Interviews by Michael Snow

Didi Alaoui

How do you start your day? What goes into deciding what you will do and what you will wear?

Well right now I’ve got some neck pain so I’m not getting up too early. Staying in bed more than usual in the morning, but I think about what I wear the night before so I don’t waste time.

Just wake up, handle my shit, put clothes on, and go about my day.

Is your personal style or fashion important to you?

Training or working, I like to be organized. What I am going to wear represents my day. Doesn’t matter if I’m in a bad mood I’m always going to look good. Even at the super market.

Where does style come from?

Style comes from practice. For me Ollerup, the Sport School I attended in Denmark, helped with dance/flow classes. Injuries also played a role. You know “Maybe I don’t have to land correct…” It still looks good, it feels cool.

How do you create new movements, things which have never been done before?

One day I posted video of a little connection flow I did then people were already trying to do it later that day. By the time I was at the next competition people were already calling it “The Didi Roll”.

Everybody wants to be unique. It’s not easy. Creating something new takes effort. You have to make sure your brain and body can connect.

How do you train yourself? You’re also a coach how do you train your students?

I want to be better than I was yesterday. I’ll pick my best trick then try to think different. What can I add, what can I take away? It’s give and take.

For students I try to help them to find their own style. Make sure they get all the basics. From there they can develop their own personal style. They aren’t paying me enough to make a style for them. (laughs)

Where does inspiration come from for you?

My first inspiration is myself, when it comes to my style, my training. My family also plays a big part in motivating me. My mom inspires me, my dad as well. It’s always been my family. It’s weird though but I want to live for myself as well. 

I used to be inspired very easily. Now I think about what I’ve been through, I’m the one who got myself out of the dark times.

I am inspired by the water. The sunset. The mountains. The dolphins. It gives me a lot of energy.

I’m still the same kid, with a lot of respect.

Lilou Ruel

How do you start your day? What goes into deciding what you will do and what you will wear?

Wake up early, to have the whole day. Breakfast then sit and Meditate often. 10/15 min. Then stretching with coach. My outfit depends on what I’m doing, 5min to choose, when I go to party or shopping, if I’m seeing friends it takes 30 min.

What makes something (clothes/movement/art) look good to you? 

The passion and the love. Whether it’s parkour or fashion it’s art. Art is the human work which touch emotions of the public. As long as I see it as art I am free. There are no limits. To follow my heart. Let my body speak. The same for fashion or freerunning or how I move. 

The best part, one of my biggest goals, is to find the perfect mix between the way you dress and the way you move. 

What Didi said about water, that perfect balance when you find it, everything is easy. Smooth. 

What are some of your inspirations in life? (When do you feel inspired?)

It’s gotten harder when I’m older like Didi said. Not because you become too strong its because you want to become your own inspiration and inspire others. A person in the street, a bird, a painting, everything becomes inspiration. Especially in the last month I’m trying to connect other things to movement, because to me everything on earth can be connected to each other.

How do you develop your personal style?

For three years I only trained in jeans, I wanted it to be my signature. My own style to differentiate myself from the others. 13 years old. Already at that age I had this desire to have my own style and not to look like everyone else. Fashion change came before movement change.

What is different when you do a move or wear a shirt than when someone else does the same move or wears the same shirt?

When you do the sport you love with passion then you let your body and your heart speak and move the way they want.

It’s a part of me. It’s 10% and I need it to be 100%. When this part goes out, this is the moment where you are at your full potential. I know that I can be more creative. I know I am not at my full potential. Yet.