n° 40 – fall 2012
DESCRIPTION
30 ° degrees, the Swiss magazine of sports and recreation, 10 years of reporting, news, interviews, in 3 languages F / D / E, also avaliable on the iPadTRANSCRIPT
T H I R T YD E G R E E SI S S U E 4 0a U T U m n
2 0 1 2
Sport Five Ecuadorian volcanos in five days • Soaring the chutes by kayak • Hanging around with Anouk piola • Trango: Feats of mankind and technology on the Eternal Flame route • Climbing Pierre Avoi in autumn • The singular lines of the Petit Clocher du Portalet LIFEStYLE The Marquesas Islands, majestic ladies of the Pacific • Freeline Skates, the next urban skate sensation SocIEtY The Fincube, a home for eco-nomads • Timon Sager sees the future of travel VoYAGE Extreme bliss in the Antarctic
Editing & administrationCB Communication sàrl
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Writers (in order of appearance) Frédéric Rein, Carine Camboulives, Sabrina Belloni, Philip Baues, Daisy Gilardini, Saskia Galitch , Didier Bonvin, Jeff
Tirman, Alban Aubert, Harald Schreiber, Nicolas Zambetti, Claude , Yves Remy, Francois Egger, Stéphane Deleury
Jean-Marc Sueur, Christian Bugnon, Serge Greter.
Photographers (in order of appearance) Benjamin Thouard, Franco Banfi, Jens Klatt, Daisy Gilardini,
Freeline Sports, Inc, Timon Sager, Studio Aisslinger, Sony Music/Tony Duran, Warner Music, Sony Music, Alex Lake/Universal Music, Tom Beard / Universal Music, Touchstone
Television / Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Warner Bros, Ascot Elite, Universal, DR, Keystone, Patrice Schreyer,
Mammut/Corey Rich, Mammut/Remo Masina, Scott Noy, Claude Remy, Christophe Racat, Stéphane Deleury, www.fredophoto.ch, Arnaud Delhez, Sam Beaugey,
hôtelJ, Marco Tedesco, Michi Lerjen, Vertic SA/Jean-Marie Porcellana, Quicksilver, Annik Wetter, www.eco-made.com,
Honda, Duffy London, Pocket Knife.
Graphic design: [email protected]
(AD) [email protected]
German translation: Sabine Dröschel
English translation: Simon Till, Julia Bonte
Photo-offset printing: Images 3
Printing: Swissprinters Lausanne SA
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Impressum 30° Degrees (since 2002)N°40, autumN 2012 / Cover photo: Patrice Schreyer
,Our world is vast, rich, and above all, diverse. It is a diversity that is worth knowing, telling, and vicariously living through the accounts of adventurers and other
globetrotters – like accompanying four Swiss explorers as they set off through a frozen Nor-thern expanse, or accepting an invitation to discover Istanbul by night. Such environments are worlds apart from our own. So singular, in fact, that they seem almost otherworldly. Like Middle Earth, invented by Tolkien and brought to life on the screen by filmmaker Peter Jackson. Or the futuristic machines, identified or otherwise, which have sprung from the brain of Swiss designer Timon Sager. The visionary is always creating new worlds. Yesterday’s impossibilities become today’s realities. Who would have thought of hitting the pavement wearing Freeline Skates and experiencing the joys of "surfing" or "snowboarding" down our good ol’ sidewalks? Another day. Another (r)evolution. Inventions sometimes come to us from distant lands. Others come from right next door. For the past few months, the French-speaking Swiss website VitaVerDura gives residents of the Lake Geneva area the opportunity to have baskets of local products, grown within a 50 km radius, delivered to their home. What’s even more innovative is that they can adapt these to suit their tastes. The project targets "participative consumers" who are well acquainted with locally-sourced food, wish to reduce their carbon footprint as much as possible, and seek to promote truly sustainable development. It’s not an act of rejection; instead, cultivating local specialities within the region has paved the way for a new social and environmental harmony to flourish. And any idea that helps achieve that is a good one, regardless of its origin! So let us open up to the world, without losing sight of that which lies beside us. This is what 30 degrees would like to offer in the pages that follow.
Frédéric Rein | Rédacteur en chef adjoint
Ed-itoEd-itoEd-ito
www.30Degrees.tvwww.30Degres.tv
www.30graD.tv
Club Alpin Suisse CASClub Alpino Svizzero
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This issue is also available on the iPad. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
30° magazine, a media partner of the Swiss Alpine Club
THIRTY DEGREES | 5
spOrt Soaring the chutes by kayak 24 Five Ecuadorian volcanos in five days 82 Feats of mankind and technology on the Eternal Flame route 88 Hanging around with Anouk Piola 94 Climbing Pierre Avoi in autumn 96 The singular lines of the Petit Clocher du Portalet 100 Our friends in the far north 104 Sébastien Epiney, a runner at peace with his conscience 106 A singularly majestic flight from the top of the Drus 108
LIFestYLe News 6 The Marquesas Islands, majestic ladies of the Pacific 12 Extreme bliss in the Antarctic 30 Freeline Skates, the next urban skate sensation 39 Music: Alicia Keys, opening the door to success 56 Woman’s review: Because they’re worth it... 59 Movies: Return to Middle Earth 60 Ryan Gosling: not just a pretty face 63 Istanbul by night 68 Portfolio 72
sOCIetY Dancing with the giant rays 18 Timon Sager sees the future of travel 40 The Fincube, a home for eco-nomads 48 A new approach to local consumption 55 A better life through numbers 65 2012: The year of second screens 67 Trends 110 What’s new in timepieces 112 Post card: Stockholm, sea blue city 114
Contentsn°40autumn2012
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eNvIrONmeNt - CaNON suppOrts the wwFAt Canon, they know a thing or two about focussing. And they certainly know how to focus on a goal... Canon Europe has just renewed its partnership with the WWF for 3 years and is looking to document the state of the environment by portraying a realistic portrait of climate change to raise public awareness. The first programme supported by Canon is a 2012 Arctic expedition called “The adventures of the Arctic Tern: the last ice haven”. The aim is to collect new information about the region to plan for its future management. An interesting portrayal of an ever-changing landscape. www.fr.canon.ch
arChIteCture - aN IgLOO restauraNt at the FOOt OF mONt-FOrt There’s no chance of this igloo melting! The new Gentianes restaurant, at the foot of Mont-Fort (VS), is made of alder, a wood that is fifteen times stronger than pine. It is the first of its kind to have been built this high above sea level (2,905m). The laminated wood timber is bolted rather than glued, fittings include triple glazing and 100% flax insulation, and the heating system uses pellets. Ecology is the name of the game! Téléverbier will be opening the doors of its 400m² establishment this winter. The ground floor will be a self-service diner for up to 120 people and upstairs hungry skiers can sip a drink in the lounge while their table is prepared in the 30 cover restaurant. A sturdy building for hearty appetites! www.verbierbooking.com
mOuNtaIN CLImbINg - aN abaNDONeD attempt at FItz rOY wIth a happY eNDINg Bad weather conditions prevented Jorge Ackermann and Michi Lerjen from reaching the summit of Fitz Roy, a 3,406m summit in the Patagonian Andes between Argentina and Chili. Yet that didn’t stop them smiling. To Lerjen, the expedition was “the best I’ve ever experienced. The team, the mountain and the adventure were quite simply brilliant”. Does that mean they’ll be trying again?
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stephaNIe gILmOre asp wOrLD ChampION FOr the 5th tIme The Quiksilver ambassador Stephanie Gilmore won her 5th ASP World Tour title in Biarritz this summer. Stephanie beat Tyler Wright in the final, against a backdrop of blue skies and 1.50-2.00m waves. Glowing with happiness, she became 2012 World Surf champion, marking the culmination of a dramatic and impassioned season. www.quiksilver.com
spOrt - the bIggest INDOOr CLImbINg CeNtre IN rOmaNDY OpeNs Its DOOrsVertic-halle, the biggest rock climbing centre in French-speaking Switzerland couldn’t be more aptly named. Located in Saxon, Valais, this new hall, due to open in September 2012 has a climbing surface of 1,500m! There are 120 routes, up to 15 metres high, 2 Indian Creek style fissures, a 4.5 metre-high 180m2 boulder and a special area for children. In short, it’s a temple for rock climbers! www.vertic-halle.ch
mOuNtaIN CLImbINg - the austrIaN, ChrIstIaN staNgL reaChes New heIghts Christian Stangl has perseverance written all over him. After five vain attempts to climb K2, on the Sino-Pakistani border, the sixth attempt was successful. On 31 July 2012, the Austrian finally conquered the second highest moun-tain in the world (8,611m) whose summit is considered one of the most difficult to reach. This feat brings him a step closer to his ultimate goal: to be the first man to climb the Triple Seven Summits (the three highest summits on each continent). Watch this space...www.skyrunning.at
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Three girls, in with the latest, set off by Stand Up Paddle to explore this group of islands in French Polynesia. They recount their journey across lush vegetation steeped in culture.
The Marquesas IslandsMajesTIc ladIes OF The PacIFIc
Edwige Ibargaray, Carine Camboulives and Bénédicte Lechrist cross Taipivai bay,
south of Nuku Hiva island, by Stand Up Paddle.
Isla san BenedIcto
dancIng wIth the gIant rays
Found in tropical and subtropical waters, between the latitudes of 35°
north and 35° south, manta rays have been the stuff of many legends. Frigh-tened by their horn-like cephalic fins, the sailors of yesteryear were quick to
nickname them “sea devils”.
The Adidas Sickline team travel the world seeking the most treacherous rapids and vertiginous waterfalls in their quest to get close up and personal with the elements and test their strength. Selected excerpts.
soarIngThe chuTes By kayakSelfoss, Iceland.
Despite their harsh climate, the myste-rious, icy vastness of the poles continues to exert a powerful attraction. One veteran explorer tells us how he irreversibly suc-cumbed to their allure.
ExtrEmE bliss in thE AntArctic
Intimidating ice sculptures loom up out of the sea near Graham Land, on the Antarctic peninsula.
This 47 m2 building, designed by Berlin architects Aisslinger, is very much of its time. Contemporary and environmentally friendly, it is also easy to dismantle and rebuild. Sustainable nomadism at its best.
a hoMe for eco-noMads
The fIncuBe
The first prototype of the Fincube is located near Bolzano, in the Italian
Tyrol, and offers a panoramic view of the Dolomites.
PORTFOLIO MONTAGNEWITh KEYSTONEIconography°°°ChrIstIaN bugNON
Aerial view of the Himalayan mountain chain, on the border between Nepal and China, from which rises Everest, the highest point in the world, at an altitude of 8848 metres.
This small South American country is dotted with volcanic cones. All the more slopes to ride down! Testing at times? Certainly. Unforgettable? Totally!
fIve ecuadorIanvolcanosIn fIve days
Hans Rey followed by Alban Aubert on the slopes of Illiniza
Sur, with the majestic Cotopaxi (5897 m) in
the background.
Mam
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/Cor
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ich
David Lama follows the “Eternal Flame” route up to the sum-mit of the Nameless Tower in Pakistan.
This Valais mountain sector, sitting above Verbier, offers a
range of climbing possibilities in an imposing setting. Join us on
an intense day out.
clIMBIng PIerre avoI
In auTuMn
The steeples of Pierre Avoi (VS) as winter
approaches, with Mont Blanc in the
background.
Chri
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acat
As part of celebrating 150 years of mountain-sports equipment maker Mammut, 150 peaks will be climbed around the world, inclu-ding the north face of this granite pyramid in the Valais, up a route known as "État de Choc" ("State of Shock").
The singular lines oF
The PeTiT CloCher du PorTaleT
Nestled in the Alps of the Valais, the Petit Clocher du Portalet (2823 metres high)
provides unique clim-bing routes.
Text°°° serge greter Photos°°° hôteL j
,the sun is setting over stockholm, leaving hazy traces of pink and orange in its wake. Sitting comfortably on one of
the chaises longues on the grounds or terraces of Hotel J, we have a ringside seat to watch this magnificent spectacle. It has to be said, Hotel J enjoys a truly sumptuous setting. Perched on a lush little hill in the Nacka Strand district, the complex offers an unobstructed view of the Baltic Sea and the nearby island of Djurgården across the water. Boats endlessly criss-cross this little strait, including the shuttle boat – slower than the bus, but a lot more romantic – which connects to cen-tral Stockholm in 20 minutes.The maritime atmosphere continues in the hotel. To enter its doors is to cast off and set sail for the open seas. Indeed, “J” is a reference to the historic J-class yachts in the America’s Cup. Once “on board” you will discover a contemporary nautical style which includes white panel-ling, blue bed covers dotted with stars, little touches of red, and oak furnishings. This attention to detail holds true right down to the taps, which are brand new but vintage in style. It comes as no surprise that this establishment is part of the Design Hotels range, a selection of 200 independent hotels across the world distinguished by their architec-ture and originality.Just like Stockholm itself, Hotel J is a winning combination of the old and the new. Its communal areas, such as the restaurant and fireplace room, are housed in red-brick period buildings, while the bedrooms – there are 158 of them, 113 of which are new, dating from September 2011 – are divided across two modern buildings, the façades of which are also of reddish hue. J could just as easily stand for “just beautiful” or even “just perfect”! Superlatives which, for once, really are deserved…
www.hotelj.com
Stockholm sea Blue city
