Yama: Human Trails

IMAGES: Brian Chorski

TEXT: Pedaled with Sebastian

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IMAGES: Brian Chorski

TEXT: Pedaled with Sebastian

SCROLL

In the off-road world, every rider carries a story shaped by dust, grit, and the constant pull of the unknown. YAMA: Human Trails captures these journeys through the people who live them. This project brings together a collective of unique and authentic members of the off-road community: riders, explorers, makers, and everyday trail-seekers. Each individual has their own special story to tell—and their own approach to finding adventure off the beaten path. Through a series of portraits and rider IDs, we reveal the human side of off-road cycling: the diverse terrains they face, the rituals they carry, the choices they make, and the relationship each has with the landscapes they explore. In our first installment, we speak to Sebastien Salvant: a bike mechanic based out of Laguna Beach, California, with a lifelong fascination with all things that move on wheels—whether that’s RC cars, motocross, autos, or MTBs. Read on to meet Sebastien.

Can you introduce yourself?

Hey, I’m Sebastien Salvant aka Seb.

Where do you live?

Laguna Beach.

Why do you like cycling?

It reminds me of the freedom and exploration the bicycle brought me in my youth.

Describe your ideal route.

I have a nickname for it: the “Dragonfly” ride.

A nice, long semi-steep climb with some views and little technical features. It’s steep and slow enough to appreciate the nature around me and burn the legs, with a beautiful scenic view to catch my breath and enjoy my mid-ride snack. Then, some adrenaline with a mix of steep and slow sections and fast, technical downhill. Just enough to make you a little scared. I “Drag” my way up the hill and “Fly” on down the “Dragonfly”.

Group rides or solo?

Both. It’s nice to be in your own space and thoughts, but it’s also fun to share the stoke with a riding buddy.

What is your favorite natural element?

Mushrooms/fungi. In another life, I would have been a mycologist if I had to do it again.

Is there a place in the world that you will never tire of visiting?

Barcelona/Andorra, in the Pyrenees Mountain Range. I’ve been four or five times, and it never gets old. The terrain, people, food, and culture. Amazing.

Favorite season?

Springtime all over the world. Life is back and green. Winter in the desert is also something special.

Favorite food?

Anything plant-based! I love Vietnamese, Thai, Mediterranean (Syrian, Palestinian), and African (Ugandan, Kenyan, and Ethiopian).

Go-to coffee order?

Classic pour-over with a light-roast artisanal bean.

What do you focus on when you meet someone for the first time?

Body language and humbleness.

What change in the world do you hope for most?

Less division, more inclusion, general peace and empathy.

What musical instrument do you most enjoy listening to?

Percussion instruments and the bass. I love the rhythm of drums and the deep tones of the bass.