Kasspatz’n, cold beers and fancy shootings: Bryan Soderlind in Germany

The trip for issue no. 11 was your first time in Germany? Did you like it? Give us some points that come to your mind, if you think about the trip.

Bear: The trip was my first time to Germany and I loved it. Munich was so impressive and modern. Everyone drives the best sporty station wagons! Then onto the countryside I just couldn’t get over the beautiful views and great weather and open countryside. As soon as I tried some “Kasspatz’n“ I knew I was going to love the food the rest of the trip. (Note: of course that traditional meal from the Allgäu had to be offered; it’s some kind of noodles and cheese with fried onion –> delicious) The air just felt fresh everywhere we went. I was always thinking about how enjoyable it was being outside. The coffee was incredible and the beer never gave me a hangover, always appreciative of that!

Good to know you loved it, and we did so, to have you here. First on the map was the girls night shoot. What did you expect and did everything end up the way you wanted it?

Bear: I wasn’t sure what to expect on the girls shoot, but was stoked knowing I had great lighting to work with, since we rented some serious firepower. Riding at night is always difficult though. Mix in riding a really large setup and the ladies first time riding it and you never know. The setup’s distance between land and water made shooting & lighting the whole thing pretty tough. The ladies killed it though. I was so pumped on how hard they all charged it. We went late into the night shooting too. It was surreal sitting out on a SUP board at 3am under Munich Tower in Olympiapark.

You gave everything and ended up in the water. Who impressed you most, whilst shooting at the Olympiapark?

Hands down, you killed it as the girls did.

The action was so impressive, that there will be a “Pro Ladies“ category at Munich Mash 2019. For sure our shooting was a key reason, which ended in this decision. Here are some shots Bryan took at Munich during “Girls Night Out“ Shooting, that didn’t make it into print, because we had to select and some we wanted to publish again.

More about Bear tripping through Germany and Austria with us, follows on the next side.

Bear: I don’t really end up at any cable parks in the US besides Valdosta Wake Compound a few times. Places like Lake Ronix, Area 52 and Battle Falls are all privately owned 2.0 parks so I don’t see much of the “merry go round” and the public. The German parks were on another level. They were so well done and accommodating and places you could spend your whole day at. Coffee at an instant, great food, a scene of good cool riders, and all kinds of other activities.
Our couple of days staying at Turncable was incredible. It was too easy to just shoot and ride and eat and do it all over again without leaving to go anywhere else. Waketoolz Wakepark was amazing as well. Good vibes and tons of options for riding and shooting. Both parks got me re-stoked a little on wakeboarding. It’s awesome to see other riders and shoot new riders. Sometimes it’s only a handful of people I shoot in the states.

Bear: The Ötzal trip was the most epic part of the trip. I’m used to being at sea level so I struggled a little with the altitude a few days up there but I think we all did. Everything was a mission, especially getting the winch into place and walking the rope back. It was always a long deal. We had the whole place to ourselves, so we were being pretty goofy up there at times. There was a couple times some large boulders came loose and would be rolling down the mountain and it was crazy being the only ones around to watch it. We always chilled a few beers in the water during the day for after we ride, perks of a glacial lake with freezing waters. Most times driving around, Dom (Hernler) and I were up front in the van and Timo (Kapl) and Blake (Bishop) were in the back cargo part, laying on all the gear. We definitely messed with them plenty, taking turns fast and cutting the light off when we did. Haha. (laughing)

Bear: It’s always so hard to pic a favorite so I’ll go with the cover shot being my favorite. Dom really killed it coming up with that idea and I always think it’s cool when wakeboarding starts to look like something else. So many guys are great snowboarders, skaters and surfers and it’s fun to mix those sports in, cause it’s just some form of boarding sideways.

We love the cover as well. To round up the interview and in order to give those kids and photographers who are just starting with their cameras an advice: how did you get that good? Did you study photography and what is the ultimate thing to do, to get famous/successful?

Well said. We don’t know how you could get any better, as we love your work, but we are looking forward to our future cooperations. Let’s see where we meet next and when you’ll be back in Europe for some great coffee and good time shooting. Thanks for your time, Bryan.

Follow The Golden Bear on Instagram, to see more of his work: instagram.com/thegoldenbear

And for our readers. Here are some of our all time favorite shots printed in our mags within the last 5 years: