Fra hav til himmel med Christian Meier

'Skills are the foundation to bigger experiences, each new skill you learn gives you the confidence to go further, try new things, unlocking incredible new adventures bit by bit. It’s out there.' — Christian Meier

We recently caught up with Christian Meier, former pro cyclist and coffee extraordinaire, about his sea to summit experience in Catalonia and his learning curve with ski touring. He rode his bike from Platja d'Aro up to Vallter (151km & 2,765m of vert) before to transition to skis and summit Bastiments (8km and 735m of vert). Zero to 2,881m in one day.

Can you briefly present yourself and The Service Course?
My name is Christian Meier, I grew up in Canada, born from German parents. I decided to become a professional when I got my first real mountain bike, tearing around our rural farmland and forests. I moved to Spain in 2008 when I signed my first World Tour contract and have been here ever since, retiring from pro racing at the end of 2016. In 2015 my wife and I opened our first cafe in Girona, coffee was my other passion, followed closely by our second cafe/roastery and our cycling business The Service Course. The Service Course is a sort of a one stop shop for everything you could need to have a great cycling experience, from holidays, custom bikes, cycling kit and just about anything else. We have always focused on doing things a bit different, we work only with bike builders, mostly in steel, for example and only select partners that we really believe in their products. If we would not use it ourselves we are not selling to our customers.

How did you come up with this ski&bike idea?
Well, I like biking a lot, haha, and living in Girona we are so lucky to be able to ski in the Pyrenees in morning and later that day swim in the Med. last summer I thought it would be cool to ride from the water to the mountains and the run to the top of the highest peak in our area but I had a few injuries, then COVID so I couldn’t make it happen. Once I discover ski touring this winter I thought it could be the chance to do a winter edition of the challenge.

Photo Credit: Tristan Cardew for The Service Course

Do you like ski touring? When did you tour for the first time?
I have been loving it but I only started about a month or so ago, haha. I have always wanted to start into it but as a pro cyclist its not always so easy and I was super keen this year but we where restricted to our town over most of the winter so we couldn’t really get out. A friend of mine is a bit of a legend around here in trail running and touring so though he was gentle on me the first day out it was into the deep end after that, pushing my comfort some days that’s for sure but it has been amazing because I really live for learning new things especially new sports.

What is your favourite spot in the Pyrenees for touring?
Well so far I have only skied on Vallter which has testing snow conditions and I am really looking forward to exploring more next winter.

Do you see similarities between Randonnée and bike-packing?
Big time, I cannot wait to try a hut to hut ski this coming winter. Moving long distances over remote mountain terrain under your own power is such a rewarding experience. Growing you skills to be able to do so confidently is also a big draw for me, if that’s skiing or bike packing.

Photo Credit: Tristan Cardew for The Service Course

About that bike trip. Were you happy with that A-frame carry for the skis? How did it affect the wind resistance while riding your bike? Anything that you’d like to change in the future?
I was super happy with the set up. It was very solid, no movement at all and all the space I needed on that bag for the boots etc. I have not strapped the skis to the top tube but I prefer not to have the sensation of knees out to make space for them. The rack system just worked so well, wouldn’t change much at all.

How fresh were you when putting the skis on?
I was pretty empty when I started the ski, haha, it has already been 7.5 hours on the bike moving at a decent clip with gravel and plenty of climbing!

How were the skis? And the snow? Conditions are fairly dry in the Pyrenees this season!
Skis are amazing, so light going uphill! I still have to sharpen my skills to really get the most of them on the descents but I really love them. [editor's note, Christian owns a pair of Mountaineer 81 Skis] The snow was tough that day, the weather has been super warm and was really difficult traversing the steeper parts of Bastiments as the snow just kept falling away so I actually had to hike the last part of the climb which is not any easier in soft snow! I was cooked by the top, haha.

Photo Credit: Tristan Cardew for The Service Course

What project do you have in mind for the future that might involve skiing?
I would really love to do a hut to hut tour in the Dolomites, I would really love to explore that part of Europe more. Beyond that just gaining more experience and getting myself out there.

Last, we're all gear junkies at Moonlight HQ... Can you tell us more about the custom build that you rode? And about ATEG?
My Kit list!

BIKE
Curve GMX+
Curve Dirt Hoops Wider
Curve Walmer Bars
Thomson Stem and Seatpost
Sram Eagle Mullet Build
Ingrid POP Crankset
Crank Brother Candy Pedals
Tailfin Aeropack Alloy
Tailfin AP Trunk Top Bag
Tailfin Cargo Cage Large
Voile Straps
Apidura Expedition Frame Bag
Apidura Racing Handlebar Mini Pack

KIT
ATEG Prototypes: Shorts, Short Liner, T Shirt and 3/4 Zip Long Sleeve
ATEG Adventure Socks
ATEG x Quoc Gran Tourer Shoes
ATEG x Alba Optics Solo Glasses
Sweet Protection Outrider Mips

Photo Credit: Tristan Cardew for The Service Course