Video: Dreaming of Rampage from the Outskirts of Paris with William Robert

Jun 11, 2019
by ION Surfing Trails  


"Where I’m from, there are no real mountain bike spots. You need to spend a lot of time in the woods and use your imagination and motivation to create your dream trails. It doesn’t really matter if I’m not surrounded by mountains or living close to a Bike Park, this addiction to biking is just growing inside me! " - William Robert


Addiction - Presented by ION - FASTFOKUS
Addiction - Presented by ION FASTFOKUD
William's home town is located near Paris

Addiction - Presented by ION - FASTFOKUS

Addiction - Presented by ION - FASTFOKUS
Addiction - Presented by ION - FASTFOKUS

Addiction - Presented by ION - FASTFOKUS
Addiction - Presented by ION - FASTFOKUS





Before I get to where I am today, I ate dirt, both in training and digging, until the day I got noticed by sponsors.

Today, I spend my all time training and working hard at home to be on top of the game and I'm very thankful to my sponsors who are right behind me and support me whenever I need it.

People may think that living close to Paris doesn't really help to perform in freeriding, but I'm lucky enough to be surrounded by some great mountain bike spots. There is good elevation close to where I live with some beautiful forests.

After some years researching the ultimate spot, I finally managed to find a piece of land that the mayor of my town, interested in mountain biking and proud to support me, allows me to use to for my training.
Finally, I was able to create trails that are big enough to train for my current goal: Redbull Rampage.

Why Rampage? Because it's the most epic competition in the mountain bike world and it's probably the most impressive for both riders and spectators. It's a dream for me to go there. I don't want to prove anything to people, but just want to be proud and surpass myself.

That's what makes my addiction to biking!



Addiction - Presented by ION - FASTFOKUS
Addiction - Presented by ION - FASTFOKUS

Addiction - Presented by ION - FASTFOKUS
Addiction - Presented by ION - FASTFOKUS

Addiction - Presented by ION - FASTFOKUS

Addiction - Presented by ION - FASTFOKUS
Addiction - Presented by ION - FASTFOKUS

Addiction - Presented by ION - FASTFOKUS
Addiction - Presented by ION FASTFOKUS

Addiction - Presented by ION FASTFOKUS

Addiction - Presented by ION FASTFOKUD
Addiction - Presented by ION FASTFOKUD

Featuring: William Robert
Supported by: ION Bike
Directed, filmed and edited by: Damien Vergez / fastfokus.com
Sound Design: Keith White Audio
Music: Oliver Michael - Yours is mine


MENTIONS: @IONsurfingelements


Author Info:
IONsurfingelements avatar

Member since Feb 26, 2019
15 articles

50 Comments
  • 58 7
 Europe:
-Can I build trails?
-Sure, here’s a forest, have fun!

North America:
-Can I build trails?
-absolutely not are you crazy? Besides, we’re building a parking lot.
  • 10 1
 Maybe you need to get away from the S2S corridor bud
  • 18 1
 Thats more like the opposite, near paris every piece of forest is protected and its very difficult to build a spot, especially big jumps like this.
  • 7 1
 Not a lot of real 'public land' left in the world.
  • 3 0
 So True! this quote by him makes me so jealous! "After some years researching the ultimate spot, I finally managed to find a piece of land that the mayor of my town, interested in mountain biking and proud to support me, allows me to use to for my training."
  • 9 0
 Man, it's not what you think. I leave and ride in the Paris area and it's very difficult to keep our trails or just to legalize it. There is not so much altitude but I am still amazed about the level of some riders like him or Bizet.
  • 13 0
 You'd be surprised (and probably sad) is you knew how far from true this is, and how many jumps and trails have been torn down in France. It's freaking hard to get any authorization anywhere in the country, most of the spots are "pirates" ones... and we ride them until they are demolished, then build new ones again...

Same story as anywhere else really
  • 8 0
 Sorry @kylemciver but what you were writing is just completely wrong.
I live in Bavaria and although there is much forest, you can't build any jumps nearly as big as them in the video above. In my hometown relatively small DJs were destroyed several times and the skatepark which was build is completely crap, so it would be very rad if the situation would be like you descriped it Wink
  • 6 0
 @wilflucky: yeah, had to laugh so hard reading this, because i always say: „hey look, those canadians seem to be able to build trails everywhere, while everything we build gets destroyed within days“
Ironic
  • 2 1
 @Frenchemetalheads: I’m not sure but I would assume that these projects and jumps Robert has built are on private land, judging by the size of his house.
  • 2 0
 @deco1: bro thats not his house, that’s one of the manys historic catle we have near paris, and you can’t even think about building jumps in those woods
  • 1 0
 No, you can build and every year it is destructed. It is strictly forbidden to build trails...
  • 28 3
 awesome video and mad skills.. but Virgin Utah is no joke.
  • 18 0
 Totally agree but he still got more chances than us Big Grin
  • 9 1
 William needs to get on a plane to the Rampage site and film an edit riding the lines. If he can ride Faircloughs line or Straits drops with no problem- then he can do a promo video about an invite.
  • 2 1
 @SirWonky: what a wonky idea !
  • 3 3
 @SirWonky: exactly!! anyone can build big jumps in their back yard, not everyone can drop 60ft after riding down a narrow patch of sand with cliffs on both sides
  • 14 0
 That was rad! Mad respect to him if he built all that by hand that if dedication.
  • 11 0
 Nice house
  • 9 0
 damn Billy Bob.
  • 3 0
 Please tell me this is actually used as his nickname. If not, please upvote this comment to get the movement started. Proof, again, that everything sounds classier en Français!
  • 6 0
 Ive never seen him on the FMB circuit? Maybe he could give the FEST guys a shout to join and then get noticed for Rampage?
  • 2 0
 William Robert imo, likes to make his own projects and ride with his old friends, you know lot of Commencal riders are not very mediated, I'm thinking of PEF or Strait, you don't see them too often but they rock!
  • 5 2
 Love the rider, hate the slow mo. We had slow mo walking a bike up the hill, shoveling, turning his head. Show the stunts in real time please. They are awesome enough.
  • 3 4
 slow more cornering or dragging brake, doesn't earn a rampage invite. I mean Jaws hasn't gone yet, he's inline before William here IMO. His blackhills edit was better and that didn't get him in.
  • 1 0
 @SnowshoeRider4Life: not seen a Jaws edit for ages
  • 4 0
 Sick! Some serious style there.
  • 3 0
 I don't think this is his best video, but I have seen the skills of this guy before, and there is talent for the rampage.
  • 1 0
 gj wiwi, lot of improvement here since the time you had your demo 8! I'm sure your time will come, you deserve this!
  • 3 1
 Whatever his name was for rampage!!
  • 1 0
 another great example of making the most of the topography that you're given.
  • 1 0
 We need more roo... oh wait, that is already a lot of roost. Yes, no that’s good, that’ll do.
  • 2 0
 Great video work and steezy riding!!
  • 1 0
 I had not heard of him before, but I will remember his name now. Fantastic edit.
  • 1 0
 wow! so much style and bike control meeen!
Big tricks!
you got my vote for Rampage fo sho...
Cheers Wink
  • 1 0
 If you haven't seen his RAW CONTROL edit watch it asap. "RAW CONTROL - William Robert" in YT or the commencal website
  • 2 0
 WILLY BOB FOR RAMPAGE!
  • 1 1
 Takes a lot more than just skill to get too Rampage, good luck with your dream!
  • 1 0
 I know the feeling. Like a fire inside us, Each ride burns brighter!
  • 1 0
 I have not seen an mtb haiku before
  • 1 0
 I'll take trails like that over the mountains in Colorado any day.
  • 1 0
 A freeride trip to Gobi Desert before Rampage could be better.
  • 1 1
 These Two GUYS together are a f***** DREAM TEAM

Lets have some beerZ when you get back to Whiss
  • 1 0
 Best edit I've seen in a while. Yes.
  • 1 0
 I missed watching this style of edits ! super sick !
  • 1 0
 The dream job
  • 1 0
 THIS IS SICK!
  • 1 0
 Amazing video!!!
  • 1 0
 Bien fait!
  • 3 5
 GIVE HIM THE CHANCE FOR RAMPAGE... VINNY T is at Rampage but can't do things like this kid is doing ... He should be in







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