Fête de la Musique: Focus on the musical riders!
On this 21st of June, a short report on these riders who are passionate about music!
Who said that riders were 100% focused on their discipline, their performances, their sporting objectives? The rider is a human being like everyone else, he also needs to relax... And what better way to do that than with a few notes of music? But some extreme sports aces are not satisfied with just listening to good sounds, they also like to play the guitar or sing a song... Let's focus on these riders musicians on this 21st June, the day of the Fête de la Musique! Just to put some melodies in your head, before going to the party tonight. Nice, isn't it?
Shaun White - snowboard/skateboard
The American, three-time Olympic snow halfpipe champion (including a crown he brilliantly won a few months ago in Pyeongchang), is undoubtedly the best example of "rider zikos"! Shaun White is a guitarist in the band Bad Things, whose fame is mainly due to the presence of The Flying Tomato in its ranks. With his instrument in hand, White doesn't hesitate to play the rebel, but you can't help but see the rider in him, at each of his stage performances. It's not certain that he'll go back to music once his career is over, but in the meantime, Shaun White is living his passion to the full, and that's probably the most important thing...
Kelly Slater - surfing
With 11 world titles to his name, King Kelly could also set up a band and use his popularity to boost his career as a rider-singer. But the American prefers to play it modest, just like what he shows on the CT world championship, and is content with a few occasional collaborations. The result is pretty cool, as this video clip shows!
Tom Curren - surfing
Triple world champion in 1985, 1986 and 1990, the legend Tom Curren has also been immersed in music for a long time. A passion born in his childhood, and which has not ceased to exist: the American rider released his first EP in 2012, and his website says "Tom Curren - Musician & surfer". Proof of the importance of melodies in his life today... A good guitarist, Curren will probably not win the same trophies as a surfer, but he has managed to pass on his two passions to his daughter Lee-Ann. The Curren family has not finished making us travel in music...
Lee-Ann Curren - surfing
Surfing is in her blood, and music is in her skin. When she's not on a session on the other side of the planet, Lee-Ann Curren (former European champion) works with her band Betty The Shark. As comfortable in her hits as she is on stage, Lee-Ann has not finished bewitching us!
Thomas Krief - halfpipe skiing
In the midst of his preparations for the Sochi Olympics, Toto Krief released a video that was a blast! The Frenchman with the lovely voice was learning to play the guitar at the time, and he won everyone's approval. Finalist of the 2018 Games, Krief may have since abandoned the guitar but we couldn't deprive you of this beautiful moment...
Justine Mauvin - surfing
Another surfer with a superb voice! Her single "Bom Bom" was a big hit on Youtube at the end of 2015, but Justine Mauvin knows how to keep her feet on the ground. Originally from Reunion Island, the talented longboarder hopes to continue her musical adventure, and why not form a band with Steph Gilmore?
Steph Gilmore - surfing
You think we only talk about surfers? But it's not our fault that they are talented guitarists! The six-time CT world champion Steph Gilmore also stands out for her ability to play some heavy music... The proof is in this video (dating from the end of 2014) where we can admire the Australian rider playing - with a certain talent - the guitar! And something tells us that she has improved even more since...
Pat Burgener - snowboard
Snowboarder and musician, Pat Burgener (5th at the Pyeongchang 2018 Games in Freestyle) has trained himself to sing, with some success. The Swiss has recently released his first EP, and doesn't intend to stop there, in every way!
Jack Johnson - surfing
Pipe Masters finalist at 17, Jack Johnson was destined for a brilliant career on the pro circuit. Unfortunately for him, a bad injury forced him to stop surfing pro, at not even 20 years old. The Hawaiian, who had been playing guitar since he was 14, then turned to music... with the same success! An absolute hit, Jack Johnson was able to record a video clip with the boss Kelly Slater, and it sounds pretty good, doesn't it?
Tom Frager - surfing
Twice runner-up in France in 1993 and 1994, Tom Frager also had to stop surfing competitively due to an injury, a bone extension in his ankle. Although he continues to ride, the native of Dakar (Senegal) is best known for his music. And in particular his third album, whose flagship song "Lady Melody" propelled him to the top of the charts in 2009... Since then, Tom has continued his journey to the delight of our ears! Yeah man...
Bastien Duverdier - skateboard
Another rider who had to stop everything due to serious injuries! Bastien Duverdier, a pro skateboarder since the age of 15, stopped competing in 2013. "At 25, I felt abnormally old, I started to have back pain. I had spondylarthritis, an inflammatory disease, I couldn't skate at all," Duverdier told Les Inrocks in May 2018. So the rider took the name Kepa and decided to start making music, as a perfect self-taught person, heading towards the blues. The result is an efficient flow and a great recognition for the Bayonne native!
Tommy Guerrero - skateboard
A member of the famous Bones Brigade, Tommy Guerrero is one of the pioneers of street skating, and is considered the very first skateboarder to be sponsored for street. Inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in May 2016, the San Fransisco kid turned to music a while back. With some serious talent...
Donavon Frankenreiter
Last but not least, Mister Donavon Frankenreiter ! This Californian is less well known than Slater and Curren, but just as talented... Frankenreiter was sponsored by Billabong at the age of 13, and is also well known in the music world. Author of seven albums in the last 15 years, the American has opened for Jack Johnson in 2005 at La Cigale (Paris) and intends to continue enchanting our ears!
Bonus - Musician riders!
Ben Harper
Ben Harper is a world-famous artist for his songs mixing folk, blues, gospel, rock, funk and reggae influences, but he is also a rider in his spare time. As the photo below, shot by Eric Hendrikx, proves! The American star, who recorded his first album at the age of 22, also likes to mix surfing with his videos, and has signed the soundtrack of a surfing movie, Let's Be Frank.
Avril Lavigne
Unless you live on the planet Mars, it's hard not to know who Avril Lavigne is! The American singer, who made herself known with the aptly named single "Sk8er Boi", is pretty good at skateboarding, although not to the level of Tony Hawk, that's for sure... Her single has put skateboarding in the spotlight, and for that alone we thank her!
Slash
A member of Guns N' Roses, Slash is quite simply a music star, ranked by several magazines as one of the best guitarists of all time. Saul Hudson (his nickname) also has a weakness for BMX, which he likes to practice on the sidelines of his tours. The proof in pictures...
Rihanna
A few days ago, we gave you our 10 tips for getting started in Stand Up Paddle. An article that Rihanna should read if she wants to progress in SUP! The paddle is indeed fashionable among the stars, who master it with more or less talent. But let's be indulgent with the Barbadian singer, she may have raised her level since then!
Flume
Flume, a name that must speak to lovers of good sounds! This Australian DJ, who has been working since he was 13 years old and whose first album, released in 2012, was acclaimed by the critics, doesn't just live for music. He is also a surfer in his spare time, and had the privilege of testing Kelly Slater's artificial wave in 2016. Check out the work...
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Red Hot, the mythical American band, includes two surfers: Anthony Kiedis and Michael "Flea" Balzary. The two zikos never miss a session, and the spirit of surfing hovers over their music... Good ride to them!
Chris Martin
The leader of the group Coldplay, Englishman Chris Martin, is also a surfing enthusiast, which he practices between two concerts when the conditions are right. Although he doesn't have Kelly's technique yet, we congratulate him for his perseverance, which proves that musicians can also handle extreme sports!
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