Snowpark Feldberg – Where the scene becomes family

The boot snaps into the ski bindings with a loud click, swirling up snow. Helge Röske sticks his poles in the snow and adjusts his gloves to fit his hands properly. This is already the fifth day that he has spent at the park this week. “Now during the holidays, I come here as much as I can”, the freeskier says with a laugh, his sunglasses reflecting the Down Box. He eyes the line thoughtfully and waits for the signal of the photographer. Martin Herrman has been shooting here for many years and today he chose to take pictures is positioned at the last kicker with his camera ready. He checks the external flash that he had also set up one more time, and then raises his arm. Helge drops in and the photographer follows him attentively, before getting his camera into position. “You already know whether you will get a nice shot even before the rider reaches the obstacle”, the regular photographer of the Feldberg explains us his job. “The speed, the angle – a good photographer instinctively knows if it will pay off.”
Park designer Demis Lotter has also joined the group and observes the shooting. “For us, this is a normal day, a contest or a shooting change nothing,” he says with a shrug of his shoulders. “No matter what happens, we shape the park every single day, as it always has to look perfect”. After seven years of experience as a shaper, this year he is in charge of the shape crew at Feldberg. “Besides the community, the special thing about the park is the jib line – by all means. It’s not about its width. It’s about shredding it without a break, quasi hit after hit through the whole line”. The freeskiers and snowboarders at his side nod in assent, but they still remember their scene is meeting point in a different light, too. “Before QParks took up the responsibility for the park, we did not have much, maybe a pair of self built rails and jumps, which we used to shovel up ourselves”, snowboarder Marco Volz recollects. “There was already a scene here, most of them people who started as skaters. But now you see that there’s much more to it, there are a lot more people and the park is much bigger. You take the lift, go up, notice the park and want to try it out immediately”. And this is exactly what Demis is about to do now, as he sticks his shape tool into the snow behind the Wallride and drops into the line.
The Feldberg has become the locals’ second home. “We are here every weekend and, if we can make it, we come here during the week too. As often and with so many people as possible”, Simon says, who usually films and photographs the crew’s sessions. The crew consists of some good 20 people, who are active throughout the whole year. Simon does most of his filming during summer, when the crew switches over to BMX and dirt bikes – until the first scent of snow fills the air and the park calls for them again. “In winter, I see to it that I can also shred more often”. This is why today he has left his camera aside and takes part in the shooting. The poor visibility in the park bothers nobody, as the crew knows its park and obstacles like their backyard. “The hardcore scene is what is so special and fascinating about the Feldberg. Nowhere else could you find a community as the one we have at this park”, Demis explains. This is also one of the reasons why he finds “his” park so extraordinary. “You will find tourists anywhere, along with five or six people who are there the whole time too. But here, the regulars are just so many more, it’s just unique.”
The former park designer Kristof Heidmann also recollects his time there gladly. He took care of the Snowpark Feldberg over three years, before tacking his shape tool to Sölden. “The best thing is the familiar atmosphere there. You always see the same people, most of them students, also because Freiburg is so close by. They buy themselves their season passes and go shred nowhere else, you actually end up spending the entire winter with them”, he nostalgically tells us about his time at Feldberg. “You get along with everybody, the scene is just special. During my time here, I was riding a lot with the locals. I even met my girlfriend at the park”, he says, grinning from ear to ear.
The fact that everything works like a charm at the snowpark is obviously not just thanks to the park designer and his shape crew. “Having a park and a young scene is really important to us. The offer is well received by all the guests, and this was also one of our priorities during the concept stage”, Martin Käfer explains. The technical manager of the ski area is in charge of the lifts, and is also responsible for the park as well as the related cooperation with the shape crew. “I get along very well with the park designer – same with the shapers, we see each other every day early in the morning. If any issue comes up, Demis comes to me and we discuss it”. And when they have some spare time, Martin and his colleagues also like to pay the park a visit. “But not the big jumps, obviously”, he assures us laughing. “After all I still need to be able to play my role as manager”.
We could feel this community spirit also on Saturday, on occasion of the park’s very own Bohny Masters Feldberg powered by Mini. “I am really happy to see so many people coming to the park just for the contest”, Jule Seifert observes, the overall leader of the QParks Tour. After all, riders from seven different countries gathered at Feldberg to score some important points at this QParks Tour stop. But Jule is not really nervous at all: “Of course I am excited, you do not want to delude your mates. On the other hand, I am also relaxed ‘cause this is still my park”. The atmosphere is chilled out, people know each other and chat pleasantly. The chill area has become the meeting point of the crews, antagonism is not something you will not find here. The crowd watches the competition’s runs together, is engrossed in risky tricks and unanimously groans at every slam. A collective ovation accompanies Jule as she puts on her freeskis and drops in for her last run. And a solidary cheer praises her as she steps on the top of the podium once again thanks to an almost flawless run.
Back at the shooting, the day is slowly coming to an end. The riders spent the whole afternoon at the park, hitting obstacle after obstacle. Photographer Martin reviews the shots he took nodding happily, and then begins to pack up his equipment meticulously. In the meantime, the guys sit together on the rail at his side, joke around and talk about the session and their plans for the rest of the weekend. As usual, they will end the day at their favorite bar, the Schirmbar at Feldberg. “We have already drunk one or another Cola-Weizen here in the past”, Marco laughs. Felix and Helge nod in agreement while a broad grin grows on their faces. “This is just what you need to celebrate a good session!” Tomorrow, they will be back in the park, as every weekend. Simon observes the crew’s logo on his hoodie: “We are some kind of family – because when you come up here you always find a ready welcome.”
You know what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, and this is exactly why we have gift-wrapped the day with the locals at Feldberg in a chic gallery. You can find all info on the Feldberg and the park setup on www.snowpark-feldberg.de or on our Facebook page.