3-5-07 // Interviewed: Richie Schley

Yorick Carroux

M: What else do you think is going to be different?

R: Well, I think I’ll spend a little more time in Europe. I think as I’m getting older as well there will be less pressure to do the gnarly, crazy stuff, which will be great.

M: I guess there’s a bit of a different model over there, something that’s been forged by Hans Rey, where it’s more about sponsoring the personality than the exploits.

Do you think you’ll be doing as many slopestyle competitions?

R: No, I probably won’t do any. I’ll be around and I’ll be involved at some point but I’m not sure if I’m going to do that kind of thing.

M: And what about going from a Canadian company that was right in your backyard to a company overseas?

R: There’s a saying. I can’t remember exactly how it goes but it’s something like, when you’re playing in your backyard you don’t get the respect, it’s only when you go to the away game. I think it’s going to be great because some of the companies that are right here are starting to do less of a good job and the companies that aren’t here are like, ‘you know what, we don’t know what’s going on so let’s get someone who’s an actual expert to tell us’.

M: Do you want to spend more time designing bikes?

R: I just want to consult on many different levels like I have been with Whistler and Adidas. I feel like I have the skill to communicate what I want and a lot of young guys don’t and I have the experience and knowledge to tell them things they might not know because of there in-house office time. They don’t have the same ‘in-the-field’ time.

M: So, I’m sure people want to know, are you taking a cut?

R: No, actually it’s better because now I’m piecing the deal together.

Blake Jorgenson/NWD

M: What do they want you to do? Where do they want you to go? Just keep on doing what your doing, shooting, being in films, that kind of stuff?

R: Yeah, more appearances at festivals. I’m going to continue to do these adventures, maybe with Hans.

M: Do you feel you’re reinventing yourself at all here with the fresh start or is this just the natural evolution of Richie Schley?

R: Maybe a little of both. I don’t know about reinventing, but it’s an opportunity for me to not be stagnant. After 10 years you grow up with these people, they sometimes see you as who you were all along and they don’t see you as the person you are today. So when you make a partnership with someone like that they only know you for today, and they just see you on that level. It’s a step that sometimes needs to be made so that you get the respect or credibility you need. Same as the backyard thing, right?

M: Anything else?

R: Maybe just keep your eye out for Rotwild because we might bring them into North America soon.

M: Are they going to design a Schley signature model do you think?

R: It’s possible.

M: What’s the sweetest bike you would pick for your style of riding?

R: There’s a Red bike, it’s a freeride bike. There’s another one called the RFC 0.4 it’s a 6.5-inch enduro freeride bike, but it rides unbelievably like a downhill bike for sub 30 pounds.

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