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This past winter pro Snowboarders Marko Grilc (Grilo) and Roope Tonteri ventured to South Africa to film for the upcoming 4th season of Grilosodes. Hitting up some Snowboarding time at Afriski in Lesotho during our Winter Whip contest as well as some Surfing and Skating in Durban.
We caught up with both Grilo and Roope to chat about their trip and get their thoughts on, what they say was, one of the best trips of their careers.
You are a professional snowboarder. Tell us a bit about your career highlights?
Grilo: I’ve been a pro for 17 years now and there has been a lot of cool things happening. I got 4 junior world tittles when I was young, then won the Air n Style and Oneill Evolution, got 2nd at the European Open and 3rd at X Games. Red Bull made a documentary about me called the Grilomentary and now we are going into a 4th season of the Grilosodes.
Roope: I won the 2011 Burton European Open and of course biggest highlight was when I got my first real contract and realised I really could just be a snowboarder. Doing what I love to do.
You were recently out here in South Africa filming for Grilosodes. How did the trip come about?
Grilo: I just saw that you guys have a park there and I was straight in. It is exactly what we do, go to places where people don’t usually go and show that there is Snowboarding everywhere. South Africa was probably the best trip we ever been on.
Roope: Marko (Grilo) just ask me on Facebook if I’d be interested to go to South Africa. Then he sent me all the info and I got my tickets and packed my bags. I was ready to go.
What is Grilosodes about?
Grilo: It represents snowboarding as it should be, riding with your homies and having a blast. No matter where you go.
“It represents snowboarding as it should be, riding with your homies and having a blast. No matter where you go” Grilo
What was the plan coming over in terms of filming?
Grilo: We just wanted to spend some time at Afriski and ride there. Peter Peyper told me it is a super bad year but we didn’t really care. If there is snow we are in. The crew there was so tight and we really had fun. We went to check Durban also and had a sick skate and surf session.
Did you capture what you hoped to capture?
Grilo: Oh hells yeah, we got exactly what we were looking for. An adventure and a lot of fun. I would go back there in a second.
Roope: I really didn’t plan any special trick to do. it was more about having fun and just ride. I think we got lot of good footage and it was fun to film in little bit different place.
What did South Africa have to offer that you never thought possible?
Grilo: First of all, everything. I was really not sure what we were getting ourselves into but every step of the way it exceeded my expectations. You guys have a better setup than some European countries to shred on. The people and the whole scene is so sick.
Roope: When I came there I didn’t know what to expect but Afriski was cool, just a little track of snow but still, I saw lot of smiling faces and a really good atmosphere. After Afriski we went to Durban. That place was just so nice, warm weather, good skate spots, nice people. It was like California but still totally different.
“Best trip in my whole career. It was just so different than all the other trips I’ve been on” Roope.
Your first stop was Afriski in Lesotho. What was that experience like for you?
Grilo: We got there and saw just a strip of snow and for all the duds there was a feeling that they thought we would be disappointed, but as soon as I saw the setup, I was like…perfect. This is exactly the magic of Snowboarding. You travel so far and get to this patch of snow and people love it just as much as in Canada or Europe. I think that the potential of Afriski is really big and that there will be more and more people coming through.
Roope: it was great experience. It was nice to stay with locals in the back-packers place. Everyone was so nice and friendly for us. One of the highlights of the day was dinner, great food and best live music I ever heard.
Afriski doesn’t compare to some of the parks and slopes you’ve ridden around the world but for the little gem it is, what were your thoughts on the park?
Grilo: I think it does. If you saw what I grew up riding it was not even close to Afriski or if you think there are pros from places like Belgium or Verging in Canada, their hills are not even close to Afriski. So it is actually way better than you think. The shapers are killing it and they really know how to build a jump or put in a rail and that is the sick part about it. Such a sick place to ride
Roope: Park was small but really nice for jibbing. I also heard they had really dry winter so they couldn’t make that much snow, but pictures I saw from the main park previously it looked the same what we ride normally. I have to say the park they had this year it’s better than my local park at home. It wasn’t that long or that many rails but it was in better shape because these guys in Afriski really care about snowboarding and try to make best they can.
What did you think of the Winter Whip snowboarding comp we had running at Afriski?
Grilo: It was so cool, because the whole scene was there and everyone had a blast. That is what Snowboarding is about there. A crew of people coming out riding and partying. You dudes know how to have a blast and do it right.
Roope: It was great to see local guys and girls push in the limits and it was nice to see everybody really push their friends do go for it.
What did you think of the athletes and their riding over here?
Grilo: I thought that they were killing it. Some of the dudes were riding better than us. Again didn’t really think that I would see such a sick level of riding down there. If they keep doing that they will make it far and you guys will be looking at some pros in the future.
Roope: I saw lot of passion for Snowboarding, lots of happy faces, friendships and pushing each other to the next level.
After Afriski you headed to Durban to hit up some Surfing and Skateboarding. What were you thoughts on Durban?
Grilo: I was amazed, it is like a mixture of California and Bali. I already talked to my lady that we are coming down there for a surf holiday
Roope: So nice! I for sure gonna go back there.
What was it like surfing and skating in Durban?
Grilo: The piers were really good and fun. Didn’t think it would be so mellow with the crowds if you think we were right in the city. The waves were insane. We skated the stadium also and it really was a sick spot.
Roope: I didn’t go surfing but it looked really good. The skating was nice, first we went to a Skatepark next to beach and after Grilo was done with surfing we went to the plaza. That place was so cool, ledges, stairs and super smooth flat.
What was your overall impression of South Africa and your time here?
Grilo: It was the best and I will be back for sure. Can’t wait till we also release the episode and hope that people see it. I just want to thank to all the boys that made it happen, every step of the way we had help from everyone and people are actually the biggest part of the experience. respect.
Roope: Best trip in my whole career. It was just so different than all the other trips I’ve been on. Lots of new experience, new friends, it hard to put into the words because you need to go there and see what is it.
When can we expect the South African Grilosode?
Grilo: Every Grilosode comes out on first Monday of the month. So this one will be in November. 3rd I believe.
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