Bike
MTB
Kriss Kyle - Through the Grapevines
BMX pro Kriss Kyle on his mountain bike in the middle of vineyards - somehow that doesn't fit at all and is therefore perfect for the two-wheeled maniac from Scotland.
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BMX pro Kriss Kyle on his mountain bike in the middle of vineyards - somehow that doesn't fit at all and is therefore perfect for the two-wheeled maniac from Scotland. Where winemakers have been creating first-class wine for centuries, he takes off into new spheres. The terraced landscape of Lavaux is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The flying Scotsman shows his version of a breathtaking dreamline there.
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3 min
Kriss Kyle freerides through a vineyard – action clip
Join Kriss Kyle as he brings his dream BMX freestyle course to life in the iconic terraced vineyards of Lavaux, Switzerland.
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[h]THIS LANDSCAPE[space*9][br]IS A WORK[split]OF ART[mobile]THIS LANDSCAPE[br]IS A WORK[split]OF ART
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Freeride Lavaux - 1-1
© Red Bull
Freeride Lavaux - 1-2
© Red Bull
Freeride Lavaux - 1-3
© Red Bull
Freeride Lavaux - 1-4
© Red Bull
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Around 1000 years ago, monks laid out the first terraces on the southern slopes of Lac Léman. The sun shines directly on the grapes and the lake reflects its rays, enhancing their effect.
At night, the stone terraces release the heat that they have stored during the day. This is how grapes for world-famous wines ripen. For Kriss Kyle, Lavaux is a place like he has never seen before. The colors, the air, even the sound is out of this world for the Scotsman. “You simply can't be unhappy here,” says Kriss. You immediately believe him when you see him flying over the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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“I think this is the most beautiful place I've ever ridden my bike - or ever been. The colors are amazing: the green is so green, the water in the lake is so blue. And then there are the mountains, which are covered in snow on some days and not on others. As scary as some of the tricks I do here are. You just have to take a deep breath and realize where you actually are.”
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[h]TURNING[space*16][br]THE VINEYARD INTO[space*8][br][space*2]A SLOPESTYLE[split]COURSE[mobile]TURNING[space*6][br]THE VINEYARD[br] INTO A SLOPESTYLE[br][split]COURSE[no-offset]
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Freeride Lavaux - 2-1
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Freeride Lavaux - 2-2
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Freeride Lavaux - 2-3
© Red Bull
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The perfect conditions for the grapes inspire Kriss' imagination. Every terrace is a step-down, stone walls are wall rides and there are even single trails well hidden among the grape vines.
“Building the track was a ‘group effort’,” explains head builder George Eccleston. “We took a close look at every spot and asked ourselves what would be possible there. Some ideas were simple, others were completely off the wall. Kriss had the last word.” And even this could still be pretty crazy, as director Matty Lambert says: “Sometimes Kriss came up with ideas that were beyond what was possible to film.”
To turn the ideas into tricks and film shots, the next step is a few days of shoveling and woodwork. Seven track builders were at work for ten to twelve hours a day for two weeks.
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Freeride Lavaux - 3-1
© Red Bull
Freeride Lavaux - 3-2
© Red Bull
Freeride Lavaux - 3-3
© Red Bull
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Incidentally, the most challenging shot was not the one with the most difficult trick or the most complicated set-up, but the tailwhip over the banister.
Matty reveals: “We had to stop the traffic. Kriss had to be in the air the moment the sun came out from behind a cloud. At the same time, the pilot had to fly the drone at the right height so that the trick, the landing and the surroundings came across perfectly.” Quite a lot at once, but it's the only way to capture Kriss Kyle's creativity.
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The most difficult move is the open loop at the very end - a first for Kriss Kyle and for the winegrowing village anyway.
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After a few falls onto the mats, Kriss was ready. Matty Lambert: “In typical Kriss Kyle style, he then landed the first attempt and rolled away cleanly.”
Kriss had the most spectacular crash on relatively familiar terrain, the dirt jumps that he had shoveled with the crew. “I remember we were watching the footage shortly after the crash and I was laughing so hard because of the panicked look on my face,” Kriss recalls.
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You should not follow Kriss Kyle's lines, not only because they are quite dangerous even for exceptional riders, but also because cycling is not permitted in the vineyards.[br]Kriss was only able to make this film thanks to a number of special permits. The Lavaux region has long belonged to the grapes and the winegrowers who cultivate them.
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[h]KRISS KYLE[space*15][br]GAMECHANGER[space*15][br][split][space*16][no-offset]ON THE BIKE[mobile]KRISS KYLE[space*10][br]GAMECHANGER[space*5][br][split][space*5][no-offset]ON THE BIKE
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Freeride Lavaux - 4-1
© Red Bull
Freeride Lavaux - 4-2
© Red Bull
Freeride Lavaux - 4-3
© Red Bull
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Kriss Kyle was ten years old when BMX came into his life, and it has never let him go. “It's a part of me,” he says.
He learned his first tricks in his home town of Stranraer, on the south-western tip of Scotland. Then he moved on, lived in a skate hall for several years and did nothing but ride, learn tricks and get better. Eventually he had learned enough to become a pro, ride contests and conquer the world with videos like Kaleidoscope, Turkish Delight and Don’t Look Down.
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From an early age, Kriss not only had incredible riding skills, but also an eye for lines that nobody else could see. Wherever he goes, whether it's an airport, a road junction or a vineyard, Kriss sees features for his tricks.
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Over time, the existing features were no longer enough. Ramps, rails and other elements had to be added to make it rideable and flyable. This combination makes Kriss Kyle's videos unique: his incredible skills on the bike, his creative lines and the building crew that makes every idea possible, no matter how crazy. Just like in Lavaux.
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Freeride Lavaux Gallery 1-1
© Red Bull
Freeride Lavaux Gallery 1-2
© Red Bull
Freeride Lavaux Gallery 1-3
© Red Bull
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[h]A BMXer[space*28][br]ON A[split]MOUNTAIN BIKE[mobile]A BMXer[space*19][br]ON A[space*25][br][split]MOUNTAIN BIKE[no-offset]
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Freeride Lavaux - 5-1
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Freeride Lavaux - 5-2
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Freeride Lavaux - 5-3
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Kriss has grown up, or rather grown together, with the BMX. The small wheels and flat frame with no suspension or brakes are unforgiving.
Every landing that he doesn't hit precisely is a blow to his body.
On the steep slopes of Lavaux, BMX is not an option. “It would be death,” Kriss Kyle is convinced. He proves that he can also perform his tricks on a mountain bike with almost twice the volume. The precision he has acquired on his regular bike is worth its weight in gold in the vineyard.
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Freeride Lavaux - Gallery 2-1
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Freeride Lavaux - Gallery 2-2
© Red Bull
Freeride Lavaux - Gallery 2-3
© Red Bull
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“Of course I'm used to riding BMX. BMX is and will always be my passion. Mountain biking feels completely different. But it's great fun to alternate. And it was very nice to have suspension for this project,” adds Kriss.
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Prada Linea Rossa supports athletes around the globe
Always inspired by the human body, and the duality of the demands of movement married to the technical possibilities of advanced textile developments, Prada Linea Rossa supported Kriss Kyle providing functional clothing for the project. Breathable, lightweight yet strong, heat-sealed as opposed to stitched, the clothes feature extreme technicality, allowing the freedom of movement necessary for this discipline.
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Kriss Kyle X Prada
© Bull
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“It was a dream come true getting to work with Prada on this one. It’s a brand that I’ve looked up to for many years. I never thought riding my bike would lead me onto designing my own Prada trousers. To be honest these are some of the best riding pants I’ve ever had!”, says Kriss. The ongoing partnership between Prada Linea Rossa and Red Bull aims to promote events and special initiatives focused on sports and innovation by working alongside athletes to support their talent, improve their skills, and help them achieve the ambitious challenges that they set for themselves.
