Alex “Geims” Luciano is an 18 year old longboarder who lives in Cuneo, North Italy. Lucky for him, he is surrounded by mountains in every direction. The glorious panoramic views he sees daily are just outside his front door. Additionally, just a few kilometers from his home there are some of the most beautiful spots in all of Europe. This photo essay showcases just a small taste of the incredible terrain that is available. A skater since the age of 10, Geims knows these spots very well indeed. Geims was very excited to skate with the snow because he finds it gives him more adrenaline. Longboarding has given Geims a chance to travel and meet many people.
One of his favorite places to ride is the Piagge Road located in Piemont, Italy. The road is about four miles in length with a fairly rough surface due to the continuous passage of heavy trucks. However, this does not deter Geims one bit. One of the most beautiful characteristics of this spot are the four curves that follow one after the other. The unrelenting terrain does not give longboarders any chance to catch their breath! Fittingly enough, this road has been given the name “il cavatappi” (the corkscrew).
As if being close to the Italian Alps wasn’t magical enough, Cuneo is very close to the French Alps. Geims has spent a lot of time at Col La Bonette. This magnificent peak has been part of the Tour de France on four occasions. The two kilometer long teardrop road has an altitude of 9,380 feet. This makes it the highest paved road in all of Europe. From the first little town to the top there are 16 glorious miles of riding. The climb is 5,420 feet with an average percentage grade of 6.4%. In some parts of the road, the gradient reaches 15%! I love action sports and I started to photograph longboarding a few years ago for a Sector 9 Italian summer tour. I love meeting people on my skate travels. I particularly enjoy working closely with the riders in order to get the best shots I can.
I love to shoot in every weather condition. But truth be told, I honestly love the snow. During this session the weather was crazy. In the morning it was balmy 45 degrees but after a couple of hours a heavy snow storm started up. So with snow being my first passion, I knew that was my chance to get more creative.
The longboard world is care-free, friendly and you can find a lot of incredible landscapes. I’m lucky, because near my home there are some of the best longboard spots in Europe; the Alps! When I decide to shoot, I study the weather, the road and then I contact the riders to create a perfect mix between nature and skateboard. I think that when you are in the mountains with great landscapes, friends, and your camera, it’s like a perfect dream – no stress, no bad thoughts – just happiness!