Danny Macaskill Releases Epic New Video Titled Postcard from San Francisco.
YouTube sensation Danny Macaskill, has released his latest edit. This is his first-ever video shot completely in the United States (more specifically, San Francisco), and it’s the first time he’s shot a true “street trials” riding edit since his breakout video back in 2009 that put him on the map.
Since his breakthrough YouTube film in 2009, Danny’s profile has soared. His current viral success totals over 500 million views on YouTube alone.
In this edit, Macaskill goes back to his roots riding just the streets only for another street trials masterclass over a decade later for his 2022 edit Postcard from San Francisco, showing that he’s still got plenty of ideas – and tricks – still up his sleeve.
Action Sports Today sat down with Macaskill to talk about the film and his career.
AST: When watching this film, as a viewer you cannot help but see that you are pushing the boundaries of what the bike can do. As you create and edit such as this, do you find yourself wanting to create something that is more unique in nature or something that pushes the limits more?
DM: I think it is a little bit of both. Before the filming, there are hours on hours of searching the city and opening your eyes to every possibility around you. You look at the tall skyscrapers and the curves that the streets give you. You look at everything and make a list of the dream set ups that you found. Once you have that, the hard part begins…getting permission to ride that dream set up. With this project we had to get permits and other things like that, which was a bit new to me.
As I travel around, I always think of new tricks I want to do and when we scout the city, you look for places to be able to perform that new trick. It is fun to be able to do things that nobody has done before. In many ways, being original and creating something makes the job easier rather than struggling to understand how something was done before you and trying to duplicate or one up the trick.
AST: How long does it take to scout a city and what all is involved?
DM: We really went through the entire city at the beginning. In some ways you get nervous. Sometimes you see something that is a little bigger than you want it to be, but you know once you see it that you have to do something on it. It creates a lot of sleepless nights dreaming and crafting how you can accomplish the trick and how it needs to be set up.
AST: Mentally what do you find more challenging? The pre production set up in terms of the scouting or the permitting process which is never a guarantee or the actual riding?
DM: The scouting can be quite tiring emotionally. You get your hopes up with all the potential places that are possible to sometimes realize it is not feasible. But the most challenging is definitely the riding, especially when are having to follow tight deadlines set by the permits. You have set times to have access to that place and if you don’t accomplish what you need to at that location, you are out. Sometimes, the tricks I want to do take days to land so you have the physical aspect of the challenge but the mental challenge of knowing you are under a timeline adds to it. It can push you right to your ability limit.
AST: Of all the iconic places you rode in San Fransisco, what was your favorite?
DM: Alcatraz was incredible for so many different reasons. We had to get our own boat to transport us to the “island” in the morning and as we were on the boat ride out, the sun started to come up in the east as we were crossing under the bay bridge and the skyline of the city started to light up, it was incredible. And once we were on the island, we were the only ones there and to have the freedom to walk around Alcatraz and through the hallways was surreal. The entire process of getting to do the trick was incredible but then I realized I had to do a front flip at seven o’clock in the morning and that was tough the get psyched up at that time of the morning. Honestly, it did not go well the first go around with crashes and mechanical problems, so we had to go back a few times.
AST: In the video, the view sees five to ten minutes of cinematic gold, but beyond those minutes come from hundreds of hours and a team of support. What is it like to be powered by a strong team that help to create these career moments for you?
DM: I have been so lucky working with Red Bull for the last 13 years. I come up with all of these crazy ideas and the Red Bull team comes through and enables it all. This project was even more challenging. We started this project back in 2017 and after all the scouting and pre filming set up, I broke my kneecap. So when it was time to get back to this project, the entire team was waiting and ready to go with no hesitation. We spent the better part of a month on location to create this. Overall, from 2017 to finish, the experience was really cool.
AST: If there was one message you try to convey through your art or performance what would it be?
DM: I suppose I try to inspire people to just get out and try something they think they can do. For me, I always try to pick something just right on the edge of what I perceive I am physically, mentally or emotionally capable of so I can always find growth in my life.
