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THE STORY
LA is a secret spot deep inside an alluvial forest nearby a river named ‘Lech’ near Reutte/Austria. A place where Peter Kaiser could actualise his imagination and carry his dreams into reality. With time passing, LA grew into one of Austria’s most iconic dirt jump spots. It has been a spot where Peter found his kind of freedom and could progress his riding in every aspect.
Starting in spring 2013 the first shovel was thrown and the first roll-in got constructed from old lumber found in the alluvial forest. It then has been 4 years of quality times, laughs, experiences, blood, sweat and tears. From short cold winter days digging onto hours constructing roll-ins in treetops to warm summer evenings sessioning with friends. It’s been a place handbuilt with love, and ridden with the greatest pleasure.
LA was now expected to reveal its last period and it was predicted to be gone forever as the jumps were on nature protected reserve. Michael Haunschmidt and Peter Kaiser took on one last mission to give LA the appreciation it deserved before it was too late.
THE LAST ERA
Even thought spending days at LA often felt timeless, the clock was ticking and only a little period was left for everyone to contribute to its last chapter. Void is a unique short film entirely produced by a couple friends showcasing the last couple sessions that went down at LA.
Once the sun disappears, there is still a little blueish light remaining before the dark settles. Which as of short fall days and casual working hours was when Michael and Peter mainly got to shoot for this project. From the actual filming and riding onto to the entire post production - everyone who contributed to this project only did so as of true dedication to an inspiring place and an amazing project. Luca Kleinhenz has been composing an individual song entirely from scratch, while Michael has been crushing it on the editing. Meanwhile, Peter has been writing down some phrases, which later on would make for a voiceover narrated by fellow Canadian Calvin Huth. As soon as everything was in position on the timeline, Martin Rohrmoser put on the final audio mix. With the synopsis set and the deadline approaching fast, fellow friend and photographer Stefan Voitl also came out to shoot some stills prior to its demolition.
On the 20th October 2017, the LA crew plus a couple friends got to have one last session with Michael and Peter also finishing shooting for Void. A day later, the 21st October 2017 the bulldozer rolled in leaving nothing behind except some rollins high up in the treetops. It’s been one hell of a time.
THE BUILD
Every spare minute from spring 2013 until fall 2017, thousands of nails and screws, about 150,000 full shovels, circa 4,000 full wheelbarrows and around 500 tons of sand - all this and an uncountable amount of dedication is what went into turning Peter’s vision into reality.
CREDITSRiding:
Peter KaiserCinematography/Editing:
Michael Haunschmidt /
vimeo.com/michaelhaunschmidtPhotography:
Stefan Voitl /
voi.tlAerial Shots:
Matthias GarberMusic:
Luca Kleinhenz /
soundcloud.com/orangeblockSound Mix:
Martin Rohrmoser /
locationsound.at/Voicover:
Calvin HuthSpecial Thanks to the LA crew, Manuel Ehrenreich and everyone else who ever touched a shovel out there.
First, "nature protected reserve" and "thousands of nails and screws" doesn't really sound right.
Then, throwing few quotes of Aristotle and Kant makes me even more confused...
www.google.at/amp/s/mobil.derstandard.at/2000067293888/Naturschutz-Peter-Kaisers-Trainingsplatz-wurde-dem-Erdboden-gleichgemacht%3famplified=true
Worse is, it's the generation that get sites shut down are the same generation that are moaning that the country(s) is "raising pussies"
Great riding and video bro well done
In my world, MTB is a mass movement by now. Too many people to be neglected on the long run. If you care to read Jarl666's comment, in this case even the officials were ok with the spot. Their hand was just forced by some pensionist filing an official complaint. Goes to show in my eyes that it slowly becomes clear even for officials that a few nails in a tree are not THE big eco-sin. And not in the slightest compared to damage caused by say harvester machines.
So if you keep both feet on the ground, spots like this one ought to be welcomed as a good example of using nature instead of harming it.
www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=104490
This makes me warm... I read stuff like that before going to bed. I fall asleep smiling.
If you stare too long into the void the void will gaze back at you. In that moment you can choose to dive in. If you survive you will now see the world through it’s gaze. The faces terrified by the truth, holding the walls of their life from trembling by making a good face.