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The struggles of getting the hero shot: Hugo Dubé-Bouchard

Canada's largest church becomes the latest Security vs Snowboarder battleground

Set the scene- It’s early morning at Canada’s largest church, the birds are tweeting peacefully, there’s a light frosting of snow on the trees, there’s a security guard running down the steps shouting and chasing a snowboarder. That’s how it went down for Hugo Dubé-Bouchard and his photographer Jaysson Gallant when they decided to get a shot at the iconic Saint Josephs Oratory while visiting Montreal.

The Oratory is one of Montreals biggest and most beautiful tourist traps, so the lads knew it was always gonna be a high risk-high reward kinda deal. The boys decided to hit the spot as early as possible to try and minimise the amount of people that would be there and give them the largest possible of opportunity to bag the shot. The Oratory is constantly monitored so getting shots here previously had proven near impossible.

PC: Jaysson Gallant

As they arrived they began building the kicker and run in, all the while conscious of the fact that they could be caught any minute, trying to get it done as quick as possible. The first few attempts Hugo made with the bungee weren’t producing enough speed so they knuckled down again and started to add more snow and increase the length of the run up. This extra time they were spending was pushing them closer to getting busted, but the boys decided that it was worth the risk.

“Hugo knew that it was now or never and as he was strapping in they caught a glimpse of the security guard running up”

As they finished building the longer run in, a guy working at the Oratory approached them to let them know they had to remove the snow and he was obliged to call security. Hugo knew that it was now or never and as he was strapping in they caught a glimpse of the security guard running up. Hugo and his buddy locked eyes and he got the push in, just as he was about to hit the rail the guard was chasing him down and shouting. Jaysson hurried over to get the camera focused and everything came together perfectly. Hugo stomped it and Jaysson got the perfect shot.

Close encounters with security, police and angry locals are part and parcel of street riding, but when you manage to bag shots like this, you know it’s worth it. If you’ve got a hectic street riding photo or story, drop up us a line.

PC: Jaysson Gallant
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