From Snow to Sand…
Our ambassador and professional surfer, Pauline Ado, takes you on her Samedi 26 FAT 4 to her favorite riding spots near her home in the Basque Country.
Whether in the mountains, at the beach, on skis, on a board or on a bike, the pleasure of riding is universal. Enjoy!
Recognized French professional surfer on the world stage, Pauline ADO is a name that is certainly familiar to you if you follow the World Surf League. The 2017 ISA World Surfing Champion spends a lot of time scouring the oceans of the globe, and as a native of the Basque Country, water is not her only element!
For a high-level athlete and a keen rider, living at the foot of the Pyrenees offers many advantages. You can go from the beach to the mountain in a few pedal strokes… Oh yes, we didn't specify it but Pauline has been riding a Moustache electric bike for several seasons now! Indeed, what could be more practical than our Samedi 26 FAT 4 to get to her favorite riding spots? ;-{D
On the occasion of a ride on her FAT bike, Pauline shares her typical surfer's day with us: sports session with friends, sun, waves, snow and that universal pleasure of riding that brings us all closer. On boards as on bikes, the “smiling machines” concept remains the same!
« We're gaining a little altitude to start the day. I'm already smiling thinking about our great program! My fatbike goes everywhere and allows me to gain a few hundred meters on the hike that awaits us. »
« Here we go for 500m of elevation gain. The percentage climbs gradually… and so does my heart rate! The landscapes are breathtaking and our slow ascent gives us plenty of time to enjoy the view. »
« It's time for the descent! Great thrill from the first turns! The technique isn't perfect but I'll worry about that another time. For now, we're savoring every second of our descent. »
« The day is still long and I hope to end it beautifully with a great surf session. Heading to the ocean through the pine forest. »
« Here I am on the superb Landes beaches. Conditions are optimal and I'm looking for the best spot. The waves are great and I'm the only one on this peak. Quick, not a minute to lose! »
Pauline Ado
Pauline, a few words about yourself for those who don't surf: how did you get into the water?
I was lucky enough to grow up on the Basque coast. As a child, I spent all my summers at the beach playing in the waves with my group of friends. We all quite quickly asked our parents to try surfing. My family wasn't at all involved in the sport and knew nothing about it. So they enrolled me in the local surf club at the age of 8. From the first sensations of gliding, it was love at first sight!
Over all these years, you must have scoured kilometers of coastline around the globe. If you had to pick one, which spot do you like surfing the most?
Thanks to surfing and my career, I have traveled a lot and surfed incredible waves all over the world.
But the place I love surfing the most is at home in Anglet! I have my habits, my friends there and when the weather conditions are right, the waves are magnificent!
Apart from surfing, do you have any other passions or activities?
My discipline obviously takes up a lot of my time but I love practicing all kinds of sports, especially outdoor sports. Running, hiking, skateboarding and more recently cycling! I like to vary the pleasures and it's also a great way to explore my region and the places I'm lucky enough to travel to!
Otherwise, I also get heavily involved with associations for the protection of the oceans like Surfrider Foundation and accessibility to surfing for people with disabilities with Handi Surf. These are causes that are dear to my heart and I try to get as involved as possible in their actions.
We're going to talk a bit more about your use of e-bikes, but first, can you tell us more about your commitment to ocean protection with the Surfrider Foundation?
I've been a Surfrider ambassador since 2018, but my awareness of ocean protection goes back much further. Even as a child, I was very receptive to the messages they conveyed through beach cleanups, school interventions, and the surf competitions they sponsored. At home, I insisted to the whole family to turn off the lights when leaving rooms and turn off the tap when brushing teeth (laughs)!
As an ambassador, I support their actions and relay their messages to my community. I am particularly involved in their “Ocean Initiatives” campaign, which consists of cleaning beaches. These days are a great way to raise awareness of the repercussions of our consumption habits on the environment.
You are also a Bosch ambassador and you have been riding a Moustache for several years now, how has the e-bike integrated into your daily life?
Yes, and I am also very happy to be a Moustache ambassador for some time now! My Moustache Fatbike has really completely integrated into my lifestyle. Originally, I mainly intended to use it to access surf spots around my home and do a bit of mountain biking. But I love it so much that I also use it for my daily commutes. It's so much more pleasant to get around by bike!
How do your friends and other surfers react when they see you getting around with your e-bike?
People around me think it's so cool and all want to try it ? ! It's really the best way to get around for me.
Quite a few of my friends also use e-bikes, especially surfers who opt for the fatbike model that goes in the sand.
Do you notice people around you following suit by replacing their car with an e-bike?
I live in a human-sized urban area. Public transport is not as developed as in big cities. I do see a lot of people investing in e-bikes. They still keep their car because sometimes you have to travel many kilometers to access certain services. However, they use it much less than before, preferring to travel by bike for most of their daily commutes.
One last question: what is your favorite accessory on your Moustache?
My board rack, of course ? !
