tackles one of his most difficult projects

How did you prepare for the tours in Engelberg-Titlis?

Gee Atherton: "We’d been looking at Switzerland for a while to make an edit. We identified a few key spots that looked promising but were still exploring when someone mentioned Engelberg as a possible destination. I looked it up, and we did some research—mostly by going on Google Earth and zooming in on the mountains, checking out the geography and trying to get a feel for the size and scale of the area.

It quickly became clear that Engelberg might be an incredible location. The mountains were huge, lots of off-track areas with loads of potential. I got really excited about it. That was my first introduction to Engelberg-Titlis.

From there, I got in touch with Engelberg-Titlis Tourism and the Titlis Cableways with this crazy idea, and they got back to me loving it, which was amazing! Suddenly, we had a lot of people involved, helping us make it happen. We had conversations with people from the tourism side and the cableways, and everyone was really excited for it.

We started planning straight away and arranged a scouting trip. These scouting trips are crucial for the project. It’s just a week of covering as much ground as possible—checking out every inch of the location, climbing the mountains, looking at lines, and figuring out if it’s rideable and if it’s going to look good for the edit. And when we got there, we were so impressed. These huge, massive mountains stretched out everywhere. It was beyond beautiful, like a postcard. We couldn’t wait to get started. We hiked up as many mountains as we could, and the more we explored, the more excited we got."

How was the terrain and the mountain panorama in Engelberg for filming?

Gee Atherton: "The mountains were breathtaking, and the access was really good. We used the lifts when we could, and then hiked the rest of the way, which can be difficult with all the gear, but we’re used to it. Every time we got to the top of a peak, the view was just amazing. You could see vast mountain ranges stretching out into the distance. The scenery was stunning—greenery below, snow-capped peaks, lakes. Just incredible. As for riding, we found some amazing spots, but also some really hard sections. These mountains are big, and the terrain is serious. We had to be careful. One slip could result in a dangerous fall, so we really had to be on our A-game. We needed to make sure our work was on point and that we picked our lines carefully. That’s exactly what we were after though—huge exposure and steep, difficult lines. We weren’t looking for classic mountain bike trails; we wanted something dramatic."

Is there an experience in Engelberg that you found particularly impressive?

Gee Atherton: "The thing that stood out to me the most was the contrast. One moment, you’re in this beautiful, relaxed little village, and a short ride on the lift later, you’re up on these huge, exposed mountains with sharp rocks and steep sides. You go from a safe, comfortable environment to something that fills you with fear really fast. You have to change your mindset really quickly. And then, the other way around—you can be on top of a mountain, and then suddenly you’re back in the village, having a glass of wine and enjoying a steak. I loved how quickly it shifted between those two extremes."

What special challenges or highlights did the terrain in Engelberg offer?

Gee Atherton: "We scouted the very top peak of Titlis when we were in Engelberg earlier this year. Although there was a lot of snow around, we could immediately tell that it was going to be a pretty impressive spot, so we marked it as a key location for filming. When we came back in the summer, the line had cleared up perfectly. It was exactly as we imagined. I started right at the peak, where there’s this triangle marker and a 360-degree view around you. The ridge runs sharply down toward Engelberg, and it’s super steep, rocky, and narrow. The first time we rode it, it was terrifying. There are big drops on the left, and so many sharp, jagged rocks. When you find a good line, it’s worth spending some time on it, getting to know it. After a few runs, you start to relax and know where to push, where to brake, and how fast you can go. And that’s when it starts to look natural. We rode it a few times until we were comfortable, and it became an amazing line. With rocks flying off my back wheel, I rode that rocky, narrow ridge as fast as I could. It felt like I was balancing on top of the world. The feeling of speed, with the drone chasing me, and that incredible backdrop—it’s one of my favorite scenes in the whole video."

Would you do the trip again in the same way?

Gee Atherton: "I’d love to come back. Every time we hiked up, I’d look across the mountains and see another spot that looked amazing. There’s so much to explore, I feel like we barely scratched the surface. We could’ve stayed for weeks longer, riding something new every day. We hiked for hours with bikes on our backs, and by the time we got to the top, exhausted, I’d already be spotting new locations over the next ridge. It was hard to not keep chasing those new spots and focus on those we agreed on. Engelberg-Titlis has so much untapped potential and countless hidden treasures. I can definitely imagine coming back in the future."

How would you rate the biking experience in Engelberg compared to other spots around the world?

Gee Atherton: "I was really impressed. It was awesome! My only regret is that we spent so much time on the high, exposed peaks that we didn’t get to ride the more flowy and fun trails flowy and fun trails lower down. Some of my favorite runs of the week were at the end of the day, when the cameras were off and I got to ride down the mountain. The trails were incredible, and the view with the setting sun and mist down in the valley was just amazing. Those runs showed me another side of Engelberg—the fun, flowy trails with huge potential."

Could you imagine shooting in Engelberg again? Have you discovered any other challenges in Engelberg?

Gee Atherton: "Definitely! As we were filming, we kept working section-wise, so we shot a segment, moved the whole crew and filmed the next. But on my rides back down, I kept thinking how incredible it would be to do a full top-to-bottom run. Starting from the peak and riding all the way down to the valley would pack so much variety into one ride. It might be hard to film, but I’d love to come back and ride those long lines just to see how they flow."

Engelberg-Titlis is a well know Ski resort, specially loved by Freeriders. Do you actually Ski or Snowboard in Winter from time to time?

Gee Atherton: "Yeah, I ski, and I love it! I’ve skied all my life and done a bit of snowboarding, too. It’s similar in some ways to biking, but also completely different. Whether it’s ski touring or just going downhill, I really enjoy it. A lot of people I spoke to have heard of it for the skiing and the freeriding  and told me, it was an impressive place to visit. So that might just be my next plan, to come over in wintertime and see how that goes."

How did you get into biking at this extreme level and what fascinates you about it?

Gee Atherton: "I think it’s that draw to doing something that gives you a real sense of excitement, that feeling of freedom and exploration. These projects are more than just riding in cool places. For me, it’s about pushing the limits and seeing how extreme the environment can get. It's about pushing the level of what we can do a little bit further each time. In Engelberg, for example, the scale of the mountains blew my mind compared to the projects we did in the UK. There’s no feeling like being on top of a peak, at sunset or sunrise, with just a line in front of you. These projects show you how far you can go with a good team and the right location. It’s about proving that with a bit of time and effort, you can do anything—even in places that seem impossible to ride at first glance."

Who is part of the team and what are their tasks?

Gee Atherton: "The team is super important, but we keep it small so we can move quickly. There’s Dan Griffiths, our photographer and director—he has a crucial role in overseeing everything, keeping the storyline together, and makeing sure the photographers and cameramen are where they need to be. Then there’s Brodie Hood, one of our drone and camera operators, who’s really experienced in big mountains. He’s climbed Everest twice and is part of a mountain rescue team in Scotland, so he’s a strong, reliable guy in the mountains. Jamie Robinson handles our logistics—helping with the bikes, ropes, and gear. And finally, there’s Nico Turner, who does all the beautiful FPV drone shots in the film. Our gear isn’t just typical mountain biking stuff; we also bring along climbing gear like ropes, harnesses, and even crampons, depending on the conditions. We’re out there for long days, sometimes up to 18 hours, so we also carry food and water to stay self-sufficient."

How do you tackle those physical and mental hurdles that you have to overcome on your extreme tours?

Gee Atherton: "You need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve. Once I’m committed to a project, I’m fully in, and that drive helps you push through the long days, early starts, and exhausting hikes. It’s never a question of whether or not to do it—once I commit, I’ll make it happen, no matter what. That commitment, combined with the team’s motivation, helps us overcome all the unexpected challenges that come with being in the mountains. We find a way through, even when things get tough, because we know we’re creating something unique."