Masters of Vision

I want to make sure that what I started keeps going. That’s the motivation. It’s not always about winning it’s about competing against my own best self.

Thomas Frischknecht / MTB

There’s a certain culture within Oakley that I really look up to. The greatest thing that can happen to an athlete is to be respected not only for race results, but for how we can make our sport and our products better. To me, being involved in that development is as important as winning races. I’ve proven that I can ride a bike — now I have an opportunity to do something that leaves a footprint after I’m gone.

One of the founding icons of modern mountain bike racing grew from humble roots. His old man made him start on rusted, old broken bikes with bent tubes and heavy wheels to see how much the kid wanted it. The result: at 15, his father let him pick five races for the season — and Frischi won ‘em all.

Interview

The original turning point:

Even with my early success, I felt like I was always just the son of a former champion. People would kind of look at me as a great rider, but it wasn’t really a surprise. I got to the point where I had to say, ‘Hey, it’s me, and not my dad anymore!’ At 20, I wanted to find my own way, do it different than anyone else. So I came to America – and I didn’t even speak English. The adventure, going my own way, rebelling against my dad, MTB gave me the chance to escape. And I created my own image.

But you had to wait a long time to stand on top:

I’ve had some disappointments and maybe that’s why I kept trying. I had to wait thirteen years before winning my first title – I was 33. I always felt like I could win a championship, like I belonged up there. Instead of giving up, I kept trying and aimed for that goal.

You learned some tough lessons:

I’m not positive all the time. There are certain times where I just can’t be positive anymore. It’s a process –you just can’t push certain things away. Sometimes, everything isn’t fine. You can prepare, but you can never predict how you’ll end up – if you’ll get what you deserve versus what you work so hard for. Sometimes you’re good. Sometimes you suck. You can’t always depend on the result to be happy – sometimes you just go through s***.

Always striving for perfection:

My whole career, I was hoping and trying to do better the next time. Searching for that perfect performance, at that really high level. Even when I won a race, I still wasn’t perfect. I wanted to do it even better on the next ride. That’s what keeps you on top.

Lens

VR50 Photochromic View Lens in Action

Enhances green and red light, increasing contrast to help spot irregularities on the trail.
Photochromic lens technology adjusts tint to changing light conditions. Tint adjusts from 50-10% for shaded terrain to direct sun.

Learn more about Photochromic Lenses

Frame

Radar

Radar® features an interchangeable lens design that lets athletes optimize vision in any environment. A revolutionary Hydrophobic™ lens coating repels water, skin oils and debris, keeping the optics crystal clear. The frame architecture creates a cooling flow of air, and the design features an interchangeable nosepiece for a custom fit. The result is a new milestone in performance technology.

Learn more about Radar