Road to Fise: Part 1

FISE (Freestyle International Sports Extreme) is Europe’s biggest freestyle sports event, riders from all over the world come to compete for a place on the podium which will earn them FMB points and a slice of the prize money.

Several of the top UK riders will cross the English Channel to Montpellier in the South of France to stake their claim for the top spot at the event. I traveled down with Blake and Ray Samson, Adam Williams and Danny Pace with the intention of riding and shooting at some spots on the way down.

We started off in Swansea with a 1200 mile journey facing us; the first stop was at Brighton where we picked up the van from DMR Bikes who were kind enough to lend it to us for the trip. We settled down for the night at 1 AM in the ‘Hotel Transit’ knowing we’d have to be awake at 5 AM to travel 100 miles to the ferry.
The sun was a welcome sight upon arrival to Calais in France after leaving an overcast UK so with optimistic thoughts about the trails ahead we set off in the DMR van. We headed towards Lyon as Ray and Blake promised ‘hillside’ trails however after getting lost in Lyon centre and a couple of phone calls later we discovered that they had been in fact been taken down.

The van ready for sleeping

and all packed for travel

There were several sights while driving down including 'The Longdrop Toilet' which was France's idea of a shower mixed with a toilet

This being Adam’s 21st birthday we decided to go to the supermarket and buy some beers. We celebrated his birthday in the van as we traveled to trails near to Marseille where we slept. We woke up early to check out the trails and we were not disappointed, 2 big lines and a technical line with a big transfer meant there was plenty to ride. The trail builders JB and Gilbert rode with us and impressed us with style and tricks including a bike flip, 360 flip and bar spin and x-up combos.

We woke up early to check out the trails and we were not disappointed

bike flip

We slept in the Van/in a tent/on the floor in the night to get some much needed rest for the trip down to Montpellier in the morning. After stopping at McDonalds for breakfast and more importantly Wi-Fi we headed down to Montpellier for FISE where we were promised proper beds, proper food and a big slopestyle course.

Road to Fise: Part 1

by sam-davies

Views: 5,080 Faves: 90 Comments: 8

Part 2 coming soon.

Posted In:
Racing and Events

Author Info:

sam-davies
Member since Nov 13, 2007
24 articles

9 Comments

ptitQrider (Jun 2, 2011 at 10:34)

In France we use to call that toilets "turkish toilets" so it's not our idea I think... But I am not sure about the history of that crap toilets.

Caiokv FL (Jun 2, 2011 at 12:07)

They are from China, as they used holes on the floor to evacuate. When the Europeans arrived they couldn't change the habit, and even now a days Chinese people still use such toilets. At least now they also have our toilet pattern, and on the toilets there are plates showing you how to use them, so no one tries to use it like the ones with holes on the floor. I went to China a few months ago, it is a pretty weird place...

nouser (Jun 2, 2011 at 5:29)

that toilet is hanging

Dusterr (Jun 2, 2011 at 10:45)

I wonder why people in middle europe are so nasty ;P

spandex (Jun 2, 2011 at 14:22)

What would happen if you slipped while squatting?

kieranbrookes (Jun 3, 2011 at 9:09)

you stepped in your own shit or piss ? ahahahahaha

jacque-lucque (Jun 2, 2011 at 3:32)

Nothings beats road trip breakfasting. It is the way forward!

pokalface (Jun 2, 2011 at 18:45)

sick

Bennyy4x (Jun 2, 2011 at 11:02)

typical french.