Good vibrations in Avoriaz

Lifestyle
Reading Time 4 Minutes
Marco Tomasi
Nejc Ferjan, Toni Konrad, Elan Media

Something magical happens when Elan ambassadors gather. On this occasion, the meeting point was Avoriaz, France. It smelled of spring in the valley, but it was pure winter high in the Alps on the French - Swiss border. And good times were on display in their purest form.

Which moments remain automatically printed on the cells of our bodies as memories? How do we, as a team, manage to help our passionate readers perceive the amazing vibe when we gather for this event? I personally believe we’re all taught to be impulsive and reactive in what we do, and to be proactive toward what we want to achieve. A great love, a great adventure, and a great ski experience don’t need much commitment to become great. Often, we don’t even realize how quickly the time went by and how great the result was. This is what I like to define as an effortless experience. It doesn’t mean we don’t put any effort into what we do, but that what we are doing is filling us with energy, rather than requiring it.

This is how we like to honor the “Always Good Times” motto, by bringing enthusiasm in every little thing we do when together, so that every one of us can be involved in this invisible but easily perceivable bubble of high vibrations. 

The Team

Each year the ambassadors make their way from all over the world to gather and ride together for this unforgettable week, and this year we had the pleasure of being in Avoriaz, France. What an incredible location; not to be just riding around great  resorts with a wide variety of groomed and ungroomed terrain, but also to have the chance to stay together in this fabulous and suggestive little village right in the middle of the slopes. The views are simply majestic, and the possibility to ski across the border  to Switzerland and back feels almost unreal to people who visit from overseas.

And the team... What a team! Every rider comes from a different background and has different strengths, but when it's time to ski together, there are no strengths or weaknesses, only a palpable excitement to share a wonderful experience and draw lines on the mountain faces. This is one thing that helps create a tight bond between us, since we are not competitors trying to win a race anymore, but artists expressing themsels around the mountains.

When the ski day is done and everyone has showered and changed, we share a meal and a drink, and it’s usually the time to laugh aloud about a nice crash or blooper, and to verbalize the ideas or dreams we would like to manifest the next day or in a future project.

The riders alone would not be enough to create the content and message we want to share however, so a huge part of the project relies on the relationship with photographers and videographers, as they’re a key part of the organizational team.

And this is when a bond that is already uncommon, becomes unique and magical. This feeling of being part of this close family is what I wish for every worker worldwide; a common sense of belonging and gratefulness, and that every single topic or discussion can be brought to the table by anyone present. A team where the manager asks suggestions from the others instead of imposing their own decisions. A brand that cares about everyone's well-being, instead of their efficiency. A relationship where photographers and riders work hand in hand to make the best ideas a reality.

The Gear

This year we had the chance to ski in a vast variety of snow conditions, even though we were in the same location, because the weather changed dramatically a few times during the week. As a rider I felt really happy to know that we were skiing on Ripsticks and Playmakers, since I personally feel like I can have heaps of fun and stay playful in any terrain and condition with both. 

We ended up carving on and off the groomers, zip lined, played around in bumps, and played in the unique zone called “THE STASH,” which is a natural version of a terrain park. 

I arrived in Avoriaz with a huge amount of excitement because I would have the chance to ski on the new Ripstick constructions. Even though I knew it was a challenging task to improve on a product that is already great, what I heard about the new skis was true; they were lighter, more maneuverable, more stable, and still as floaty and playful as the previous version. This makes it the ski I would take with me everywhere for a ski adventure. 

Deep inside

These moments spent with what I like to call, “The Elan Fam”, gave me the chance to realize just how much, like a powerful waterfall or river, a single drop of water can easily fall on us without even realizing it, but how powerful the motion can become when  many drops are travelling in the same direction. We are all drops, so how powerful can the ideas and movements be, if we all move in the same direction?

Feel the Vibe: A Glimpse of Avoriaz in Photos