WHO IS…
Lukas Knopf
We go behind the scenes with Lukas Knopf, freeride aficionado and YouTube sensation
Lukas is a German slopestyle rider who competes at the top Diamond-level FMBA (Freestyle Mountain Bike Association)
World Tour events, where he’s ranked 11th. He’s also a keen entrepreneur, owner of Motion Clothing and has a rapidly growing YouTube following. Lukas edits his own videos documenting the life of a pro slopestyler (in German, with subtitles for international viewers). Later this year, he’ll be hitting the contest scene with a bang, hoping to repeat results like his fifth place at Crankworx Innsbruck in 2020.
WHO IS LUKAS KNOPF?
A 25-year-old freerider from Germany who loves to ride bikes and shoot videos.
WHAT ARE YOU BEST KNOWN FOR?
Crazy barspin and tailwhip combos on slopestyle courses, and videos on YouTube.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ULTIMATE FANTASY DAY?
Honestly, the same as any other, but somewhere new. I‘ve never ridden Revolution Bike Park in Wales, for example, so that’d be awesome. Then I’d finish the day off with a top-notch barbecue!
WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME AND WHAT’S THE RIDING LIKE?
A little village in Saxony, in East Germany. It‘s close to the Czech Republic and there‘s a bike park just across the border, as well as a German park 45 minutes away. But the best bit is that I have my own slopestyle compound near my house!
FIRST RIDING MEMORY?
Sending it full speed through a stream with my buddies on a €100 MTB.
WHO WERE YOUR HEROES GROWING UP?
Definitely Martin Söderström and some German riders – Marius Hoppensack and Ludwig Jäger.
WHAT GETS YOU EXCITED TO RIDE?
I‘m always in the mood to ride. Of course, seeing a cool edit from someone always helps. But after riding seriously for 13 years, it’s such a part of my day that I do it instinctively, like breathing air!
WHO’S YOUR FAVOURITE PERSON TO RIDE WITH?
A buddy called Michael Riekeberg. He’s always in a good mood, constantly laughing and it gets me stoked.
BEST TRAIL YOU’VE RIDDEN THIS YEAR?
I haven’t travelled a bunch yet, as the bike parks have only just started opening up again in Germany, so I have to say La Sorrera Bike Park in Spain. The downhill jump line was a good one!
CURRENT GO-TO BIKE?
My Rose Bikes The Bruce dirt-jumper.
FAVOURITE BIKE COMPONENT?
My hydraulic gyro, which allows me to do endless barspins and tailwhips.
IF YOU COULD ONLY RIDE ONE LOCATION EVER AGAIN, WHERE WOULD THAT BE?
Probably La Poma Bikepark in Spain. The vibe, the people, the sun, the jumps!
SCARIEST THING YOU’VE DONE ON A BIKE?
I once frontflipped a motocross kicker. A guy on an MX bike towed me in and I flipped a 15m jump on my downhill bike!
ANY HOBBIES OR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF MTBING?
I run and own a clothing company called The Motion Brand. It’s not only a job, but a passion, to come up with new ideas for clothing and design.
FAVOURITE ITEM OF CLOTHING?
We just released a new range of clothing with The Motion Brand so I’ll have to go with the new Flanell models.
MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?
Being able to do what I want for a living! I made my hobby my job and that’s better than any possession.
WHAT THREE THINGS WOULD YOU WANT ON A DESERT ISLAND?
A bike to do some car-park jibs on to kill some time, plus food and water. What else do you need, really?
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 13-YEAR-OLD SELF?
Always seize an opportunity with both hands!
IF YOU WEREN’T A PRO RIDER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?
I am so glad I don’t even have to think about ‘what ifs’, because I honestly have no idea. I always wanted to ride bikes for a living and I’m so glad it worked out.