Lao Feng may not be front and center on the slopes, but here in his studio, he's right where he belongs – doing what he does best. For nearly five months a year, this is his zone – where he fine-tunes every edge and base to make sure snowboarders' rides stay buttery smooth.
Lao Feng isn't just tuning boards — he's enhancing performance. Lao Fang has serviced boards for some of the country's top athletes.
Lao Feng services snowboards in his studio. /CGTN
This is a job of precision, patience, and instinct. Every decision – from wax formula to edge angle – depends on variables like the snow conditions, humidity, wind, and air temperature.
But when the snow melts, Lao Feng changes gears – trading tuning for something entirely different. He becomes the mastermind behind a coffee festival, a staple in Beijing's spring calendar.
Lao Feng documents the snow conditions on the slopes before tuning and servicing boards for athletes. /CGTN
Although he's never behind the counter pulling shots, he is behind everything else. The supplies, the logistics, and cleanliness. All the quiet things that keep the caffeine buzz flowing.
Two roles, one mission: To elevate others. Lao Feng shows that support work is never secondary. He keeps things running, one season at a time.