ACHTERBAHN, EIN ULTRA-TRAILRUNNING-FILM VOLLER EMOTIONEN
Ultra trail running is more than a sport. It's a process, a lifestyle filled with ups and downs, peaks and valleys, victories and defeats. From the iconic UTMB to the historic Western States race, young director Simon Dugué takes us behind the scenes of this extreme sport with "Rollercoaster," his first feature film. How? By contrasting the stories of three high-level athletes who dedicate their lives to this passion, or perhaps obsession. In this film, Camille Bruyas, Philipp Ausserhofer, and Baptiste Chassagne are completely candid about their vision, dreams, and quest for performance in ultra trail running. They share one common denominator – the desire to feel good and start on the right foot. Or perhaps the other way around.
As a brand, we decided to co-produce "Rollercoaster" because of the values and messages it conveys, and because we believed strongly in it. We believe that to create products that are both comfortable and meet the performance needs of ultra trail runners, you must understand this sport and its characteristic rollercoaster of emotions. So fasten your seatbelts – it’s going to be a wild ride!
INTERVIEW WITH SIMON DUGUÉ, THE DIRECTOR WHO FILMS HIGH-LEVEL TRAIL RUNNING
At Sidas, helping champions reach their full potential is part of our DNA, across all sports! Telling great stories and generating powerful emotions is one of our goals, and Simon Dugué is a natural talent in this field. That’s why we partnered with this young French director, based in the Beaufortain mountains, to produce "Rollercoaster," his first short film. Here’s an interview with the fascinating individual behind the scenes, someone who expresses himself just as well with words as with his camera.
“They’re so amazing, so inspiring in their commitment, and that’s what I wanted to show!”
Simon, what message did you want to convey through "Rollercoaster"?
Historically anonymous and reserved for a small community of enthusiasts, ultra trail running has gained much more popularity in recent years, almost going mainstream. But, through the athletes I work with and my own observations, I've been able to gauge the massive difference between running for joy and striving for performance. By contrasting and comparing three talented ultra trail runners, I wanted to explore what high-level ultra trail running really entails. I wanted to find out how they felt before, during, and after their races. I discovered an extraordinarily powerful commitment – for Camille Bruyas, Philipp Ausserhofer, and Baptiste Chassagne, it’s not just about running long and fast in the mountains! It’s a life philosophy that shapes all their daily choices, a foundational approach around which everything else is constructed.
In the film, each athlete’s journey is unique. Does this prove that, in ultra trail running, the result doesn't matter in the end?
They are competitors, so the result is obviously important to them. But there’s a certain detachment from it that I’ve only seen in ultra trail running. All three of them invest an insane amount of commitment into their preparation, yet not all of them are rewarded. Baptiste Chassagne was victorious, Philipp Ausserhofer didn’t make it to the end, Camille Bruyas was held back, and yet they’re all happy when they cross the finish line. For me, this proves that it's the journey that counts more than the result itself.
“For me, this proves that it's the journey that counts more than the result itself.”
Why did you pick the title "Rollercoaster"?
The title emerged naturally during shooting as we witnessed the ups and downs of these three athletes. Their preparation, the race itself, their emotions, and their lives in general are like a rollercoaster. In a way, they’ve signed up for this, thriving on these perpetual highs and lows. Also, "Rollercoaster" is an exploration of my own experience in this sport. I’ve always heard that in running, you get a second wind after tough moments, yet I’ve never experienced it myself. For me, as the miles go by, it always gets harder. With this film, I hope I’ve finally warded off the curse!
How did you choose these three athletes: Camille Bruyas, Philipp Ausserhofer, and Baptiste Chassagne?
All three are supported by Sidas. Knowing how selective the brand is with recruiting, I knew I would meet three great athletes who are, above all, wonderful people. Characters with grit, deep conviction, and genuine passion for the sport. These three profiles also proved to be incredibly complementary. Camille Bruyas is one of the best runners, with an outstanding track record, including second place at the UTMB. Baptiste Chassagne, though newer to ultra distances, has shown real potential, and Philipp Ausserhofer brings a European perspective.
“Three great athletes who are, above all, wonderful people.”
What do you want the audience to feel after watching "Rollercoaster"?
I would love for viewers to walk away feeling inspired to experience those highs and lows. It’s like planting a small seed of curiosity, sparking an interest in venturing onto this rollercoaster, each at their own pace, discovering introspection and the connection to self and nature that ultra trail running offers.
“May this inspire each of us to venture onto this rollercoaster, each at their own pace.”
Why was Sidas the most appropriate co-producer for this film?
Sidas is fairly new to trail running, but not to high-level sports. They can justifiably claim a winning culture. Their promise is to make runners feel good in themselves by feeling good in their shoes, aiming to care for runners' feet through insoles and socks that offer maximum comfort and performance. However, through this film, they realized that to create great products, it’s essential to understand this unique sport fully, exploring both the highs and lows. Instead of a traditional launch for their new ultra trail running socks, Sidas chose to tell the story and the journey behind the product.
“Rather than a traditional launch, Sidas chose to tell the story and the journey behind the product.”
What memories stand out most from the shoot?
Filming this was an emotional rollercoaster! There were many memorable moments. Unable to choose just one, I’ll highlight a specific memory for each athlete.
Camille Bruyas: Camille impressed me with her mental shift at the 100 km mark at the Western States. Despite the challenges, she changed her mindset entirely, aiming for a top 10 finish.
Baptiste Chassagne: I’ll never forget his joy and relief upon finishing his first ultra trail race, the Transgrancanaria, in an unexpected 4th place. His embrace with his father near the finish line is one of the film’s most powerful images.
Philipp Ausserhofer: Philipp’s dignity after having to drop out at the 100 km mark of the UTMB moved me deeply. He sent a message saying he wouldn’t continue, apologizing and advising us not to wait in the cold – a message that beautifully captures the essence of ultra trail running.
THE SOCKS DESIGNED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ULTRA TRAIL RUNNING
Our technical trail and running socks have been a favorite among both elite athletes and enthusiasts alike, known for their comfort, durability, precision, and performance. For months, our R&D team worked closely with our athletes to develop socks even more tailored to ultra trail running. The question, “what makes a good ultra trail running sock?” has one answer: socks you forget you’re wearing. Welcome to the Trail Ultra sock!
