A little catch up with Ondra Slez

Merida-powered mountain bike freerider Ondra Slez from the Czech Republic has been tearing up some of the world's best freeride and jump lines over recent weeks. He’s also been making a big splash on the internet with his 6th-placed run at New Zealand’s Natural Selection competition and his recent ‘The Desert Hazard’ video, set in Utah, home of Redbull Rampage, could well be seen as his entry submission for the World’s biggest MTB freeride event.

He’s clearly a man with big plans and dreams, so we caught up with him to find out what he's got planned for the rest of the year and to learn a little more about him. We started off by talking to him about his incredible performance at the recent Natural Selection event in New Zealand and wanted to know what the experience was like - and whether he was happy with his runs.
OS: For me, it was something very new and challenging, but as soon as I got used to the runs and the setup, I completely got into it. It was so much fun! I even ended up in sixth place, which is amazing, particularly as I wasn't aiming for a good result. I was just there to take it all in and absorb the atmosphere. I am super happy, and I am definitely looking forward to doing it again next year!

Now, let's go back a few years. How did you get into the sport, and how did you end up where you are today?
OS: Long story short, while I was tattooing (Ondra is a tattoo artist by trade) at the guest spot in Austria, I hung out with a guy who worked at the Leogang Bike Park. He offered to take me out on a ride to show me what this mountain biking thing was all about. I instantly fell in love with it and haven’t looked back since. For a bit more backstory, I came from BMX freestyle, focusing on jumps and tricks. When I found out about slopestyle riding, I gave it a go, which led me to the freeride style I'm into now. It was tricky at first as I didn't know anyone in the mountain biking world, and everything else, such as events, was new to me too. I have learnt a lot since then, though, and now I feel very much at home in the MTB world.

What kind of riding do you do besides bike parks and jumping, and how do you train to perfect your craft?
OS: Honestly, I love all kinds of riding. I guess it depends on my mood on any given day. Sometimes I like trail biking, sometimes dirt jumping, sometimes rough terrain, and sometimes flow trails or bike parks. That’s actually what I love about mountain bikes: you can choose from lots of different types of riding, and they're all fun. When it comes to training, I love riding at the Kalnica Bike Park in Slovakia. It is my ‘home’ bike park and it’s perfect for freeriding. I also have a dirt jump/free ride practice spot in Czechia where I learnt tricks and practise them on the airbag or jumps. And then it’s all about repetition.

You come from Czechia, which has a buzzing freeride scene. What makes it such a special place and cool scene for riders? 
OS: Honestly, I don’t know what makes it special, but I guess there are a lot of places where you can ride and practise.  As I mentioned, I also ride in the Slovakian bike park Kalnica a lot, as it has pretty much everything you need as a freerider. So, there are plenty of great spots in both countries.

What are your favourite spots to ride in Czechia or nearby?
OS: We have some private spots around Brno. Then there is a great dirt jump spot in Senice na Hané, as well as the Koprivna Bike Park and finally the previously mentioned Kalnica Bike Park.

Tell us about your bike. What is your ‘go to’ MERIDA bike? 
OS: It kind of depends on the type of riding I'm doing. Luckily, MERIDA has something for every discipline and style of riding. One of my firm favourites is my freeride bike, which I built based on the ONE-SIXTY FR. I customised it to my preferences with 190 mm of travel at the front, a single-speed drivetrain and a bar-spin mode that allows me to perform more elaborate tricks.

You had a custom-painted frame for NST, which looked super cool – but how did you change the setup of your ONE-SIXTY FR for the event?
OS: I really loved my custom-painted design; it has a kind of white marble theme. I love how the white bike stands out in any situation and against any backdrop. I didn’t really change my setup from what I had, even though I should have, because some of the sections were really rough and a few of the big jumps needed a stiffer setup.

Which other events are on your calendar this year?
OS: There are a lot of small events across the Czech Republic and other European countries, but the bigger ones include some of the Backyard Battles, Bike Fest in Kalnica, the RW Invitational in Canada, some of the Fest Series rounds, and the Backwoods’ Jam, just to mention a few.

What would be your dream events to be part of in future? Do you have a wish list of competitions?
OS: I haven’t really shared this yet, but I am trying to get to the Rampage this or next year. That would be an absolute dream come true and is a real target of mine!

You have published a few great video projects on your YouTube channel recently. Are there any other edits on the horizon?
OS: Thank you! I just released a new one from Utah a few days ago (see details above), and a month before that, there was the Dreamland video from New Zealand. Of course, I am already trying to work on another one, but it’s always a big task because of the budgets, locations, ideas and the people to work with. I love creating, filming and being creative, so this is the direction I would like to take my riding in.

For other young riders who are keen to get involved in the sport and get better at riding bike park or freestyle lines, what suggestions and tips do you have for them?
OS: I guess do it because you enjoy it, not because you want to be like someone else. Unless you enjoy that, ha ha! Honestly, just ride as much as you can, build your own jumps and ride with friends - have fun! That’s what it’s all about!

We wish Ondra the best of luck with the season and can’t wait to check out his future video edits.

To stay connected and find out about his projects, as well as follow his progress in the various competitions he has on his calendar, make sure you follow him on his Facebook and Instagram pages and subscribe to his YouTube channel.