Video: Amaury Pierron Discovers British Columbia in 'B.C. Virgin'

Feb 15, 2020
by Five Ten  

Adidas 5.10 Presents ‘B.C Virgin’
Starring Amaury Pierron

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Having never made it further west than Quebec, we thought it would be wise to cure this injustice by treating Amaury Pierron, fresh off his 2nd place finish in the World Cup overall, by shipping him off to B.C.

Feeling ‘fresh’ after a week in Whistler with his crew, Steel City Media and co dragged him out of Garf’s one morning and into the truck. Destination Retallack.

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A nine hour journey littered with MTB history and ever changing scenery blew his mind (and nearly his ankle whilst messing around on the ferry), before arriving at the infamous lodge, nestled deep in the heart of the Kootenays.

bigquotesI love it here, I might just stay—AP 2019

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One of the biggest characters currently on the scene and a key leader in the ‘new breed’ of riders gracing the top of the results, it was cool to see him relaxed and un-winding in a way only he knows.

First day and straight out of the loam gate, it was clear he was all in and keen to show what can be done when the clock is off and the lines can be creative.
Witnessing a World Cup athlete outside of the tape and in an environment like this can be a pretty unique experience for even the most experienced locals, like Liam who accompanied us as Mtn staff during the shoot…

bigquotesI’ve never seen anyone ride here this fast at all. Not even close. And we’ve had some pretty quick people here too.—Liam, Retallack's Staff

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The way a DH racer like Amaury interprets each section of a track is a humbling and sometimes confusing experience, always going faster, higher and wilder than you could have imagined.

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From the open, high speed slopes up top, to the dense loamy woods down low, the aim was to pick off a variety of terrains to showcase all that he could offer, before ending on a Heli shuttle to Texas Peak. Another first for Amaury hopping in the bird, grinning like a Cheshire cat, to access one of their most coveted trails.

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bigquotesIt was so sick, but it was done in like 8 minutes! I was like whaaat? Can you do another lap or something?! haha.—Amaury

Snow played havoc briefly up high, but after ticking off some aerial shots and a quick warm up to some T-swift, it was time for him to shut it down one last time.

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B.C. Virgin is a testament to the speed and style that only a World Cup rider of Amaury’s calibre can showcase, set amongst the stunning backdrop of Retallack British Columbia.

For a full behind the scenes look on what went down during that week, head over to Five Ten's Instagram for daily stories!

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Shot on location: Retallack, B.C
Riders: @amaurypierron4
Produced by: @steelcitymedia
Photography: Dan Hearn

Posted In:
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104 Comments
  • 76 2
 just wow , so reminds me of Stevie smiths early videos , so much speed and style, amuary is defiantly on another level to most mortals #longlivechainsaw
  • 24 0
 Yes definitely
  • 7 0
 This comment made me happy. #longlivechainsaw
  • 1 0
 What a weapon. Glad for the slowmo because full speed is just too fast!!!
  • 22 0
 For some reason this had me thinking of an old school NWD or Kranked segment and I love that.
  • 22 0
 You're a wizard, Amaury!
  • 14 0
 encroyable!
  • 3 0
 @russthedog: Kewe spotid
  • 15 0
 For me Amaury is like Eli Tomac : maybe he will not have the best palmares ever (maybe I’m wrong ????) but when he is on it during a race run, nobody can touch him.
So agressive in his attitude while riding, a pleasure to watch.
  • 11 0
 The title is misleading in that in this video, BC is the virgin and Pierron, a suave French lover of the send, is here ravishing our forests and trails. Will we ever be the same once we have know what true style really feels like?
  • 11 0
 Amaury is insane! His speed and style is out of this world. So smooth as always! Tbh, he might be the DH world champion this year.
  • 13 0
 Bold prediction Cotton.
  • 2 0
 @skidmarkbro: Let's see if it pays off.
  • 13 0
 Finally and edit that leaves you wanting more!
  • 2 0
 Agree, I was like is over, WTF lol insane riding as usual from AP.
  • 10 0
 That guy looks pretty fast
  • 28 0
 Totally. He should consider racing mountain bikes!
  • 4 0
 Well yeah, next time someone invents a word for bicycle, they should implement that it is supposed to be quick. As far as I know, only the French have done so. The Germans just thought that it is sufficient to say it has got a wheel (no, nothing radical as much as you like to think so), the English insisted it must have two of these, the Dutch came up with an entirely new word... The French? Velocity, that's what it is all about.
  • 6 0
 So there’s a bunch of dudes next door saying Tahnee shouldn’t be dirt jumping because of risk. Then AP throws this one out. Just saying. These people aren’t like us. Madness. I love it.
  • 8 1
 He looked timid riding this area for his first time. Maybe he'll pick up the pace on his second run!
  • 9 1
 Just insane speed :-O
  • 19 19
 Maybe because it’s sped up in the beginning? Who the fk comes up with a concept to speed up Amaury... that’s like giving crack to Tippie so that he can talk faster
  • 5 8
 @WAKIdesigns: why are you always so pissed mr Waki? Did you get bullied as a kid? It’s ok you can tell me
  • 4 1
 @WAKIdesigns: there's a lot of slow mp at the start but I don't see any sped up riding footage, you gravely underestimate just how fast these top guys are! Inhumanly quick!
  • 6 1
 @WAKIdesigns: I could be wrong, but I don’t think that’s sped up bud.
  • 2 4
 @Clifflane3: @ctd07: @philmtb99: I`m afraid that Waki is right: at the beginning of the video some passages are sped up; that makes no doubt.
As if it was needed with such a rocket...
  • 5 1
 @WAKIdesigns: Crack couldn't handle Tippie. Even if crack tried, it could only handle.....the Tip.
  • 10 4
 Video of the year contender ladies and gents
  • 4 0
 Holy calamity, scream insanity, All you ever gonna be is another great fan of me. This reminds me of earthed. That's probably the biggest compliment possible. Totally rad.
  • 2 0
 I’m like a rough diamond that just needs a little polishing, that’s all.
  • 1 0
 @sriracha: I now drive a fifty thousand dollar LaForce automobile with total suede package, with subwoofers and specially designed custom glass rims
  • 1 0
 Stack cheddar like Combs and buy homes like Larry........
  • 5 0
 Yep, OK, he's going to win them all.
  • 5 1
 Best article on Pinkbike in a while.- Flat out riding by this crazy Frenchman and a phat, phat beat..!!
  • 1 0
 This bike looks even more glue to the ground then the previous f*ck ,and the soundtrack just amazing and if he putted a phew pedals strokes it almost resembled like CG riding it (almost impossible to copy cat the riding style),it’s gonna be a great year for DH racing this season
  • 3 0
 Super sick riding. I’d love to see how he’d get on riding something smaller like a DJ on some Semenuk style shit
  • 3 0
 It will be interesting to see how Gwin fares against the French this year because damn, he looks FAST!
  • 4 0
 Gwin who? ... Gwin Donut you mean?!!?
  • 1 0
 Love it! Could watch another hour of that. I'm glad I already lost my B.C. virginity, but now I'm craving a longer relationship with her.
  • 3 2
 Is it just me or was every moving shot too close up? It was hard to appreciate the sense of his speed with parts of him and his bike constantly moving out of the frame.
  • 2 0
 Wow!Nice edit guyzz!Amaury is a crazy beast. Not so chillzone but it's a really nice production. Bravo momo
  • 4 1
 You can tell a french video from the soundtrack. Well done.
  • 9 3
 Dude it was produced by Steel City Media. Very much an English production with a french rider in a Canadian setting
  • 17 2
 @TommiHXH: that averages about French though no?
  • 2 0
 @mtbmaniatv: whoo cares? The result is GREAT Wink
  • 1 0
 @softsteel: agreed!
  • 5 2
 You have here UCI Downhill World Cup 2020 overall winner Smile
  • 4 1
 Do yourself a favour and book a trip to Retallack. Heaven on dirt.
  • 9 2
 We were lucky enough to be there at the same time, its truly awesome. Could of gone pearshaped for day two with the precip but was only a dusting and made the alpine riding absolutely amazing with the fresh tracks.
AP was a really cool guy, it was kinda awkward being 50+ and starstruck lol
All the Guides there RIP but were saying AP was hitting doubles and triples they didn't even know were there
  • 1 0
 I disagree. He makes the trails look way more fun than they are for mere mortals. I had an awesome time while at Retallack, but it was more about the good times with friends and new friends than the actual trails.
  • 1 0
 Is there any proper DH, or is it mainly Park style trails? I’ve always contemplated going, but for the price it just doesn’t seem worth it when a CGP or WB ticket is like 1/20 the cost.

Dude rips obviously, but most of this looks like it would be more fun on a trail bike.
  • 4 1
 He always looks wasted...I like
  • 1 1
 Amaury is one of those big, scorching riders that basically requires a full downhill rig - he's not even allowed on a trail bike! He would crumble it into matter within the first three turns
  • 1 0
 Not sure about that:
youtu.be/bicynD9YX-o
  • 3 0
 Steel city media on point again
  • 3 0
 Jean Girard - 2020 WC Overall (For the Wynn)
  • 1 0
 This guy is on a different level, imagine if he went on a bike that was like 5lbs lighter he would be flying. Rad athlete right here.
  • 2 0
 This one should have gotten the "Must Watch" designation. One of the first videos in a while I've watched multiple times.
  • 2 0
 no one should be able to hit a berm that fast and still have their intestines inside their body!
  • 3 0
 So French.
  • 4 0
 ``Nothing gets old-fashioned faster than fashion itself. Only the style outlives`` Coco Chanel.

French or not, whether you have style, whether you don`t Wink
  • 6 5
 TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! That's a banger of a tune and a great edit.
  • 3 2
 So so good. The tune made up for all the slo mo. Simply amazing how sharp cameras are now.
  • 5 0
 its a good job there is slo-mo, other wise it would just all be a pierron-shaped blur!
  • 5 4
 how else could we see that terrible 29er sideflex? I was watching old movies (Seasons, Matt Hunter segment for example) and those 26ers were stiff like a coffin nails. No sideflex in wheels or chainstays. Perhaps that little give is good for racers, but surely not for longevity
  • 8 4
 @johny88: it might be partly that commencal are open about building flex into that rear end for the additional grip. it no doubt helps it to be one of the (if not 'the') best dh bikes available. sure 26 inch wheels were stiff and bmx wheels are even stiffer, but you ain't going to go as fast downhill on small wheels, period.
  • 3 1
 @tobiusmaximum: I don't want to argue about speed or racing capability potential of 29ers (although Brunis rear end and Brosnans entire setup could have a word or two about it as well).

I understand that some extra damping and shock/load absorption during flex can be beneficial, same as compression and rebound of tire are order of magnitude faster than anything suspension can achieve thus adding better grip.

I just wonder how could it be tuned. At some point it will inevitably become limiting factor, same way as super stiff wheels can be too harsh. Just where do we draw a line? Stiff wheel and little flex in chainstays? Soft wheels, stiff rubber? No flex at all by using superuberboosttwopoinoh axle spacing?
  • 2 3
 @johny88: yeah, theres a bunch of variables for sure. i'm not out to argue either. but it can hardly be disputed that 26 cannot keep up with a 29 dh bike, regardless of the flex issue. well, there is no evidence of it. one could say its because bike companies are out to sell bigger wheels but if a company could somehow bend physics and say 'this 26er has stiff wheels, better turning and its just as fast as a 29er' why would't people be beating their door down for that product?

regarding bruni and brosnan, they won't be using 26 any time soon. yes the 27.5 vs 29 debate continues to rage, but 26 is off the table for all racing disciplines (except pump track)
  • 2 0
 @johny88: oh please, "flex" is so last decade, its all "compliance" now
  • 3 0
 Shit the bed.
  • 3 4
 Wanted to talk shit about needing a heli-shuttle filter on PB cuz purist, but the dope late-90’s mega-mix beat and straight trail ripping made me change my mind. Got me pumped for today’s ride.
  • 2 0
 People love to hate the heli-bump there, but it’s soooo much steeper than it looks on video. To access that zone without it you’d be climbing up on all fours for 6+ hours with your bike strapped to your back. Also, riding in a choppa is super fun!
  • 3 1
 Styly Cee - Sprung 5 vibes. Had a Milan Spasic vibe. Nice one Joe Boe.
  • 2 0
 Sneaky french line over top of that berm in the S turn!!
  • 1 0
 Frickin insane video.
Love the slowmo because that is the speed mortals ride at. Smile
  • 1 0
 he must have give flu to bears, so much speed. It was remind me Steve as well
  • 2 0
 Even in slo-mo Amaury is faster than me! Smile
  • 2 0
 stick a flag in it, and call it French Columbia !
  • 2 0
 Riding like there a pissed of cougar in the back
#imgoingfastmama
  • 2 0
 Uuufff !!! Insane speed, Momo is really on fire.
  • 1 0
 Anyone else notice his straight line at the start?
  • 2 0
 Killing it!
  • 3 1
 Sicker than covid19.
  • 1 0
 Head. So. Still. Full race, mega fast.
  • 1 1
 Good riders seem to dominate for 3/5 years after their testosterone levels die back and they start using their heads more.
  • 4 3
 What is the name of the song?
  • 4 3
 Styly Cee - Here comes son
Glad you’re stoked on it!!
  • 2 0
 @FiveTen: Guys from my home town of Nottingham too
  • 1 0
 Wait... He skipped the good top part in the snow?
  • 2 0
 Dude is fast af
  • 1 0
 He is going so fast, the cameraman can't keep up with him.
  • 1 0
 nice looking machine made bike park trail
  • 4 3
 Dang that song sucks
  • 2 1
 One word: Wow!
  • 1 0
 C O M M E N C A L \m/
  • 2 2
 oh wow, that was an edit and a half, so smooth, great soundtrack, damn!
  • 1 1
 Looks like a fun place to ride a bicycle.
  • 1 0
 that ixs kit is rad
  • 2 2
 Can you zoom in more please.
  • 1 0
 Insert fire emoji
  • 1 0
 So. Fucking. Fast.
  • 1 2
 Do his clothes was ISIS on them?!
  • 1 0
 IXS.
  • 1 0
 Ok phwew @nozes:







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