Street luge is a unique, exhilarating and adrenaline filled sport, involving traveling at high speed down a paved course with only a board between you and the ground. Hailing from Switzerland, Yvon Labarthe is one of the most highly renowned gravity sports athletes of his generation. His dedication to competitive street luge has seen him win titles including the Vice World Cup Series Championship 2010. IDOL caught up with Labarthe to find out why street luge is such a unique sport and what it takes to be a champion.
WHEN AND HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN SUCH AN EXTREME SPORT AS STREET LUGE?
I started rollerblading downhill after a friend introduced me to it 20 years ago, after 10 years I switched my skates for a skateboard and took part in a downhill race where I saw a competitor make a beautiful slide and I thought, “I want to do that”, so I began to seriously commit myself to downhill skateboarding in 1999. I was world champion by 2002 and three years later I switched to street luge.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE THE MOST ABOUT STREET LUGE?
I like how exhilarating and fast the downhill ride is without any form of engine, when you are at 130km/h and all you can hear are your wheels and the wind in your helmet, it's like flying.
STREET LUGE IS GAINING POPULARITY, WOULD YOU SAY THIS IS MAKING COMPETITION BETWEEN LUGERS TOUGHER?
Year after year luge riders get better and better, it's not easy to stay at the top.
YOU HAVE WON MANY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AND OTHER TITLES. WHICH ONE WOULD YOU SAY WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT OF THESE COMPETITIONS?
The 2009 season was the hardest season so far for me, trying to keep my results constant was very difficult. Sometimes you win a race easily and sometimes it's very hard, it really depends on the opponents and the track you ride. Last year, I won the world cup series with only a 0.72 point margin (on 1800 points).
YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS ARE OUTSTANDING AND YOU HAVE CONSISTENTLY CLAIMED PODIUM WINNING POSITIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU NEXT?
I just would like to continue racing and share my experience with some new riders. Ideally I’d like to stay at the top, but it is not the most important factor for me; I just would like to continue to travel through the world and meet new people and make great videos.
IS THERE A SKILL YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO LEARN BUT HAVE NEVER HAD THE TIME FOR?
Yes, Base jumping.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE DOING FOR FUN?
Snowboarding, skiing, kite surfing, mountain biking, climbing, and ping pong amongst other things.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Become to old for riding
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A BEGINNER IN STREET LUGE?
"Ride safe, and have fun!" Street luge is not very difficult to learn, anybody from 7 to 77 years old can learn, but to win a race is another story.
HAVE YOU EVER BEING THROUGH SELF-DOUBT ABOUT REALLY KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE DOING?
No, when I'm on my luge I am totally focused on what I have to do for my safety. It's like driving a car, you stay focus on the road and you know what you have to do.
IF YOU CAN TAKE A HOLIDAY RIGHT NOW, WHERE WOULD YOU GO AND WHY?
Right now, I would like to be in Canada or Alaska for snowboarding in the powder.
IN YOUR NEXT LIFE, WHAT/WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REINCARNATED AS?
I would like to be a girl to see the life from the other side, to be in the sexy part of the world.
WHO IS YOUR IDOL?
Tony Hawk
Interview by Katre Laan
Pictures courtesy of the artist
http://idolmag.co.uk/art-culture-interview/yvon-labarthe
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