"Embracing the Cold" – freezing missions with the German adidas crew

Every year, without fail, it comes creeping up on you. The days are getting shorter, Christmas decorations hit the shelves way earlier than they should, but you choose to ignore it for now. Then one day, you leave work eager to go for another quick skate before winter is here, only to find out the sun has already set as you watch the cloud of water vapor coming from your mouth dissipate into thin air like your dreams of filming a final clip this year.
Admittedly, I’m probably being a little overly dramatic, since there are a few good ways to spend your winter as a skateboarder — starting with a low‑budget Ryanair flight to Barcelona for a long weekend or two. Another option could be the (heated) indoor park your city has probably built over the past few years. Even sitting it out, gaming, or simply hibernating is a valid way to spend the dark season. But then, there’s also one more thing you could do if the streets are still calling your name: ignore the circumstances, rough it out, and make it work despite the weather. Take it to subway stations, quickly get a trick down the set in the lobby before you get the boot, maybe even scout Urbex forums for abandoned structures in your city that might hold a few skateable objects and a patch of dry ground.
The latter is how we chose to spend some of the coldest weeks of winter with the German adidas crew in Stuttgart, Munich, and Berlin. Stuttgart has a network of tunnels and skillfully camouflaged curbs, Munich one of the best skateable subway sets, and Berlin.. Berlin is where you really have to make an effort, meaning stealth missions over rooftops, and climbing through broken windows to find winter spots worth skating. So hats off to the whole crew for putting down the gamepad and being down to freeze with us this winter!