Video: Yoann Barelli & Friends Rebuild an Iconic Richie Schley Drop

Oct 22, 2021 at 9:16
by Yoann Barelli  


One year ago my buddy Audric Lacour and I started to rebuild this old Richie Schley drop North of Whistler. The structure was completely rotten so we had to start from scratch. Fast forward and with the help of Jolan, Reilly and Sergi we finally fished it.

This 20/25 feet drop is pretty technical, the run in is very tricky, the tree on the left is super close and the compression at the bottom is pretty big. This video is about the process of doing a feature for the first time, but also coaching two other people to do something that never done before.

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64 Comments
  • 113 2
 Yoann, just a great ambassador for the sport and all around positive dude! Always stoked to see what he is riding.
  • 16 0
 Thank you kindly sir Smile
  • 49 0
 Wow talk about gnarly. The drop itself is impressive but to me its the obstacles in order to hit the drop. A corner that looks to be fairly off camber, two trees that look to be in the way if you were to jump too far left or right, no casing on the landing, a up slope after the landing (if you over jump you're done) and not to mention hitting this in what looks like mud! Insane. Freeride isn't dead.
  • 2 0
 Sums it up. Any one of these factors would have been too much for me (the size, the corner, the trees, the landing). Very very gnarly.
  • 9 0
 this drop is big time gnarly, i wanted to built a proper straight take off for it but i moved out of Whistler and Yo decided to use the old Schley's one in order to spice it up a tab more! What a maniac
  • 2 0
 @audric: I remember standing at the top of this thing with you. Insane.
  • 3 0
 @audric: hahaha, I’m glad you started rebuilding it with me because at first I wanted to use the original rotten wood structure hahaha !!
  • 38 1
 Sooooo, I made a bit of a mistake.. Richie isn’t that old and he told me that he did this drop in 2013 on a Rotwild haha. I posted the photo on my story on Instagram Wink
  • 30 0
 Thanks for the props and including me in your adventure virtually what a different time.
Just to clarify, I believe Kevin Landry originally built the drop and had forgotten who was the OG. I had Ross rebuild it for me and I think Landry might have helped with the re-build.
I was on a Rotwild and I am not sure of the year, but I think it maybe 2010 ish which would have me at 40 years old. Not 20.
Super stoked to see that crew resurrecting old the old moves and that they have aged well. ❤️
  • 24 0
 I watch this then look at pictures of myself on a 5 foot drop with a perfect landing. Then I remember I work at a desk and computer all day.
  • 2 0
 My picture is only a 3' drop, but I'm right there with you on the desk/computer part.
  • 2 0
 I prefer to do a step up. Then I remember I work with pen and paper.
  • 10 0
 Really love how this video was produced and edited. It's easy to get numb to music-backed, quick cut vids of people sending it scary big. This video does great job of showing just how big and scary the drop is, and then all the time it takes to control adrenaline, set aside fear, nut up and go. If you didn't fast forward through to the action your hand are shaking a little. Well done, all these guy have huge heart.
  • 10 0
 The sport has evolved so much in the last 20 years, but when a group of guys like this who regularly hit big stuff in parks are intimidated, goes to show how gnarly that stuff is and WAS back when RS did it the first time before anybody had..... I remember driving up to BC in the early 2000's and riding NS and scoping out some of the stuff we used to watch in the vids with some locals....no flippin' way I was hitting that stuff! There is also that line over the rocks below Fitzsimmons lift in Whistler that is gnarly....I think Wade hit it in a vid back in the day....
  • 5 0
 Kenny Smith hit that for Inside Out I’m pretty sure. A pioneer of local gnar here.
  • 3 0
 @FilipStarcevic: yup. It was a special permission piece
  • 2 0
 @leelau: would’ve loved to see that ridden in person. The speed out of it would be wild.
  • 12 0
 Anyone got a link to a video clip of Richey Schley hitting this? Crazy to think that it might have been in the RM7 era!
  • 1 0
 Haven’t found the video but there is a photo on richie’s Instagram story
  • 10 0
 "like it is completely safe.....probably."
  • 7 0
 Watching Yoann get psyched out was making my stomach turn. That is a HUGE sketchy drop!
  • 3 0
 First, absolutely LOVE this video and way to go Yoann! Second, I know people have bagged on Schley over the years, but I have to say that I did a mountain bike camp with him in Whistler for 2 days back in 2005 and it completely changed my life, and I can't believe how much I learned from him and how nice he was...just a super genuine person. Went with some buds and we still reminisce about what a great experience it was. Dude is a legend.
  • 2 0
 I chatted with Schley on the lift at Whistler around that time and he was super nice. Somehow it came up and he was saying how much great stuff was in and could be built in another area of the park north of the fitz zone. Turned out to be creekside but I had no clue lol
  • 3 0
 @jding183: He was always nice to me. He didn’t do the fake small-talk with everyone which I think caused people to think he was a full of himself. He certainly understood how to market himself way better than the rest. Also some of the shit (not just this) he hit back then on crappy bikes is frankly ridiculous.
  • 4 0
 Can't believe Richie rode that Soooo many years ago. What bike was he on? That drop is insane! Invite Richie back just for old times sake.
  • 6 0
 I had adrenaline pumping watching, I wasn't even there.
  • 2 0
 Awesome watch to see features I’ve only heard of for over twenty odd years.
I’m passing your videos onto my riding pals.
Most new to riding, friends since childhood.
We are once again playing together!
Your videos are an inspiration and a great “crash course” for them.
Often after a ride they’ll tell me things they were applying on the ride. Things they’ve picked up watching your videos.
I’ve seen “the light come on” in their eyes,
We are progressing and we are having a blast.

Thanks for contributing to our stoke!!!
  • 15 11
 Too SlopeStyle...





















Smile jkn... that's just "too amazing". Smile
  • 3 0
 That was so good. I had the fear like it was me psyching up to hit it. Horrible drop, horrible run in. Props to all for nailing this one.
  • 4 0
 Please somebody link the original schley version!! I'd love to see the old school RM7 with 680 bars and roach pads.
  • 3 0
 Always love watching yoann, such a character! But serious props to the other two, you could tell it was way more of a challenge for them!
  • 1 0
 Awesome video, so stoked for them.

The sport has progressed so much in the last 10 to 15 years that we are back on the old lines from 10 to 15 years ago that made freeride and hitting them again, with probably the same fear as 10 to 15 years ago.
Remy's last video showed some of the old stuff too, all that time ago people probably did go slightly bigger, higher, skinnier, on gnarlier stuff and take bigger risks than we do today.

Next episode!!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz1GuWYZH_o
  • 1 0
 Crazy stunt! Some features are so extreme there literally is ko progression possible. Riding the same stunt as 2003 even with much better bikes and skills and it is still just possible to ride it out strait.

Like the famous ladder drop from Jordie Lunn - even in 20 years nobody will be able to do more than survive Smile
  • 1 0
 damn... Not just a blind roll in... BUT you can choose to try and avoid hitting a tree mid air, OR if your feeling extra rowdy you can include trying to avoid a tree when you land too!! All the goodness...
  • 2 0
 I remember finding this feature when they were building N of T. It was pretty wild looking from the top with the old landing. Big feature for sure
  • 1 0
 When Yohann looked over the edge from the top, I instantly felt like I needed a shit, which continued for a straight 4 minutes until he hit the drop. Ooossshhh!!!! Why am I hyperventilating?!?!
  • 2 0
 I woulda had a heart attack if my front washed out on top like that. That woulda been it.
  • 3 0
 Insane... what a guy.
  • 3 0
 Insane
  • 1 0
 Can really feel everyone's energy, addicted to the post send feels. Great video
  • 2 0
 Legit sweaty palms on the last dude.
  • 1 0
 Imagine what they were riding 20 years ago when they first hit/build this thing. Just crazy, respect all around.
  • 1 1
 @yoannbarelli, si Audric t'as aidé à reconstruire la drop de Richie Schley, quand est-ce qu'on le voit la dropper avec un A-Ride?! Razz He's got the skills! eheh Cheers!
  • 2 0
 mefiat!!! c'etait le but mais j'ai demenage sur Van Island!!!
  • 1 0
 @audric: Ben un jour peut-être! Razz Cheers!
  • 2 0
 This feature is insane. The run-in alone is so damn sketchy!
  • 2 0
 So sick! You rillee got my art rate going!
  • 2 0
 LOLO racks are awesome!!!!! soo cool to see some pros using them.
  • 1 0
 Really happy with mine!
  • 3 0
 I love mine, super easy to use and you put any type of bikes
  • 2 0
 That shout out to Loic @3:40
  • 1 0
 Does anyone have a picture of the original drop by Schley? I would love to see that
  • 1 0
 Yoann you should do a BC freeride tour where you select a group of pros and go around hitting these famous hits.
  • 1 0
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BkVtpxJsvE&ab_channel=YoannBarelli
  • 2 1
 You bunch of crazy f***ers Smile
  • 1 0
 without fullface helmet! dddaaaaaamn! too scary
  • 1 0
 crazy, insane, but fun to watch.
  • 1 0
 Now do the drop on 26" wheels...
  • 1 0
 when Riley slipped I almost puked my guts!
  • 1 0
 That was really fun to watch. Props to Ritchey and the rebuilders too
  • 1 0
 Ups, 2010 Schley jumped it. But still…
  • 1 0
 Into the Gnarliest. Damn tho, that drop is so wild!!
  • 1 0
 This is awesome
  • 1 0
 time capsule







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