Catch up with Max right here and look out for him at a track near you as we all get back to a new normal! To the Max and back!

Max is super stoked about his new custom painted helmets.

Although we were all locked down, it looks like you took full advantage of being home. Can you tell us a bit about your experience over these weird times?

Yeah, I always try to bring some positives out of setbacks and I really tried to use the time at home as productively as I could. I’ve been riding after hours all winter long for training and now that spring has come around I’ve been building nonstop at my compound to make it perfect. The weather holds us back a bit but we’re doing our best to ride and have as much fun as possible! 

How is the bike scene in Sweden? Are there a lot of kids sending it? 

It is so cool to see the whole scene grow in Sweden and the kids are absolutely sending it. It feels like the numbers are growing all the time and I’ve noticed it way more ever since my YouTube channel started growing. They are so involved and stoked on riding, so everything evolves together! 

Boys and toys – Always having a fun time!

We see you’ve also been busy building in the compound: How beneficially is this to your skill set? And is there a feature in there that you are particularly stoked on? 

Almost all my “free time” goes into the compound and I love it, even though it’s heavy and painful sometimes haha! I like to change it up all the time, but this year we’ve rebuilt the whole small line to make it more creative. I love the little booner log we made! 

Testing his new Cannondale bikes. Photos by Andreas Karlsson.

Also seems like you have spent your time getting buff: Can you tell us about your coaching regime and how it helps you? 

I’ve been working out with a coach who is a bike rider himself and rides both dirt and freeride, so he really understands the way my body needs to perform and hold up. We’ve worked all winter on upping my max strength with heavy lifting. And also a lot of one minute high-intensity intervals to reach max pulse but still maintain quality in the repetitions. It’s the same as a slopestyle run with high pulse intervals and if your body doesn’t have the capacity to perform you’ll zone out and crash. That’s how I broke my arm in 2018. I zoned out and didn’t have the power to do a banger on the last jump.

You got to ride a few socially distanced contests like Audi Nines and the session in Are: How did these compare to contests in normal times? 

It was actually sick! I’m there to ride bikes and perform. It takes away all the surrounding distractions which allows me to just focus on riding and making something great happen! I sure miss a huge crowd screaming your name while riding but as I said earlier I try to look at all angles positively.

In this video Max presents you the massive freeride line at Audi Nines:

You also scored a 7th place at Crankworx Austria: You must have been stoked with your riding? 

Yes, I am! I know for a fact that I had more to give that day, but for me it was more about landing a run and being healthy than stepping up on the podium! The podium is still in my sights and Innsbruck was just a step in the right direction.

What happened in the finals? Watch it now:

You also have some pretty cool signature stuff out with TSG at the moment: Can you talk us through your MF1 Line? 

TSG was my first ever pro sponsor so I’m actually beyond stoked on being able to work closely with them to come up with such cool things as my own signature line! My MF1 line is inspired by earthly colours and since beige is one of my favorite colors, I thought it would be awesome to try to mix that in!

Max wanted beige for his new MF1 bike jersey. Turned out to be really nice!

And the slam section of your Perspective video is enough to make your toes curl – you must have been pretty stoked to be wearing your TSG protect?

Yeah, we have a squad of wild friends that love to come up with some crazy stuff together, so protection is key for us! We all wear TSG helmets and protection which have helped us through so often! Not sure if my knees and shins would be intact without the TSG Temper… hahaha! 

In our “What I Ride” Video Serie Max explains shows you what he likes at the Knee-Shinguard Temper A

And lastly, lockdown looks like it might have an end soon: Any plans for bike trips on the horizon? 

Other than competing again and some video projects I want to meet some fans! A road trip from Crankworx to home would be dope! Do some meet ups and session with friends and fans!

Check out all MF1 Styles and his favourite knee guard

From Audi Nines to long jump contests with inner tubes full of water Sam is the guy you want to hang with on two wheels!

TSG was luck to catch him at home during lockdown to quiz him on socially distanced bike missions, having a blast with airbags and portable ramps and to tell us more about the latest TSG SP 5 Line.

Check it out.

First off, thanks for keeping us entertained throughout lockdown? How much fun have you had?

Lockdown has ended up being really fun because luckily mountain biking was totally allowed throughout so I’ve been able to have fun and stay active the whole time!

We are loving you van full of ramps and packable airbag. That MTB Hopper Ramps and Airbag hook-up is epic!

Yeah this is so incredibly fun and I can now never moan that I don’t have a place to ride because I have so many new options with these ramps and the new airbag. The Hopper ramps can totally transform boring spots into super fun and trickable zones, I love it!

This is how to build your own fun setup with ramps and airbag.

The empty streets and urban spots must have allowed you to hit spots that you never expect to be able to?

It’s definitely been emptier on the roads with less cars but there has actually been way more people out walking and cycling so I have actually noticed more people in locations they normally wouldn’t be at. It doesn’t stop the fun though; it just means I have to wait longer until the coast is clear!

Shredding the bike park in Cornwall.

Also looks like you sent it after the first lockdown with trips to Bike Park Wales and much more?

Yeah we had a nice break in between lockdowns where I was able to get out to Morzine, in France, and shred some real downhill tracks. We also had some great adventures in the UK at Bike Park Wales and surf trips in Devon. The weather was also pretty amazing last year!

It doesn’t matter on what Sam is riding or surfing, he is always ripping it.

How was the Audi Nines too?

This event is always a pleasure to be at and the organisation did such a great job at making sure everyone was tested correctly and getting everyone riding on the sickest jumps ever! 

Watch Sam’s video RIDING HUGE JUMPS ON MY DOWNHILL BIKE – AUDI NINES FREERIDE LINE

Photographer Klaus Polzer took this amazing shot at Audi Nines 2021.

Sam, have you missed being out on the road?

Yes I love flying around and visiting new places, shredding sick riding spots and meeting my friends from all around the world. So I’ve definitely missed it, but when it opens back up again, it’ll feel even better! 

Have the travel restrictions made you be more creative? Given you a new appreciation of your home spots?

I’ve always loved my home spots and lockdown has just given me an excuse to ride them way more! 

While we are on the here and now can you tell us some stuff about your latest SP 5 line with TSG?

I love bold colours and comfy riding apparel and together with TSG we created just that! The shirt is made of a moisture wicking material, which keeps me dry even when its mega hot, and the goggle cleaner hidden in the shirt is an epic bonus that I use more than I thought I would! The technical shorts are mega comfy and stylish so I feel good shredding the trails!

Performance packed into a colourful design: The new SP 5 Line.

What is the pieces of TSG kit that you won’t get in the saddle without?

If I’m riding my dirt jump bike then I’ll be rocking the TSG Evolution helmet that has been a firm favourite of mine for over 15 years. It’s comfy, stylish, and lightweight, which makes it the perfect helmet for throwing down tricks in.  

When I ride my E-bike and enduro I like to wear the TSG Scope helmet, which is mega stylish, and with endless airflow it keeps my temperature at a good level while shredding through the woods or urban environments! Of course both helmets have saved my brain on numerous occasions and that’s why I couldn’t ride without them!

Sam wears the Scope helmet on his enduro.

And the Evolution helmet on his dirt bike.

And finally, where are you going to take us on your first How I See It when we get out of lockdown?

Hmm, I’m thinking about Miami, what do you think?

Stay up to speed with all Sam’s adventures on his YouTube channel where he’ll give you a running commentary on being stoked on life and check out his brand new signature line right here

Sam and is brother on this crazy sidecar bike.

Sam stays safe on his crazy rides with the following products:

Back to all TSG stories and news

Lockdown may have clipped his wondering wings for a year but he’s still been stretching his legs in new adventures closer to home.

To find out more about what he’s been up to, his plans for the future and to quiz him about joining the TSG Apparel team we virtually put him under the spotlight for a Q&A.

First off Alban, you must be stoked to have signed up to the TSG Apparel squad?

I think you’re right, and especially for three reasons: It’s interesting to be involved in the development of products for a Swiss company; Ruedi (the boss) is a really passionate person and that means a lot for me. And lastly, TSG is the fastest sponsor I have to produce prototypes. It’s motivating to work like that. 

Stoked about joining the TSG Apparel team.

Can you tell us a little more about the bike apparel you are working on with TSG for S22? Apparently, its inspiration is your style of adventure and travel. 

Yes, I’m involved a lot with the creation on the line-up for S22. From the type of product that TSG needs, to the colours and also the choice of fabrics. The goal is to have something very technical but very stylish, ideal to wear when you’re biking and for lifestyle.

This summer Alban Aubert will ride with some of the following bike jerseys:

Sounds very cool. Now, even though lockdown has meant you have had to stay closer to home, you have still come up with some cool missions: The environmental hook to your 3 passes story is pretty cool; tell us a little more about that? 

The idea was to ride some hiking passes in the Alps and be able to charge the battery of the ebike with green energy. I found the Kesch hut which is powered by all the green energies, of water, solar and wind. This adventure was also interesting because it shows the way to other people to do the same. After this project, the hut is investing in new solar panels to welcome other ebikers. But we need to wait until 2022 to see if it will be technically possible. 

Alban on his three passes trip.

What do you think the future of ebikes is within the mountainbike enduro clan? 

Ebike will be the future or already is. We need to work on the recycling part of the battery, which is still a problem. What amazed me with the ebike, and that we also saw on my three passes story last year, is that you can also have fun pedalling up. Before ebikes, the peddling up section was just something you needed to do to reach the downhill. With ebikes you can have fun on the way up and on the way down, and you can pedal up sections that are impossible with a normal bike.

Alban with his new e-mtb from his new sponsor Flyer.

Your second was Grimentz to St Moritz, staying over 1000m – did you solo that? And what sort of kit were you packing for that mission? 

I did this project with my girlfriend, Julia. I love the feeling of being in nature with your bike and totally free and normal bikes, rather than ebikes, give you that freedom. Expect for the food – we bought food every 2 days – we were self-sufficient with our tent, sleeping bag, stove and all the rest of the material you need for such a trip. It was a 10 days trip in the Swiss Alps with 2 sections in Italy, with the goal was to stay above 1000 meters. And we did it except once.

Descent towards Septimerpass and sunrise near Grächen.

Looking back at your records and challenges is there one which stands out from the rest and why? 

Probably the first one, the longest downhill ever – 5078 meters down the slopes of the volcano Chimborazo, in Ecuador. It’s interesting because it’s still the longest downhill ride in the world on singe trails and I learned a lot during this adventure. My biggest lesson was probably not to listen to all the people that tell you that your project is impossible.

At that time I was a Swiss guy living in Ecuador and a lot of locals told me that the downhill was not possible and that it could be dangerous. But I did a lot of scouting and searching on physical maps and I did it. Good preparation is the key for such projects and also in life in general, I think.

Alban in Ecuador on the world longest single trail downhill. He starts at 5150m. The 2nd photo was taken at 4200m with thew Chimborazo in the back.

And looking-back, how did you make the leap from coach to adventurer? What facilitated this move?  ​

For me, I never did a leap from coach to adventurer. They are a little bit the same. I like to try and experiment with new things and not to do the same thing all the time. For example, when I was coaching the Swiss DH team, I was already travelling.

In 2004, Seb and I weren’t able to be at the DH Swiss Championship because we planned a trip to Whistler and nobody told us if it was a good or bad idea to cross the world to spend 2 weeks in the same place, riding the same bike park! It’s now clear you NEED to go to Whistler as a MTB rider. Even now I’m continuing to coach for some sponsors at camps, press camps and dealer events. I’m just more concentrated on adventures because I have more time.

So now you’re on the apparel team is there any bits of TSG kit that you won’t be leaving out of your pack on your next mission? 

One product which is technical for riding and stylish for lifestyle is the TSG Insulation Jacket. I love it!

And where is that post lockdown trip going to take you? 

Good question, and to be honest, I have no idea! I’m working on three projects: One in Africa, one in Asia, and the last one in the Swiss Alps. But when I look at the actual situation, the trip will probably take me in the Swiss Alps.

What will the next trip look like?

Follow Alban Aubert on his next trips and visit his website

And check out Alban’s TEAM RIDER PROFILE

Whenever possible Alban’s dog Manchas joins him on his bike trips.

READ MORE STORIES OF THE TSG WORLD.