Chasing Trail: Remy Absalon - Video

Apr 18, 2016 at 4:34
by SCOTT Sports  



Views: 27,847    Faves: 285    Comments: 10



THE REGION: ALSATIAN & LORRAINE

Les Vosges is a mountain range in France that is located primarily in the Alsatian and Lorraine regions. While the range itself may not have the high alpine peaks of the Alps, it surely makes up for this with its sheer quantity of forests and prime mountain biking terrain. Diversity in terrain coupled with phenomenal the dirt makes for a region that is perfect for the honing of skills. And while this region has produced numerous mountain bikers that have graced the professional ranks over the years, one name remains king: Absalon.



Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article

Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article



The discipline we call Enduro is synonymous with French riders. Largely recognized as a discipline that originates from the country, it has been dominated by the French for a large part of its “life.” In recent years, Rémy Absalon has been a prominent figure in the scene. Having won no less than ten Megavalanches alongside numerous other wins, Rémy cites the region he grew up in as the main deciding factor behind the style of MTB racing he decided to pursue.



Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article

Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article

Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article

Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article



THE TRAILS OF CHOICE

Though there are many to choose from in the area, for this edit Rémy went for a few of his favorites. Zone 1: Remiremont. This is where Rémy and his brother live, and where most of the Absalon training sessions go down. There are trails everywhere, literally. Rémy takes pride and joy in maintaining and building trails throughout the year, and the particular trail we shot is one that Rémy worked on all winter. No build, no party.



Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article



When it comes to Enduro Specials, for Rémy there isn’t quite anything like his local “Descente de Nol.” An old hiking trail with ancient stone walls covered in incredible green moss and with large granite blocks to the left and right. This is where things get technical!

The famous Hautes-Vosges is home to La Bresse. Greater elevation change, huge variety in terrain, leafy loamy singletrack amongst the pine trees most notably. Some of our shots were on the SP de la Vierge, which is fast and playful.



Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article

Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article

Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article

Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article



BROTHERLY COMPETITION

As little kids, Rémy and his older brother Julien would spend all their time in the woods. Building BMX jumps, skidding around turns, pushing each other to always better themselves; the Pine Forests of Les Vosges was slowly building champions. Slowly but surely, the Absalon brothers transitioned from BMX bikes to Mountain Bikes, and the rest, as they say, was history...



Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article


As we all know, Julien found Cross Country, stayed there and over the years did quite well for himself. Rémy, as the younger brother, decided to do something a bit different. Having raced XC, DH and what we now call Enduro, he found that the latter of the three suited him best. As the region is quite diverse, these “do-it-all” bikes were the ideal partner in crime for Absalon to explore the creative facets of the sport.



Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article

Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article

Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article



NO PLACE LIKE HOME

For over ten years, Rémy has been living many mountain bikers’ dreams. He gets to travel the world, race in locations that most wouldn’t even know exist, all the while calling it a living. One thing, though, is for certain. There is no feeling that compares with that of going home, getting the bike out of the garage, pedaling over to the local spot and going for a ride. Your friends are there, your family is there, and for a guy like Rémy this means riding with EWS champs, Olympic Champions, World Champions, you name it. Not a bad group for your local.



Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article

Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article

Images for Chasing Trail Remy Absalon article



All Photos: Keno Derleyn

To see the story in other languages, please click HERE


MENTIONS: @SCOTT-Sports



Author Info:
SCOTT-Sports avatar

Member since May 29, 2013
235 articles

52 Comments
  • 37 2
 Cracking stuff, proper mtb edit right there!
  • 25 2
 Remis are good in cycling.
  • 10 1
 gonna name my son REMI for sure all the remis know how to ride a bike Big Grin
  • 13 1
 so are Absalons
  • 3 9
flag Jim-laden (Apr 19, 2016 at 7:30) (Below Threshold)
 suitable soundtrack :

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TYwvmwZrVk
  • 11 3
 But... Pinkbike comments have taught me plus tires cannot be ridden aggressively! Can someone tell Remy?
  • 5 1
 Nice to hear at least some pros working hard on trailbuilding too!
This 27+ it looks to step up the benchmark of grip in many places! ( not into that muddy corner but!...)
Great words too really interesting to read,,,
As for the vid pure raw techniche... and no bullshit... Great
Good work guys!
  • 7 0
 Master of the flat turns!
  • 4 0
 This video represents the definition of "Having Fun". That's so like it.

Cheers,
Beer
  • 4 0
 After seeing this averything looks slo mo...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DenzJiBJWx0&feature=share
  • 3 1
 Im going to go and see if I can find the jacket and goggle he dropped somewhere. He clearly doesn't have any means of carrying them down the rest of the trail so presumably they are chucked in a ditch or hanging from a tree
  • 3 0
 Sick edit! Enjoyed it so much I had to watch it several times!! Anyone got any idea what the music is?
  • 3 0
 Wish I were good enough to have my name on the back of a mountain bike jersey Frown

Sick edit, sick rider and sick bike~~
  • 2 0
 PB any guide to Les Vosges? Seems more attractive than the old cliché - the Alps. At least Lac Blanc is worth the travel but surely there's much more to discover there.
  • 1 0
 I believe they are more attractive than the Alps. There are just so many great trails everywhere. Went 2 weeks ago to La Bresse and discovered 3 great trails from the same side of the Kastelberg. One flowy and fast, one with a shitload of switchbacks and one rocky and steep. On one side of one mountain! In the Alps that would be 3 mountains ;-)
  • 1 0
 @suravida: thanks! I'll go check that out with my enduro bike soon.
  • 1 0
 Just watched the whole series of videos. This is by far the best of them all. Such awesome riding! France is home, and we I get back there, I must definitely visit that side.
  • 1 0
 So nice and smooth. .....lovely to watch.

Also enjoyed the rear suspension "action shot ", always like setting a bikes suspension action in show motion
  • 3 0
 NIceSmile Name of the song?
  • 1 0
 " Oh Laura" by Ben K Adams: benkadams.bandcamp.com/track/oh-laura-2
  • 2 1
 Great trails and very sick, smooth riding but the music wasn't my favorite...
  • 1 0
 That Scott looks good. Any shredding riders own this rig? How do you like it? This same bike won our local endurance race.
  • 2 0
 Didn't try this one, but the Specialized 650 Fatty is incredible. 650B+ Is definitely the wheel size for the one MTB bike fits all category. gonna save up my pennies and return beer cans!
  • 3 0
 @enduroelite: no one survives pb supporting spesh
  • 2 0
 I Absolutely Love My Genius LT! Shreds everything you throw at it. Race Enduro and DH on it frequently
  • 2 0
 great trails, nice edit! nice bike colour scheme
  • 2 0
 Aaaaaaaand....that's why I need to move to Europe
  • 1 0
 Awesome shredding! Would love to shred one of those on the local trails and at some races @SCOTT-Sports !
  • 1 0
 nice! this vid made me feel warm and fuzzy, or is that the ale? or both combined?
  • 2 1
 Everyone wants to know what the song is! Pls help!!??
  • 2 0
 Shazam app is having a hell of a time. Results are fucking schizophrenic with nothing even marginally close.
  • 2 0
 ben k adams oh laura nice song
  • 1 0
 @mgreber: thats the one
  • 1 0
 Anyone else notice the rear wheel doesn't match? Guessing he had an issue
  • 1 0
 Fantastic riding and filming. Top of my list.
  • 2 0
 That was wicked to watch
  • 2 1
 Absalon, Clementz, Thirion... mountains of champions !
  • 2 1
 Lau as well
  • 3 2
 I try to watch the whole thing but the music put me to sleep
  • 1 0
 me too but then they sang about jessica biehl and i had to spank the monkey
  • 1 0
 that guy can ride! if only....
  • 1 0
 Man, i hate my trails now. They suck! :-(
  • 1 0
 Great Scott; that was refreshing!
  • 1 0
 Someone's Pedalling AND going Uphill?!?!
  • 1 0
 Great vid!
  • 1 0
 very nice.....
  • 1 0
 what wheel set is that?!
  • 1 0
 That Durolux looked good
  • 1 1
 the editor ruined this material Frown
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