TopShots Marisquiño 2026: Christian Stadler
Christian Stadler started photographing action sports in 1995. More than 30 years later, and based in Coruña with his family, he still looks for that perfect instant when a rider flies in front of his camera, but he admits that he is increasingly interested in everything that happens around the trick.
"The looks. The tiredness. The pain. The concentration. The anger when something doesn’t work out. And, above all, that burst of joy when they finally land the trick." His selection of #OMTopshots from Marisquiño 2026 is full of action, but also of those small stories that appear before and after: riders cheering each other on, celebrating a teammate’s success, or finding the strength to try once more, spurred on by the crowd.
Photographers also make it into the picture
This year Christian also wanted to turn the camera toward those who usually remain behind it. Lino Escuris, Josito Gómez and Álvaro Varas appear in three of his photographs as representatives of the whole team that during the festival runs from one spot to another looking for position, light and the right moment.
"They are days of 12, 14 or even 16 hours, practically nonstop, and even so the motivation is still there." For Christian, sharing the course with other photographers is also part of the experience: watching how each one interprets the same situation, discovering other approaches and learning from one another.
His selection also has a more personal side. German and with a Spanish that he himself admits he is still perfecting, he points out how from the very beginning he has felt like just another member of the team, regardless of the language or where he comes from.
And among all the images there is one especially simple one: a black-and-white portrait of Alba Pardo laughing. Christian has known her for years, from his time connected to snowboarding, and names her as one of the people responsible for his being part of Marisquiño today. "La Jefa," as he affectionately calls her, also represents in this selection all those people who work behind the festival and who rarely appear in front of a camera.
After three decades photographing snowboard, BMX, skate and other action sports, Christian continues chasing the big trick and the perfect split second. But his #OMTopshots of 2026 show that his camera is increasingly looking for something different: the people, the emotions, and everything that happens around the action.
