Hereseytour 0090
10 Dec 2018

PORTFOLIO - HERESY GROUP ASPHALTANIC RITES

"IT’S MORE THAN BMX, MORE THAN FLATLAND"

profile

Story: Alexis Desolneux Photos: Sevisual, Laet Gna, Stéphane Bar, Maxime Cassagne. 

Up until I was invited on a trip in 1998 in Japan, the concept of a BMX flatland tour was just foreign to me. One might wonder about the actual point of such a tour is (when a flatland spot is just what it is… flat ground), well... first of all, this is an incomplete definition. Two flatland spots are never the same, just like two street spots never are either. It is about the material, the size, the quality and the people who ride there or the ones you will meet there. Secondly, it is also about the journey, the location — city or not — its environment and the weather. And if you want to film a video along the way...  well even with flatland, the spots end up conditioning the filming. A spot may cater to one rider more than another.

Leave home with an open mind and make the best out of diversity. On tour, time is running and you better not expect a second chance, so do it now or never as it creates incredible moments. BMX brings us there, but it’s more than BMX, more than flatland, it’s a human adventure. It’s been said before but get in the fucking van and you will understand the value of such experience.

Hereseytour 0000
Hereseytour 0035

Matthieu Bonnécuelle, Bordeaux. Photo AD

"The idea was also to limit the distances and drive as little as possible everyday to have plenty of time at all stops."

Matthieu Bonnécuelle, Bordeaux. Photo Sevisual

Backwards. Balanced. Fucked. Only George Manos. Photo Stéphane Bar

So, ever since HERESY started in 2010, I thought about touring. However, because of budget reasons, it was not an option. Instead we met a few times in a couple different cities and made videos over the course of 3 or 4 days usually, with whoever from the crew was available at the time. It always turned out to be fun and productive, regardless of the weather conditions we had to deal with. No wait, the conditions actually played a part in the process of making videos we would not forget. Would we ever cross the entire city by subway and pedal two miles under pouring rain to ride beneath that dirty highway bridge just to ride? Definitely yes! But filming clips there got extra value as the elements ruined all chances to film anywhere else within that time frame. 

Hereseytour 00

Photo Sevisual

Hereseytour 0085

We are not like a band who agrees to be on the road every year, so it was not an easy task to get the six of us together. Canada, Greece, France, Austria and a filmer from Hungary. However, we left our babies, kids, girlfriends, wives, jobs, university… and managed to get together for a week of road trip. The planning part was not easy but it made us appreciate each day even more. Indeed, we loved sharing that week on the road, time flew, the energy level was high and although we all do our thing individually all year long, H E R E S Y has this collective power as soon as we are somewhere together. Photo Sevisual

"It’s been said before but get in the fucking van and you will understand the value of such experience."

Hereseytour 0055

Sebastian Grubinger. Photo Stéphane Ba

  • Hereseytour 000
  • Hereseytour 0015
  • Hereseytour 0010
  • Hereseytour 0025
  • Hereseytour 0030
  • Hereseytour 0040
  • Hereseytour 0050
  • Hereseytour 0065
  • Hereseytour 0070
  • Hereseytour 0075
  • Hereseytour 0080
  • Hereseytour

of 12

Weird one. We show up to our very first spot, the square in front of the new Arena hall in Bordeaux, recommended by Michaël. We are just getting ready to start riding. I hear Michaël next to me say "oh no" in a low voice. Now there’s guy who could be a security guard walking to us. But surprisingly, as I see his face, I notice that he is a long time friend of mine and one of the main guys running that new concert hall. He had no idea I was here and I had no idea he worked there either. He used to ride BMX he just came down from his office to say hi to the group and let us know we could film, if we're kind enough not to grind the fences. Well, it was no one’s intention to grind spectators chest high rails in front of the hall entrance anyway, not even mine haha. It was an unreal scene and a sign the trip would be special.

Hereseytour 0130

Peter Olsen, ready to battle for a clip. Photo Sevisual

"Leave home with an open mind and make the best out of diversity."

So finally, this year we could plan something and plan it in summer weather too - one week, in September, in the south of France. With only a few stops planned (Bordeaux, Toulouse and Montpellier/Baillargues - the scenes of the moment), we hoped to have luck on our side from the start. The idea was also to limit the distances and drive as little as possible everyday to have plenty of time at all stops (unfortunately we had to skip Lyon as it was not on our way). We had 3 jams scheduled with the locals and also planned to have days solely dedicated to riding together and filming a team edit. It included two full days between the Toulouse and Baillargues stops. In Onet-le-Château, Matthieu’s Bonnécuelle small hometown in the beautiful region of Aveyron, Matthieu could get the keys to the main public hall where we would be able to finally do some 'studio' style filming, something we had in mind for the two past winters but could never realise due to conflicting schedules. GROUP ASPHALTANIC RITES was filmed in four days in Bordeaux, Agen, Toulouse and Onet-le-Château.

Hereseytour 00
  • Hereseytour 0095
  • Hereseytour 0100
  • Hereseytour 0105
  • Hereseytour 0110
  • Hereseytour 0115
  • Hereseytour 0120
  • Hereseytour 0140
  • Hereseytour 0150
  • Hereseytour 0160

of 9

Hereseytour 0176

Peter Olsen interlacing back wheel moves in the Black Room. Baillargues. Photo Maxime Cassagne

"Having jams along the way really added some extra taste to the trip. Meeting the locals was essential as we visited cities we usually never travel to."

Having jams along the way really added some extra taste to the trip. Meeting the locals was essential as we visited cities we usually never travel to. It’s just nice to see all generations of riders mixing up for some good times, all on the same spot. Some ride everyday, some once a month but it doesn’t matter one second when everyone decides to join the jam. In Toulouse we even had two french street legends, Daniel Mini and Nicolas Cambon! The tour ended at Alex Jumelin’s flat school in Baillargues. The place is unique. Kids everywhere, excited to ride — or play hide and seek as the night comes. George asked himself if it was even real. And sure it was. All year long, Alex passes on his love for riding to these amazing kids. There is hope in Baillargues. And there we came playing Black Sabbath and Entombed, riding pegless in the case of George, doing what we do… And we were greeted with smiles and excitement. Thanks kids.

 Until next time…

"The tour ended at Alex Jumelin’s flat school in Baillargues. The place is unique. Kids everywhere, excited to ride..."
Hereseytour 0179

HY jam crew in Baillargues! Photo Sevisual

Related Video

HERESY - SOUTH OF FRANCE TOUR

"it’s more than BMX, more than flatland" - More Info

  • Hereseytour 0165
  • Hereseytour 0170
  • Hereseytour 0175
  • Hereseytour 0177
  • Hereseytour 0178
  • Hereseytour 0180
  • Hereseytour 0181

of 7

Previous

Hadrien Picard - Life After Print

"if you do a good job and are not an asshole then maybe some cool stuff will happen"

Next

"I enjoy filming a lot more, it’s a better vibe." Catching Up With Pat Casey

Renegade parenting and under-ramp chicken coops...

Related Content

Ad Coalesce
Play Button

ALEXIS DESOLNEUX - COALESCE

Flat With A Twist

17 Jun 2018
Bk Nx K Kl Q
Play Button

Heresy - Pendulux

Late Night Balancing Act

9 Jun 2018
Screen-Shot-2014-10-13-at-10.17.44-AM
Play Button

Heresy - Beneath

Check out Heresy's Alexis Desolneux and Sebastian Grubinger on a weekend in Vienna.

13 Oct 2014
Heresy Across
Play Button

Heresy - ACROSS

Breaking Borders

6 Nov 2017
685730936 1280X720
Play Button

ALEXIS DESOLNEUX - SKATEPARK OF TAMPA

When FLAT Meets SPOT

1 Mar 2018
Thumbnail Hysouth
Play Button

HERESY - SOUTH OF FRANCE TOUR

"it’s more than BMX, more than flatland"

10 Dec 2018
Asphaltanic Thumb
Play Button

Heresy - GROUP ASPHALTANIC RITES

Invoking The Summer Goddess And Other Equinox Incantations

31 Oct 2018
Beieve Heresy
Play Button

Heresy - Believe In A Wheel

Get Your Head Around This...

13 Mar 2018
heresy-light
Play Button

HERESY - LIGHT

Prepare to have your mind blown

26 Oct 2015
http://colonybmx.com.au/products/

Latest Content

D2 KL Hkx Hhghqdefault
Play Button

JERE GÓMEZ - 'CAMINOS'

Argentinian Talent

14 Oct 2024
Greystoke issue 2

GREYSTOKE BMX MAGAZINE - ISSUE 2 OUT NOW

132 pages of tangible, hold-in-your-hands BMX print media.

11 Oct 2024
Ncp QM Il VOF Qhqdefault
Play Button

'BAHT TIME'- JACK TOMLINSON X DIG BMX

You NEED to see this!

11 Oct 2024
V Xfb Tgz10yshqdefault
Play Button

Cold Cuts - Casey Starling - THIRTY - Kink

BTS with Cssey

11 Oct 2024
Vg Zx RBIP Hfkhqdefault
Play Button

Mosh at Posh 2024 - Hosted by Catty Woods

Tribute jam to one of the most influential trails ever

10 Oct 2024
L 4 Hk Sh Kucwhqdefault
Play Button

ELLIS OSWALD - NUTS AND BOLTS

A decade in the making

10 Oct 2024
3 QH8 U 2 Sohqdefault
Play Button

MATTES TORN - 'DREI'

3 Days / 3 Cities

10 Oct 2024
Au ZG Bf nu C Yhqdefault
Play Button

DOG DAYS 001

Day trip in the heat of Austin, TX

9 Oct 2024
Q N8k Ttuot Ehqdefault
Play Button

BOTTLE KIDS - 'TRAINING DAY'

Mikey Andrew, Ison Bogosian, Chris Kerrigan, Riley Smith, Mike Brown, and special guests

9 Oct 2024
Rjzbqwq KUG Yhqdefault
Play Button

MURRAY LOUBSER - WELCOME TO WTP

BANGERS!

9 Oct 2024
Orm LDZ7t Dohqdefault
Play Button

KANODE KNOWS - PAT FREYNE

Living the BMX and Photography Dream

8 Oct 2024
GY Gq U Kg DH Xwhqdefault
Play Button

CODY WHEELER - WELCOME TO PUSHER

New squad member

8 Oct 2024

DIG Partner stores

More Features

KG drone shot

KEEPING IT LOCAL - 20 YEARS OF KELVINGROVE SKATEPARK

Happy Birthday to our local Glasgow park.

18 Sep 2024
Jamie Pipe Tribe

A Brave New World - The history of KHE Bikes, Part 2

Taiwan, a pornstar, and innovation in a can

18 Apr 2024
Dragon Higa gap to manual copy

PROJECT X

This is Project X - This is BMX

9 Apr 2024
WILL JACKSON SOUTHPORT OLDHAM SESSION SHOT BY KANO KANE 2

WILL JACKSON - THE 'MUSCLE MEMORY' INTERVIEW

"I got my first WTP frame at the back end of 2001. Half a lifetime ago."

21 Dec 2023
Simple session 2023 boyd hilder 9

Simple Session 2023 Photo Journal

23 years and counting...

27 Sep 2023
BOH RAIL JAM 2023 47

Battle of Hastings - Photo Journal 2023

From the beach to the basement of Source Park

12 Sep 2023
Trey Jones Pocket Air1 Aguilar 2023
20230804 DIG GLASGOW 0028

30 YEARS OF DIG EXHIBITION & BSD Jam - In Photos

Jammin' and premierin'

11 Aug 2023
20230421 OHIO 0218

Postcards from Ohio - Photo Journal

3 cities, hundreds of spots

9 Jul 2023
45 dig 93 by dolecki LYNN 250 POSH

Trails Closed - The End of Posh Woods

Why the legacy of Posh will absolutely endure

14 Jun 2023
2nd angle Zack Scott DIGBMX 4

The "Full Coverage" Interview

Never underestimate the camera guy!

8 Jun 2023
Robin in Split Croatia Photo Kieran Cooper 7

Robin Bourhis “From Engineering to Riding”

The story behind his WTP 2023 Video Part

26 May 2023