This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)
Traffic, chaos, commuters. And in the middle of it all – Fabio Wibmer and his trial bike, pulling off an urban ride like no other. He’s in his own world, and he only follows one law – the Wibmer’s Law. Fabio Wibmer has been riding trial bikes since he was 14, and his latest video project has been on his mind for a while. Wibmer’s Law is a display of speed and airtime, combining perfection and power. That’s the best way Fabio knows to escape the stress of everyday life.
The Austrian cities of Vienna, Linz, Graz and Innsbruck offer breathtaking filming spots as Fabio looks for a seemingly impossible line. The great Alpine outdoors, home of the Tyrolian athlete, are also displayed in the video. “We invested a lot of time and know-how in selecting the locations,” says Fabio. “I had a very clear trick list in mind, and we found the spots where they could work out.”
So, help yourself to Fabio’s latest selection of tricks, some of them captured on camera for the first time. He turned city centres into playgrounds with the help of a small team of cameramen, technicians and extras, trying some of the tricks hundreds of times before everything was captured properly. “When we’re on the road for a video, nothing is done without the camera rolling,” explains Fabio. “Imagine if you send the trick but it’s not on film… that’s just not possible! Something funny happened… or rather, not so funny. One of the moves was a real challenge, especially when it came to timing. After about 200 attempts, we managed one perfect trick. But the camera has a recording error. So frustrating – we had to start from scratch!” He adds, “If something gets in my head, I get it done – even if it takes forever!” And Wibmer’s Law definitely shows where the rider’s head is at. Fabio is all about mastering his bike skills, but also becoming a video artist playing with the essence of his sport.
When life is too hectic, work too stressful, and the city too loud – log off, jump on a bike and write your own laws. It doesn’t have to be Wibmer’s Law, though that’s a fun one to watch.