Assemble Your Crew competition winners: A week riding together at Rise Festival
A week at Rise. One crew. Riding every day.
That is what winning Assemble Your Crew unlocked for this year’s winners, a crew from the Alps who have been riding together for around five years.
We caught up with them to talk about how they got into riding, why they entered, and what the week was like.
The crew consists of David Oberhofer (Dave), Julian Niederkofler (Juli), Jonathan Leitner (Joni), and Riccardo Massaro (Ricky). You can find them on Instagram at @david.oberhofer, @jul.niederkofler, @jonathan.leitner, and @riccardomassaro.
Where are you all from?
We’re a crew of riders from the Italian Alps, all coming from similar mountain regions where riding is part of everyday life.
How did you each get into riding - and why focus on the park?
We all love the mountains and were naturally drawn to skiing and snowboarding from an early age. We focus on the park because freestyle is where we have the most fun. Compared to powder, the park is always there, always rideable, and a place where you can progress, ride with friends, and spend full days on snow.
How did you meet, and how long have you been riding together?
We’ve known each other for about five years. We met by chance through snowboarding, spending time in the park, and slowly became a crew by riding together more and more.
What keeps you riding every winter?
It’s fun. Simple as that.
What made you want to enter Assemble Your Crew?
We really like the Dope Snow brand, and some of us honestly needed new outfits. But more than that, the chance to experience an adventure together as a crew was just too tempting to pass up. In the end, there was nothing to lose.
What did winning as a crew mean compared to winning something solo?
Sharing is caring. We would have been happy for any of us to win, but winning together is way better because we can share the experience and the memories as a crew.
What do you think Assemble Your Crew is really about?
Having fun and sharing the best times with your friends.
What were your biggest highlights from the Rise Festival?
Riding together and exploring the mountain. Small fresh powder lines, the Dope Snow park, meeting new people, and spending an awesome week together.
What’s something new you learnt from the trip?
That the French can’t make good pizza (we’re Italian, so we can say that!) - even though the cheese fondue was amazing. And that for a big brand like Dope Snow, the community really matters. The people behind it genuinely care about the sport, the lifestyle, and passing that passion on.
What was the biggest surprise of the week?
Bongo’s Bingo. No question. And how quickly we felt part of the group. We basically knew no one at the start, yet it felt like riding around with one big family all week.
What would you say to crews thinking about entering next year?
You have nothing to lose. It is always worth a try. Even entering was fun, because it gives you a reason to ride together, create memories, and share those moments through the application video.
Any advice for making an entry feel real and stand out?
Just have fun with your friends and point the camera at each other. Ride together, take laps, and capture a normal day on snow with your crew.
Shop Dave, Juli, Joni and Ricky’s looks
Related reading: