Sport-heute: Sailing - Happiness and Headaches on Planet Kenya

23. September 2009, 09:35

Happiness and Headaches on Planet Kenya

Urge Kenya, downhill race on Mount Kenya, 2 – 9 February 2009

A mountain almost 5000 meters high, ten world-class downhill bikers, and a benefit race – this is Urge Kenya. For the photographer Christophe Margot the rough going and high altitude on Mount Kenya were definitely worth it. High on adrenalin, he experienced the three hardest and most fascinating days of his life on the job – a trip to another planet and back.

Brüttisellen, 22.9.09 (mk) What were you doing prior to Urge Kenya?
Christophe Margot (C.M.): I was in the Caucasus at a competition for the Freeride World Cup. Travelling from Russia to Switzerland and then to Africa was an absolute contrast.

What was your job in Kenya?
C.M. I was commissioned
by Red Bull to photograph René Wildhaber and Darren Berrecloth at the Urge Kenya. Fabien Barel had invited ten of the best downhill and freeride bikers to climb Mount Kenya together and then compete in a downhill race.

How was the climb for you?
C.M. Let me start by saying this: it was one of the hardest jobs of my life. Many of the participants arrived late because there was a delay at the airport in London due to snow. So from the beginning we were already running half a day behind. This means on the first day we had to rush in order to get from the Start, at just over 2000 meters above sea level, to Camp 1 at 3300 meters. At the same time we had to shoot photos. We arrived at nightfall.
Naturally, the hut wasn’t anything like what we’re used to in the Alps. It was a wooden hut with one sleeping room for everyone. There was a second room with a large dining table, and the porters cooked for us.

How was the second day?
C.M. On the second day we made the climb to 4200 meters. It wasn’t steep, but long. Here, too, we had to shoot as many photos as possible because during the race there wouldn’t be much of an opportunity to take a lot. Each rider would only pass by once and then it was over. So our program for the ascent was to take photos, move on, take more photos and move on and to do that at a rapid pace.

16 kilos of photo equipment, an altitude difference of 2800 meters

C.M. How many kilos of photo equipment did you allow yourself?

I had about 16 kilos of equipment with me, not wanting to have to do without. Perhaps I should have, but I hate being caught in a certain situation and not able to take a photo because I don’t have the right lens or whatever I might need. My work is too important to me.

So you had to shoot photos in a limited amount of time while making a long ascent at a high altitude. What was that like?

C.M. It was a journey into the unknown. I tried investigating our route prior to the trip, but didn’t find much information. I didn’t know what kind of landscape to expect, and I didn’t know much about the event time schedule either.
Physically, it was very strenuous. Your head gradually begins to ache at 4000 meters and you can’t concentrate very well anymore. And then Renés back brakes went out while making the climb. It was great how he pulled through with a damaged bike during this shooting.

How did he solve the problem?
C.M. I had lent my own bike to someone because I couldn’t use it while photographing. When we arrived at Camp 2 at five o’clock, René took the brakes from my bike and mounted them on his. When he was finished, though, he collapsed, practically on the spot. At that moment the altitude, the cold temperatures, the physical exertion, all probably came together. But then we ate a fine dinner, and he was fit again the next morning.

What did you do on the third day?
C.M. The photographers and camera crews went on ahead to look for a good location. We only had one chance to get shots of the race. I took a few more photos of the ascent and then looked for a good location for the descent.

Down into the valley

Where were you during the race?
C.M. I had found a super location where the riders would pass through on their way down, with a silhouette of a mountain in the background. But then all of them took a shortcut, crossed a steep slope on foot and rode the scree down. And I was far away, sitting on my super spot like an idiot. That wasn’t very cool.

It only took the bikers just over an hour to make the descent. How did you get to the finish?
C.M. I had to walk down. The camera crew had arranged to meet further down in front of a cave. From there we descended together to Camp 1. Naturally, it took less time because we didn’t have to stop and take photos anymore. Nevertheless, it still took six hours. We were picked up at the Camp and driven to the finish in a car.

How did you feel at the finish?
C.M. I was completely shattered. All three days were so fascinating, the landscape, the riders – the concentration was intense and I was pumped with adrenalin. I burnt out my motor completely. It was the same for the descent: we had to hurry, but were still in the midst of this magnificent landscape. The only thing I had eaten that day was two cereal bars. It was like I was high, but only with natural drugs.

What is so special about the landscape on Mount Kenya?
C.M. The vegetation is totally amazing, tons of plants that you’ve never seen before and that can’t be found anywhere else. It felt like I was on a different planet. The vegetation goes up very high. Then the landscape changes completely at 4000 meters: there are only crags, stones and snow-covered mountain peaks.

Biking and drilling wells

How do you feel about Urge Kenya being for a good cause?
C.M. I think it’s the only proper way to do something like this. The bikers are on bikes that cost 6000 euros, riding past people who barely have enough to eat. Without this charitable element the gap would be too great. In one way or another, we were all affected and were able to contribute to a good cause.

How does the project support people in Kenya?
C.M. I didn’t know for a long time either. We were all a bit sceptical at first about that aspect. But then a woman from the ACORD organisation met with us, and we were all convinced. It’s really a great thing. The money that’s collected goes to the Masai, who have to move from place to place in order to survive because of the water shortage. This means that their children cannot go to school anymore. Because the organisation works together with them to construct wells with water pumps, they can stay in their villages now and send their children to school.

What’s your personal summary of the Urge Kenya event?
C.M. The mood among the riders was excellent. It was a unique experience for everyone. It was also an elite event because only ten absolute top bikers were invited to participate. I think this makes a lot of sense because it’s impossible to guarantee safety on a 25-kilometer descent like that. You can’t let just anyone make that run. The riders were reminded during the briefing that they were in the middle of Africa and that they shouldn’t take any risks. They are all pros and know their limits. So there weren’t any bad falls.

Would you ever have expected ten world-class downhill bikers to climb a mountain on foot?
C.M. It astonished me, actually. Even absolute freeriders like Wade Simmons and Darren Berrecloth climbed this mountain without moaning or groaning. That’s what I find so special about mountain bikers and their sport. These people don’t do it because it’s cool, but because they love biking and being in nature. Even someone like Darren Berrecloth, who takes everything so cool. He lives on Vancouver Island, in the middle of no man’s land. He loves his bike and nature. So that was the mood as well. No one complained, everyone knew what it was about and behaved accordingly.

Are you satisfied with your photos?
C.M. Naturally, you can always take better shots. If I had had one more day, I would have been able to take many more photos, also from different angles. But under the given circumstances, I gave it my best and so I am satisfied with the photos.

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Happiness and Headaches on Planet Kenya

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