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Hannes Klausner is the mountain biker who puts freedom into freeride. Buzzing on the road less travelled, he pointed his 4×4 camper North out of Austria and headed for Iceland. Along for the ride to immortalize the bangers on film (well, digital) was friend and photographer Christoph Breiner. 

I wanted it to be the ultimate exploring adventure without a guide or local riders to ask.

Check out the goodies they brought back from their trip and enjoy the inside story of riding Iceland, direct from Hannes.  

Why did you choose Iceland for a mountain bike trip, and is Iceland the ultimate freeride destination? 

I’ve wanted to visit Iceland for a very long time, as all those stunning images from other people got me hooked. But I also wanted to see and explore it on my terms and make my own experiences. Iceland gave me so many options for everything I wanted to create as it is so diverse and so different from everywhere else.

I didn’t think about it as a bike trip destination but more of an adventure that I wanted to bring my bike to and see what was possible. My bike has taken me to many places, and freeriding opens up loads of possibilities, including witnessing places like Iceland.

It certainly wasn’t my ultimate freeride destination, but it was different from what I was expecting or looking for. It became about the search for extraordinary and rideable places in stunning landscapes that only Iceland can deliver. I am so thankful for the freedom my bike delivers that goes beyond the ordinary. 

How did you and Christoph Breiner hook up, and how does the rider-photographer relationship work, recording a trip like this? 

I met Christoph many years ago on a little bike trip while shooting with friends. He wasn’t a professional photographer back then, but time and passion have made him one of my favourite photographers to work with. He’s not only a friend and photographer but also very creative, comes up with great ideas, and is passionate about getting them dialled.

He’s also no stranger to adventures like this one, which is why he was my number one choice for the trip. I had to try hard to get him as he was swamped, but I didn’t want to work with someone else. We know each other well, making every trip unique and outstanding when it comes to creating content. We are also working on an arty analogue photo project, which I can’t wait to share.

What was your route around the island, and did you hook up with local riders to guide you to spots? 

I wanted it to be the ultimate exploring adventure without a guide, local riders to ask, and no specific plan to follow. We took it day by day, drove around the whole island, and hiked into unique, unknown places. There were so many random shooting locations, riding spots, and such a variety of landscapes that there was no need for a guide to show us well-known places. It was just a personal exploration of one of the most epic places on this planet, which I wanted to see, explore, and experience my way.

How are those Icelandic 4x4s?

I’ve never seen anything like them before. Those Iceland 4×4 vehicles are something else. They’re massive, and they can go anywhere on the island.

Ours wasn’t that massive when it came to off-road driving, but it was good enough for most of the places we wanted to go, and it was the best place to live on a road trip like that. 

I drove from Austria to Denmark by myself, took the ferry to the Faroe Islands, and then on to Iceland. A couple of days later, I met Christoph, who came by plane. The 4×4 was home for the whole trip, and I enjoyed every bit of it.

Was there a spot that stands out above the rest?  

Not for me. It was that whole destination Iceland thing, with various colours, different landscapes, fascinating nature, and fast-changing weather conditions – pouring rain has never been so beautiful. All of it makes up that extraordinary Iceland experience, with no single spot that stands out. 

How much planning does a month-long trip like this take, and is it something that anyone could do? 

It was not much for the way I wanted to do this trip. It involved booking ferries and organizing the budget. Knowing I had the van for a whole season, it was pretty much an unplanned adventure. The only way to experience real adventure is in the mind, or at least that is my personal way.

Where’s next on your trip calendar? And what TSG kit is a must-have when travelling and riding?

I am working on a couple of smaller projects now, but I plan to be on the road for another month in a van this autumn. I’m longing for some epic trail riding in Slovenia, Croatia, Tuscany, and Elba in the ‘golden season’, living the best life on the road, and being happy riding bikes on some amazing trails around South Europe.

My next big trip will be next season, but I’m not going to reveal the destination yet. If you’re interested, you’ve got to stay tuned and follow my channels.

TSG is part of all my daily bike rides and travels, big and small. From tough new freeride lines to chilled trail riding, TSG has gear for everything, and it is of the best possible quality and fit.

I bring a full-face lid, body protection, trail lid, and knee pads, as well as a decent range of clothing so I’m prepared for the unexpected. I’m stoked to work with a brand that focuses on the most important part of our game, which is safety. 

Hannes riding kit in Iceland

Swiss mountain biker and TSG team ripper Chris Visscher has just released a killer short film, Well Rounded, and it is a must-watch. Filmed in the BikeKingdom Park and at his home resort of Davos, it takes a deep dive into the life of “Grizzly,” the rider, mechanic, and shaper, and puts his definition of Well Rounded into stunning pictures. The icing on the cake of Well Rounded is a basket full of peachy lines and tricks, starting with a white-knuckle scree ride and ending in a flat spin that Chris tags as “the cleanest and best” he’s ever done. Take it from us it’s a must watch. Enjoy!

Chris’ Well Rounded’ is an amazing short film. It is action-packed and delivers a cool, insightful look into you as a human and a rider. What does well-rounded as a mountain biker mean to you? 

“Well-rounded” to me means that a rider practices mountain biking in its entirety and is skilled in all areas. This includes disciplines like downhill, freeride, dirt, and enduro and participating in races and competitions. Coaching in the biking field and building trails and parks are also part of it for me. Maybe “well-rounded mountain biker” would have been a more fitting title, ha-ha!

In the movie, you talk about riding ‘in the tunnel’ – what is it like to ride in that state of mind? And is the process you go through to put yourself into it? 

In those moments, it feels like everything around me goes quiet and fades away.

The “tunnel” is quite a fascinating phenomenon for me when riding and one of the reasons why I love mountain biking so much. Everyone experiences it in their own way, but not everyone can switch it on and off at will. In those moments, it feels like everything around me goes quiet and fades away. I’m often so in the moment that I can’t even think. I act instinctively, and that’s exactly what riding means to me. I can forget everything, even if it’s just for a moment. I can focus incredibly well when I want to pull off a trick or ride a challenging line. Of course, the thoughts and feelings come back afterward, often quite overwhelming.

That first descent looks like a beast: Where was it? Can you describe it in detail and how it felt to ride? 

We filmed the entire freeride segment at my home in Davos. The slope itself isn’t anything special to ride, but it’s great for filming because it’s easily accessible, and the colours of the rocks are amazing. As a rider, you have a lot of space and can play with the terrain.

It strikes me that you’re a perfectionist, whether riding, working on bikes, or building jumps. Would you say that is true? And if so, why? 

I’m definitely a perfectionist. I find a sense of security in my perfectionism. I’m perfectly prepared for tricks and technical lines. I see it almost like my signature when building trails, so every rider who hits my trails will know: “Ah, Grizzly built this.”

That last hit in the video: Was that one of your builds? And how sweet did that three feel? Man, that trick looked SO bad ass!!!

In fact, I built that jump myself—my idea of the perfect trick jump. A steep take off, the landing higher than the take off, and clear edges so I can immediately see where I need to land after a rotation. I’ve been doing the flat spin lookback for about a year, but the flat spin in the film was the cleanest and best one I’ve ever done. It took us three tries to get it. I went so high the first time that I jumped out of Valentin’s frame. The second attempt was good, but I didn’t land perfectly, and the camera angle wasn’t quite right either.

Watch Well Rounded now

Chris riding kit in Well Rounded

Pass 2.0 downhill helmet

Ten years after the launch of our first full-face downhill skateboard helmet, we provide speed demons all over the globe with a brand-new lid. Meet the TSG Pass 2.0, our next-generation incarnation of the legendary Pass downhill helmet.

The Ultimate safety standards for downhill skaters

Anyone pointing it down a mountain pass or speed track on a skateboard needs serious head protection. Hence, the Pass 2.0 was created with next-level standards in design, safety, and comfort.

In 2014, we launched the TSG Pass in collaboration with world champion downhill skateboarder Martin Siegrist. It set a new benchmark for helmet design and became a desirable head protection for downhill skaters. Ten years on, we’ve pushed the design, safety, and comfort bar even higher with the introduction of the Pass 2.0.

Teamwork for the new TSG downhill helmet

We conjured up an amazing team to recreate the legendary downhill Pass helmet. Downhiller Oscar Rodriguez gave it his lifetime experience of blazing tarmac. Product designer Stephane Dion, the creator of TSG’s downhill mountain bike helmet Sentinel, went all in with his technical know-how and speed-giving design to make our new downhill skateboard helmet, the Pass 2.0.

What makes the Pass 2.0 different to the Pass Pro?

New construction for enhanced safety

The new Pass 2.0 helmet features advanced ABS injection molding, with improved protection levels on earlier fiberglass models. ABS injection molding delivers consistent quality, impact resistance, and strength throughout production. For superior stability, we also refined the Pass 2.0’s chin guard, with EPS and PC throughout. The helmet shares the same great shock absorption as the Pass Pro, thanks to its EPS lining, which sucks up impacts evenly across the helmet.

The Pass 2.0 meets and exceeds the European EN1078 helmet standard and the US American ASTM F1952 downhill helmet standard requirements and provides ultimate protection and reliability. Compared to the Pass Pro the new Pass 2.0 achieves up to 23% better test results in CE EN1078 helmet standard tests and up to 16% better results in ASTM F1952 tests. The Pass 2.0 is now also US CPSC 16CFR Part 1203 tested.

If you want to learn more about the standards and test methods read TESTED & CERTIFIED on our website.

The Pass 2.0’s improved vision

We also redesigned the Pass 2.0’s visor. It now features improved helmet integration for an enhanced look and superior air seal. The visor’s modified screw in the connection system to the helmet makes visor swops simple and quick to keep up with changing light conditions. We deliver the Pass 2.0 with a clear, low-light visor and a tinted visor for bright conditions. 

More sizes and extra comfort

The downhill community asked us for more helmet sizes, and we’ve delivered. The Pass 2.0 comes in XS to XXL, perfectly fitting all heads from 53 to 63 cm in circumference. The Pass 2.0 is 10 mm wider than the TSG Pass Pro, with the modified padding matrix delivering better fit with maximum comfort. We have also widened the helmet entry, making the helmet easier to take on and off. Adjustable snap-on cheek pads cheek enables quick and easy size adjustment and safe helmet removal after a fall. Two mold sizes are in the range to provide a more accurate fit, ranging from XS to M and L to XXL.

Improved ventilation

The Pass 2.0 is instantly recognizable because of its modified fore-design, which accommodates bigger ventilation slots for improved airflow. Our advanced air duct system directs airflow to the visor for premium anti-fogging and clear vision, however hot the going gets. 

The TSG Pass 2.0 is the perfect choice for downhill skaters and athletes of other gravity sports, like inline downhill and street luge. We’re proud to offer downhill athletes premium protection and comfort with this all-new full-face helmet because fast is not fast enough.

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