At 16, Enzo Candaten is already developing a clear sense of identity in freeride. Based in Braine-le-Comte, Belgium, his riding pulls from BMX foundations, old school influence and a growing confidence on bigger features. What stands out is not just progression, but the way he approaches it, with patience, awareness and a strong understanding of his own process.

From race starts to freeride lines

Enzo’s entry point into riding was BMX racing, where structure and repetition shape how you learn. Over time, that began to shift. The jumps became more interesting than the stopwatch, and by 2019 he had moved away from racing and into bike parks, where the focus opened up.

“I started as a small racer and grew up into a freerider.”

Freeride gave him something different. Instead of repeating the same lap, every run became an opportunity to interpret the trail in his own way. His style reflects the riding he has grown up watching, particularly old school freeride and FMX, which shows through in the tricks he gravitates towards and the way he carries speed and flow through a line. There is a clear emphasis on enjoying the run as much as progressing it.

Learning how to progress

Freeride does not offer clean progression. Tricks take time to land consistently, and new features often require multiple attempts before they feel comfortable. Enzo approaches that with a level head. When something does not go to plan, he does not force it. Instead, he takes a step back, clears his mind and removes any pressure before trying again.

“It’s better to not rush. That’s when you fall.”

That mindset has been shaped by more than just riding. Enzo was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, and has undergone multiple surgeries throughout his life, including several in recent years. Each one has meant time away from the bike, followed by a gradual return where strength, timing and control need to be rebuilt.

It is not something he centres his riding around, but it has influenced how he approaches progression. After time off, tricks do not always come back immediately, and there is an understanding that everything has to be earned again. That patience carries through into how he rides day to day. He builds up to features properly, takes the time to feel things out, and avoids rushing into something before it is ready.

Freeride is often described as physical, but the mental side is just as important. For Enzo, managing that is key. When a trick does not land or a run falls apart, he resets rather than dwelling on it. A crash becomes something to learn from, helping him adjust and move forward with more clarity the next time he rolls in.

Protection that fits the way he rides

Enzo rides in ION protection powered by RE ZRO®, and for his style of riding, how that protection feels is just as important as how it performs. Freeride demands full range of movement, particularly on bigger jumps and extensions where any restriction can affect how a trick comes together.

“I need to be free when I move on a jump, when I do a trick or when I go for a big extension. If I don’t get that liberty, my riding changes.”

RE ZRO® is built on shear-thinning technology, which allows the material to remain soft and flexible while riding, before managing energy when an impact occurs. In practice, that means the protection does not interfere with movement, but still provides the level of confidence needed when things do not go perfectly.

For Enzo, that confidence is important. He knows that if he crashes, he is properly equipped, and that allows him to focus on what he is doing rather than what might happen.

“I’m confident in it. If I crash, I’m ready.”

Over longer sessions, that balance becomes even more noticeable. Repeated runs, bigger features and heavier landings all add up, so having protection that remains comfortable while continuing to manage impact makes a difference across the day.

Building confidence through trust

In freeride, commitment is often the deciding factor. When approaching a new line or trying a new trick, hesitation usually leads to mistakes, so feeling comfortable in your setup plays a bigger role than people sometimes realise.

“When you feel good in your protection, it’s easier to go on new things.”

For Enzo, that trust allows him to keep progressing at his own pace. He continues to build towards bigger features and more technical tricks, with a clear focus on doing it properly rather than rushing the process.

For riders watching from the outside, especially those who feel like they do not quite fit the mould, his approach speaks for itself. Freeride is not defined by a single path in or a single way of riding. It is shaped by how you show up, how you learn and how you keep going.

At RE ZRO®, that is exactly the kind of rider we back.

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