I’m just damn sure you know everything about Alex Barbero and his crazy BMX event he held in his home bikepark in priero, the Barbero and Friends!

This year edition is coming, so save the date for 29 and 30 of September in Priero, Cuneo!!

See you there!!

After so many articles about bmx, he couldn’t miss on Candiesmagazine.com the Italian legend, one of the few who rocks the scene even abroad, the rider from the cold Piedmont, ok, I know you understood. Welcome the man! ALESSANDRO BARBERO!!

1.Hi Ale! Thank you for your time! Of course you don’t need any presentation, everyone already knows you, but let’s follow the standard: where do you come from, how old are you and how long have you been riding?
Hi guys, I’m Alessandro Barbero, I’m 27, I come from Ceva (CN) and I’ve been riding since 1999!

2.Sponsors and hook-ups?
Red Bull, Oakley, FIAT, SkullCandy, Hyper, VANS , TSG, 43, Moskova, Woodward and Hostile

3.Every rider lives a real love story with the sport. How did it start yours? And when did you understand that the flirt with the two wheels was going to become a long-term relationship?
I’ve always been passionate about motocross, but since I hadn’t the money nor the chance to buy it, I began riding a bmx. In some ways it’s similar to motocross and a lot of motocross riders train with a bmx to find more feeling! Then I saw the X-Games with DAVE MIRRA, and since that moment there’s been nothing else to do. I wanted to ride a BMX. It has been really difficult in the beginning, at that time it was hard to find the materials and all the stuff! But I’ve always had very clear ideas in mind, I wanted to become a Pro. There’s nothing better than follow your dreams and never give up! At that time everyone was against me, I even left the school to focus only on BMX and thanks to it I’m living a nice dream and I learnt how to live and confront with the others, to travel…

4.To understand your tricks I often have to see them in slow motion. What is your favorite trick at the moment? And which one are you trying to land?
Every trick can look as easy to do if you perform it with smoothness, style and creativity. And I like it, most of all if it makes me feel good in the moment I land it, this is the core! I think next one I’ll try is 360 double opposite down whip…

5.We can say that you’re a local in Woodward, and we saw you riding a thousand spots and huge parks, among them of course we mention the huge Priero bike park! What’s the spot you like the most, the one where you really feel at home, the one you can’t wait to ride?
The spot is important, but even more important are the people you ride with. It’s so cool riding with a bunch of motivated guys who want to learn how to ride, even if it’s hard to have enough motivation to ride at an high level!

6.Talking about Priero, the Barbero and Friends has been really a huge event! [Barbero and friends]; are you planning a second round this year?
Sure, we’re working to do it again, then everything depends on the budget we’ll have. I’m really satisfied about last year event, and I want to say a big thank to anyone who, in a way or another, took part at the Barbero and Friends, it’s also thank to them if it was a success!

7.You literally rocked in Montpellier! What’s your greatest highlight from the last year of riding?
Montpellier was without any doubt a very important contest to win in Europe! Indescribable sensations, it’s impossible for me to explain what I felt during the runs in Montpellier… things like that happen only a few time in a life, do what you love surrounded by thousands of people, with jay-z in the Ipod, my brother in the public and land the Italian job at the first try, and for the first time in the world… It was so good..Thanks.

8.Is there a crew, or a bunch of friends you usually ride with when you’re in Italy? And what’s your relation with the American riders?
The Italian riders usually don’t ride with great constancy, as far I know! Here in the States everything is done with a different approach…

9.You’re also a great snowboarder, and this year you’re the new entry of the Hostile team. I’d ask you thousand questions about snowboarding, but I ask just one: park, rails or powder?
For the snowboard I could say the same things I think of BMX. Everything gives me motivation to ride, and I enjoy the riding day at most, whether snow conditions are good or not. Hostile and I have been friends for many years, even before I began to ride bmxs… so we decided to do something together, I promote snowboard as a funny sport to enjoy with a bunch of friends, I just ride to relax… Next year, 2011/2012, you’ll see the board I created together with Carletto, “Saved by my attitude”…

10.Being a pro is surely a dream for most of us. But there’s a side of the coin that not everyone knows, the side of the slams, of the sacrifices, hard trainings, travels and transfers. Do you ever feel under pressure for all those things? Or is it all about having fun?
You have to accept the consequences of being a pro, you have to know how to get up again after a bad slam, an accident, a breaking with a sponsor and so on… only a few people know what does this life mean, but the sercret is, as you said, having fun. Otherwise everything is over… You have to learn how to live with your fears, and the pressure is part of the game. You just have to turn it in something good!

11.What are your three best highlights up to now?
2 finals at the DEW Tour 2008, 1st Place T-Mobile 2007 1st Place FISE 2010

12.Ale Barbero has really got a “crazy life”? What do you do when you get off your bike?
I have a normal life, I snowboard, I hang out with friends, I train in the gym with my trainer Lorenzo, I update all my sponsors with news, and so on, and I listen to rap music…

13.Any project for the future? Where do you see Ale Barbero in ten years?
I don’t think I’ll be still riding a bmx, surely I want to move out of Italy and build something good and positive, something that keeps me busy and motivated. I’m very ambitious, I’m never satisfied! Maybe I’ll study again, I’d also like to do some charity work to help people in need!

14.We’re at the end! last lines are yours:
Do what you like to do, don’t be slave of the routine, follow your dreams and never give up, in front of anything… I thank everyone who believes in me and in my projects, and all those who love me! And do a lot of sport, which makes you feel alive… Thank you

Thank you Ale, keep on following him around the world! Represent!

Today we’re presenting you on CandiesMagazine.com a promising rider in the italian scene, fresh new entry in the Hostile team and presented by his team manager as a super stylish jibber and great rider on all terrain, from park to airs and also in the street.

Hi Francesco, thank you for this small talk, first of all let’s present you to the readers, how old are you and where are you from?

I’m 21 and I come from Genoa, even if I spend most of the winter season riding in Prato Nevoso

[Rider: Francesco Traverso, Ph: Claudio Sasso 2010]

What are your sponsors?

Hostile, snowparkpratonevosoitaly,SnowAcademy, dhis organization

How long have you been riding and what brought you to this reality?

I’ve been riding seriously for about 12 year now. I began to train in the snowboardteam runned by Gianluca “Gherry” Garberoglio and by Cesare “Terminator” Comollo in Prato Nevoso. Then, last season I did the course to become instructor and so here I am, working for the Prato Nevoso SnowAcademy.

[Rider: Francesco Traverso, Ph: Luca Piras]

Are you doing any other sport beside snowboarding, skate, surf and so on?

Yeah, I’ve always been skating, especially when I was a kid. I’ve also tried surfing, even if in Liguria is not so easy to find a spot accessible to everyone.

If you were obliged to choose between: a day in the park jibbing on rails and boxes, a day on kickers and big airs, a powder session or a street session, what would you choose? And why?

Lately I’m riding a lot on rails and boxes, also because here in PratoNevoso we have a very funny jibline, but I’ve always loved to jump, and also to spend a whole day in the pow. I try to adapt to every situation that snowboarding can offer, because I think that if you want to be a well-rounded rider you have to be skilled on every terrain.

[Rider: Francesco Traverso, Ph: Matteo Ganora]

What’s your board and bindings?

I’m newly riding on a Hostile Max 153 with the Hostile Excuse bindings.

What’s your favourite trick among those in your portfolio, and what’s the one that gave you the most satisfaction the first time you landed it?

Well, on jumps I’ve recently improved a good frontside720 sad, and it gives me a lot of satisfaction. I spent the whole month of November riding on a rubber tube where I learnt tons of new tricks, as 180in,swicth back3 out, back180 in,cab3 out and I’m working on other cool changes.

Instead, the next trick you’ll try to land and that you’re already working on?

Connecting to the previous answer, I’m trying to land frontside900 on jumps, and I’m regaining confidence with backside rotations such as back5 and back7. On rails and most of all on tubes, I’ve tons of things to learn: I’m trying to do nollie hardway back 180 in

[Rider: Francesco Traverso, Ph: Claudio Sasso 2010]

Let’s be technical: stance and bindings set up?

Well,stance 58,binding set up +15,-15;

Who’s your favourite international rider, the one who inspires you the most with his style?

Even if there are a lot of riders who inspire me, I like a lot Alex Tank’s style on rails and boxes, and the Helgasons and Gigi Ruf on jumps.

3 fav: favourite song, favourite snowboard movie and favourite resort?

In this very moment I love “better together” by jack johnson, video I’d say technine 2011, and Let s go,get lost from Isenseven, and as a resort Prato Nevoso, Italy, without any doubt.

[Rider: Francesco Traverso, Ph: Claudio Sasso 2010]

How do you feel in the Hostile family, you’ve entered only recently but can you already say what do you think about it?

Even if I’m a newbie in the team, I think that the brand is costantly growing, the boards are always improving and I can’t wait to try the next year ones. Moreover, I want to say that the team manager Marco Comisi is doing a great job, even if he has tons of things to do at work and a large family.

Tell us about the Railway to Heaven. Together with Ale Bruno you represented the Hostile team at the event. Give us you opinion concerning: a) the fun b) the organisation c)the structures.

The thing that I loved the most of the Railway to Heaven was the fun, riding together, without any restrictive runs, it was a sort of “friendly jam session”, not so easy to find one. The structures and the event organisation have been made with attention to the smallest details, with a great improvement compared to the last years editions. In the end an absolutely positive judgement.

[Rider: Francesco Traverso, Ph: Claudio Sasso 2010]

This interview is already coming to end, thank you Francesco for the time you granted us, last lines are yours, just say whatever you want!

I want to say a big thanks to gherry (and the SnowAcademy), Cesare, the guys of the PratoNevoso snowpark for their support, Michelino(already mentioned) with whom I learnt tons of new tricks; Marco, who let me enter in Hostile and all the guys of the team and Ale in particular, with whom I’ve been riding during the Railway. My family who financed and allowed me to approach this sport and a special thanks to Jess!

[Rider: Francesco Traverso, Ph: Claudio Sasso 2010]

We’ve been waiting him for a while here on Candiesmagazine.com, a dear friend and also a true snowboarder, the kind of man who puts a lot of passion and deeply believes in what he’s doing! Exactly the kind of person that we admire the most! This guy has recently become the Team Manager of Hostile Snowboard, a newco that’s working really well and promises great things for the future! It’s time to let the man talk, Marco Comisi!

Hi Marco, How are you? Tell us where and when was born the Hostile Snowboard project.

Hi guys, Candiesmagazine.com it’s so cool! Plenty of good and… juicy news ahahah!!

Hostile Snowboards was born in 1999 from Gianni Roà and his son’s mind, who were the owners of the Roà Sport store in Mondovì (CN). They have been deeply believing in snowboard since the very beginning of the 90s, when boards had a pointed shape, gloves were till the underarm, beanies till the bottom and the fluorescent riders were yelling iuhuuu iuhuuu while jumping a mini bump !!! Then, in 1999, after having grown a lot of experience in this field, they decided to create their own company, in memory of their great friend Max. So in a few years they created HOSTILE, a brand that today stands in a prominent place in the Snowboard world, and not only in Italy!

How did you come into Hostile? And how did you shift from “simple” rider to team manager?

Years ago, attending their snowboard shop I knew their super cool projects and so I began testing all their new creations and riding for them giving them my impressions; tens of Hostile boards passed under my feet!!! Every year I’m more pumped, I’m never sick of snowboard and I’m always looking for snow, rails, boxes. Snowboard – and everything concerned with – are my obsession.

Now, Andrea gave me this new role in Hostile and I want to organize tons of things: photosessions, epic days in powder, street sessions and also easy jibbing days and, of course, I’m going to follow “my athletes” through the coolest contests.

Oh, well, obviously I also keep shredding, mostly on boxes and rails, that’s where I have the most fun! I’ll keep testing boards, boots, bindings, protections and snowwear of the next collections.

[First two pictures: Marco Comisi, shot by(in order) Marco Cavallero and Hostile]

The concept behind the brand has evolved a lot during these years! What are your plans for the future?

The Hostile staff is very careful about every innovation in the snowboard world. In the last years important changes have been made – and novelties have been brought – in the board shapes and in boots and bindings’ materials. Thanks to the work of expert hands and minds, and thanks also to the tests of the athletes, Hostile Snowboards has evaluated and chosen the most important changes to make, changes that are in line with those of the main worldwide companies.

In short…also Hostile Snowboard has his Penis Rocker (banana) camber and also the Super Penis Rocker (gullwing)!!! We focus on lightness and strenght for what concerns boots and bindings and everything winking to the more fashionable fashion.

In Italy we have maybe a lot of everything but definitely not much important snowboard companies. What do you think you can give – more or differently from the others – to those who choose to ride with your products?

Men, women and children, beginners, freestylers, freeriders and snowboarders of the sunday: the 2010-2011 collection meet the needs of every rider. I’m sure that a lot of international companies would die for having in their catalogue a Pimp Me Penis Rocker or a Thunder, very technical and resistant boards, with an incredible shape and super cool graphics and at a price affordable to every wallet.

[Rider: Andrea Montecchi, photo: Andreea Sanda]

We saw a lot of new in the Team too! Who are the Hostile riders for the upcoming season?

It’s a high level team!

Alessandro Bruno is powerful and very technic, he’s really huge on big airs and rails and he does everything with a natural and unique style, he’s always sure and solid…scandinavian style….

Luca Quaglia is sort of a loose cannon, able to amaze me with crazy flips and heavy rotations, he’s a bit crazy…otherwise…he’s a skimboarder!!!

Andrea Montecchi is a super stylish jibber, his style comes directly form the purest skate, he’s always hanging around looking for street handrails…our Magoon.

Simone del Moro is a great rider, he takes parts at various contests with good results, he can close tens of tricks, riding with him is always funny and if you suggest him a new trick, he try it immediately…like when you’re playing playstation…

In January we’re going to welcome two young riders, we’re looking for them around Italy and possibly we’ll choose a guy and a girl.

And last but not least, there’s a sensational new entry, an international cooperation, but it’s too soon to tell it everyone…..ehheehehehh! Stay tuned eheh eehh

[Rider: Simone del moro, photo: Marco Candellone]

The Hostile boards graphics are really funny and in cartoons style, we like them a lot. What should we expect from the under costruction “Artist” page on www.hostile.it?

Yeah, this year graphics are very easy and funny, they’re really loved. The graphic of the Pimp is the one that I love the most: a green lawn where you can stick various stickers that are supplied with the board: flowers, worms, butterflies, a dog poop and so on… Talking about the future…a team of solid designers, who already worked for some important realities in snowboard world, are working hard to ultimate the graphics of the next collections and to further update the brand image. Heavy stuffs…

Do you have a favourite home spot? Where do the Hostilers usuallly ride?

We often ride at Prato Nevoso (CN), but we travel a lot: Bardonecchia, Cervinia, 2 Alpes and also the North-East Alps. Simone del Moro is often riding in the Center-North Italy too. Moreover, we have a lot of friends supporting us also in Sicily.

A lot of people come to our Alps, but we still have not a lot of snowparks and spots, comparing with the European cousins. What advice would you give to the director of an Italian ski resort?

I like the idea of a lot of small rails disseminated around in the slopes of a resort. I think that the Bear Mountain Park in California is the best model and everyone who runs a resort should follow its exemple. Not too many jumps (some yes, of course) and a lot of easy and funny structures.

[Rider: Luca Quaglia, photo: Claudio Sasso]

You’ve been riding around for a lot of years. Have you seen some changes in the scene over the time? Do you think that snowboarding is always the same fun as the beginnings or is it becoming too serious?

I have always more and more fun! 12 years ago I was sliding road barriers, while now companies build amazing rails and boxes!!! I think that snowboard should become even more serious than nowadays in Italy, it should be like it’s in the rest of Europe, where more money is invested and there are huge structures. Abroad, in fact, the athletes can train in a proper way and prepare to the most important contests, while here everything is still left back and the Italian pro snowboardes have to leave their country to train.

We’ve seen some tunes around on the web. When are we going to see a full team video?

We’re planning to film a HD megavideo with the cooperation of some great filmers. Starting from December…lights, camera, action!

[Rider: Alessandro Bruno, photo: Hostile]

The rivalry between snowboarders and skiers seem to be finally faded, now we ride as brothers in any park. Are we ever going to see a Hostile Skier Squad?

Hostile has already created a ski line for the freeskiers and we’re soon going to see the presentation of the new graphics for the next season! Long live the twin tip skiers!

What’s your set up for this season?

Board: Hostile Pimp Me PNR 148 o 152

Boots : Hostile Rider 41

Bindings: Hostile Excuse

We’re going to meet you soon for the next hot news! You have the last word:

Thank you Silvia and thank you Carlo, you are great!

Good mountain to you all, we’ll meet anywhere there’s some snow and something to invent! Oh yeah ciao

Thank you Marco! Check out the new Hostile decks & all the goodies on www.hostile.it!