Editor’s Choice | Our Favorite Productions in 2014
There is never a dull moment at ENDURO Magazine, our work takes us all over the globe and as the team gets bigger the projects become more and more ambitious. 2014 was a year where we smashed the ball right out of the park, and our editors brought you news from every corner of the world. We asked our editors for their personal highlights of this year’s productions, and this is what stood out for them!
Aaron Steinke, Web Director, Stuttgart (GER)
2014 was a blast! I raced a lot, found great new places and learned a lot of interesting stuff! Besides all the reporting from different races, the lab testing we did at SAS-TECH for the knee Protector Test in Issue #009 was one of my personal highlights. It’s amazing how complex an apparent simple product turns out, especially when you take a closer look under lab conditions. It was a day full of exciting tech talk, interesting analyses and some surprises!
Trev Worsey, Chief Editor UK, Innerleithen (UK)
It was a busy year for me in 2014, with many highlights; but I think what stands out the most is covering the Yeti Switch Infinity Launch. Of course the bike itself was really good, but most memorable was the grumpy French guide who was brought in at the last minute to show us some Valloire trails.
He proceeded to lead our group of journos up an impossible hike-a-bike climb, and then down a super slow speed, rocky descent, perfect for a trials bike, but maybe not for testing a trail bike. After a small mutiny and a big coffee, ‘Team Yeti’ saved the day by taking us up an epic Alpine trail full of dusty corners, huge exposure and lashings of cow shit. Oh, and the ‘flaming meat tree’ dinner was pretty epic too.
Christoph Bayer, Chief Editor Germany, Murnau (GER)
Being a photographer, I attended many events and took part in a lot of photo productions for our test and travel stories. Each of them was a real Highlight, because – let’s be honest – could there be anything better than shooting the greatest bikes in the world, in some of the most beautiful locations; and I even get to test them afterwards! The most remarkable production was the EWS-Racebike test in Finale Liguria though.
While our local trails in Germany were still covered in snow, we spent four days under the warm Italian sun, testing the fastest bikes in the world against the clock, under the instruction of EWS proven racer Manuel Ducci. The mandatory ice cream at the beach at the end of the day made it perfect!
Robin Schmitt, Director, Stuttgart (GER)
My season highlight was the Design & Innovation Award 2015 in Latsch (South Tyrol) for sure! With more than 100 participating brands, our 25-person crew was involved in tech-talks all night long, it was certainly an exciting time! And of course: great trails, the best parts and bikes and cool people! What could you want more? Of course I was happy too when we finally packed the Sprinter again and left with a lot of new knowledge. There couldn’t be a better season ending! (Editors note: Somehow Robin forgot to mention that he got this Sprinter stuck in the mud!)
Jim Buchanan, UK Editor, Shrewsbury (UK)
It’s been pretty full-on for me this year, the most article creating fun I had was probably the 2014 Team GT Factory Racing Launch, held in London very early last year. I went down with Doc and my friend Bicks, we took full advantage of the free alcohol at the very cool Red Bull headquarters in a swanky part of the big smoke. The Athertons and all their team were being square as usual, so we hit the town without them, but with several top names from the world of bikes.
We frequented proper cockney pubs, and I don’t remember much, so I know it was a good night. I do remember taking photos outside what was the taxi rank from the film ‘Snatch’ and seeing three blokes out with a very strange rent-boy, only in London! Great new industry friends were met and I think we were the only journos actually having a laugh with the riders.
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