In March 2017 I went for a second trip to shoot downhill longboarding on Tenerife. Our mission on that day was to earn as many downhill kilometers as possible on the way down from the highest point of the island - El Teide (fun fact, it is also Spain’s highest mountain at 3.718m) all the way down to the southern beaches of Playa de las Americas. This is, hands down, also one of the most remarkable drives, taking your from 3559m to sea level. When shooting follows from a car it is all a game of trust - I was lucky to have Mirko Paoloni, who unfortunately got hurt in a Hollywood-worthy crash during the second day of the trip, driving the follow car. Mirko himself is one of the best skaters out there and therefore could keep up with Mariano at a safe distance of around 1m and me leaning out of the window, at around 60km/h. Good laughs guaranteed but don’t try this at home kids! Mariano Conti going full grip and taking the inside line, the sun might be shining at him, but his eyes and focus are already around the corner.
Felix Pirker

About the shot

Biography
I grew up in the heart of the Alps, the famous Arlberg. Some years ago I moved to Innsbruck to pursue my photography and broaden my skills. I took my first photos with my mum’s camera, to document my friends and my backcountry kicker building adventures and first steps in the park! At the age of 16, I used my hard-earned savings to buy my first DSLR, and I took it everywhere with me. It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship. Although my main focus is on snowsports, I admire any kind of pursuit that people follow with passion. I have been very lucky to experience some incredible adventures and witness people pushing their limits in their quest for perfection. My quest is to capture those perfect moments, when everything comes together for just a split a second. I have searched for those moments across a range of different sports, from snowboarding and skiing, to surfing and mountainbiking, to skateboarding and downhill longboarding. As all of these sports involve varying terrain and environments, it lets me draw a large amount of inspiration from the actual scenery and the uniqueness every rider brings along in style, personality and choice of trick or line. Photography has taken me to many places I would have never dreamed of. With my constant pursuit of capturing those moments, I hope there are many more adventures yet to come.