait for next time. It’s endless out there.

Photo by Blake Jorgenson

Photos: Blake Jorgenson


Posted In:
Kona


Author Info:
konaworld avatar

Member since Nov 18, 2008
137 articles

63 Comments
  • 58 4
 is it just me, or do kona in recent years seem to be producing better and better bikes? just hope they keep it up in the future!
  • 15 3
 Mate I completely agree with you there! Kona bikes are awesome and definitely get better every year; with legends such as aggy riding them, they will continue to do so too Smile
  • 5 1
 aggy and sherrard have been throwing down! such sick riding and flow. def know what kind of bike im getting this spring
  • 1 1
 well, the last two years since the operator and entourage came out... a solid 15 years of pretty much the same stab running up to that though!
  • 32 0
 I could watch Aggy shred forever, never get bored of his style and outrageous lines! I hope he lands in the hall off fame.
  • 11 0
 Probably one of the most stylish rider out there
  • 5 0
 Aggy KILLS IT!
  • 2 3
 THATS WHY YOU NO RIDE ON SNOW AGGY
  • 14 0
 The nicest Valentine´s present..see new profile video of my favourite rider !
  • 11 0
 Awesome video, awesome rider! I hope Kona keeps Aggy happy... I think he is single handily the person that lead me to buy a Kona.
  • 9 2
 Dear Aggy, I agree, mountain biking belongs in the mountains, but here in Bristol in England, we lack mountains, and I lack the funds to hire quad bikes and helicopters to go 'mountain biking'. I shall ride my mountain bike anywhere and everywhere I can have fun, not just up some oversized geological feature. Thanks Dan
  • 4 0
 Mountainbiking belongs in the Mountains, nothing I could agree more with!! Seen the video of the guy riding down from the summit of Zugspitze here and got me totally stoked. Here I ride local quarry and carry it up or use regular cable car always gives me amazing riding. This is the new freestyle, off the beaten track like some bike parks and dh trails, which today reminds me more and more of the the crowded up ski resorts in winter. This is freedom and adventure. Props, i love it!!!!!!
  • 5 0
 It was like watching Travis Rice "That's it,that's all"...
Epic shit out there.
I couldn't even close my mouth during this vid...
  • 10 3
 Heli-bike skid lines is not the future of mountain biking.
  • 6 5
 Yeah i'm with you, I love aggy (he is one of my favorite riders to watch) but this stuff just doesn't do it for me. I know it high risk, scary as shit, etc but it just doesn't excite me to watch. Maybe its because I watch ski films where they ride lines and are going balls out jumping 40 foot airs... I'm sure this stuff is fun to do but i really don't care to watch it.I would much rather watch someone hit a huge jump and get all styled out or watch someone destroy a berm.
My two cents anyway
  • 2 0
 I like this! This is some serious mountain biking, it shows a aspect of our sport that is really fun & true to it's "freeride" roots. Love Aggy's style, he rips f*ckin awesome. His style, attitude, outlook on riding, life philosophy, reminds me of a young Claw. Hope to see some more edits like this.
  • 5 0
 I love aggy riding style, so smooth
  • 5 0
 Aggys lifestyle+Aggys ride style = The Freeride King hinself !!!!
  • 8 7
 I know we have to keep it 'civil' n stuff but i just need to share : THIS IS MOUNTAINBIKING ! AND NOT THE PLUS SIZE BMX S.PILGRIM STYLE STUFF !!!! GO AGGY , U R A TRUE AMBASSADOR OF MTB FREERIDE! big mountain ruuuuulez !
  • 12 0
 Come on duder, not everyone has the luxury of big mountain places to ride in their backyard. Do you not think had Sam Pilgrim had grown up in BC he wouldn't shred. It's all mountain biking. Stop hating.
  • 5 0
 I couldn't agree more. Across the world not everybody has access to mountains and this sort of riding, let alone a helicopter to take you up there. Personally I disagree with Aggy's statement that MTBs belong in the mountains. That's not to say that they're amazing places to ride. I myself can't wait to get back to the alps this year. I've always thought that mountain biking isn't a particularly brilliant label for our sport but it's the one that has stuck. I wouldn't criticise riders like Pilgrim either, he clearly didn't learn to ride in the same environment. Saying that however, he's placed fairly well at events like Chatel mtn style and some big slopestyle courses. I've got to admit I still find big mountain riding very exciting, I can't wait to watch the next rampage and love videos like this.
  • 1 0
 It is fair to say that SAM tries to ride on a HT what most only do on a FS. Love SAM for his skills on a HT, not that he has suspension to help him out!
  • 3 0
 Mountain Biking belongs where ever you want it to! Its all about having fun whether that be on top of a burly mountain or on a slopestyle course. Thats why we use the term "free"riding haha.

Such a dope video.
  • 2 1
 Aggy... pure shredder. I was debating between the Operator or a Gambler, after this video, i don't know why I even thought about straying, nice job Kona. t-minus 3 hours till i'm on the trails.
  • 2 0
 I need a little HELP guys! Anybody knows any of the songs included in this movie? If you know, please send it to me in a private message. Thanks a lot!
  • 1 0
 @ManuelMTB

Why are you calling him a derogatory remark?? You are the one with the asinine comment. Chill out and maybe be a little more clever with your comments.
  • 2 1
 Dude, BIG PROPS !!!!!!!! To Aggy and Kona, the photography and the lines were soo sick !!!!!! That its FREERIDE Mountain biking !!!!!!!! So sweet need to ride now.
  • 1 0
 f*ck yes, argument with friends = Won! “I always told him, ‘better to pay for something you like than ride something for free that you don’t like.’”"
  • 1 0
 gotta love how the bike gives him a good bop to the head when he bails at the end
  • 1 0
 siiiiiiick , aggy pulling out one more awesome video , as he always do. one of my favorite riders.
  • 1 0
 wow. best video i've seen in a realllly long time. great vibe to it. Aggy's the man!
  • 2 0
 big mountain your're the man!!
  • 2 0
 Awesome edit guys, sick riding Aggy!
  • 1 0
 so what is this? PURE FREERIDE, crazy, incredible, and aweome are the exact words for describe Razz
  • 1 0
 This kid definitely has some balls! Sick riding and such a mind blowing landscape
  • 2 0
 That vid was awesome!!!
  • 1 0
 Killer vid, Aggie's the man!!!
  • 1 0
 thatta boy aggy! my hero! he should own his own resort!
  • 1 0
 I'm going to heaven for 7:52 mins now Smile
  • 1 0
 Only in my dreams!The best thing ever!
  • 1 0
 Rad ! excellent music selection btw
  • 1 0
 Ti , xaza ? O anthrwpos ta spaei !
  • 1 0
 Fuckin love aggy,dude shreds so hard!
  • 1 0
 Real mtb s#$t, thats whats up!
  • 1 0
 Definition of big mountain shredding right there.
  • 1 0
 Best Video EVER! Keep on killin' it Aggy
  • 1 0
 this is the reason why i buy a kona.
  • 1 0
 So rad!! aggy is always throwing down some rad stuff!
  • 1 0
 wow, who knew dan kiesel could ride a bike!
  • 1 0
 yyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 All these pictures should be POD! it'll be a hard choice Pinkbike!
  • 1 0
 Top riding. Top video. Yes Agassiz.
  • 1 0
 Awesome shots
  • 1 0
 Amazing shots!
  • 1 0
 Such. A. Hero.
  • 1 0
 WOW..just insane!!
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