Videograss' The Last Ones Portland Premiere

I'm sure it's hard work, but the subtitle 'All the Labor' is a little much.

Seriously. Snowboard movies in July!? Yes, July. Mostly it was because the VG session was up at High Cascade, so they could get everyone - from the ender to the gaffer - to show up at the premiere. But still, it is July and I'm not really in that mode yet. This video did precious little to change that.

Joe Sexton had a killer part. He can do all the rail tricks. Chris Bradshaw still has steez for leagues. Bryan Fox had more backcountry shots than the rest of the film together. I'm not sure why he films for VG, he must like those guys a lot. It's clear he's the token backcountry guy. He certainly rode more pow than me last year and his part had me itching a little. Scott Stevens had another part that left me shaking my head and laughing. So long as I'm still laughing and not slapping my forehead. One binding, no bindings, board-to-board transfers, you know the drill. Fun shit that you would never think of.

Overall it was a fun movie. Mostly because the crowd was so amped. That was the most in-to-it the crowd has ever been for one of these midweek premieres ever and that made for such a rad night. Too bad I can't invite that crew over to watch shred flicks with me all the time, then I might buy this one. As it is I won't. You just can't repeat that theater experience. Sorry if you missed it. Keep an eye out for showings near you.

The beer line was packed. Feel free to play 'name that pro.'

Purgatory: A Brief Guide to Videos, Since You Probably Can't Ride Yet

No, not the formerly-known-as ski resort. I'm talking about when you can see the goods, but can't get in. As in, this time of year. It's snowing. The weather outside is shitty, but still you can't snowboard. It might be another couple weeks, even by the resort's most optimistic forecast. How the hell is a pusher of p-tex supposed to stay sane? Watch a ton of videos, that's how. The following is a brief 'what's what' of the few videos I've watched this season. No one can tell you what to watch, but I can lay out the info as objectively as possible. Pick out the one that most suits your taste and it'll keep you from going cuckoo for snow snow puffs until you can finally get out there.

In a land...

Title: Jeremy Jones' Deeper

Crew: Teton Gravity Research

Riders: Jeremy Jones, Travis Rice, Xavier De Le Rue, Josh Dirksen, Ryland Bell, Jonaven Moore, Forrest Shearer, Johan Olofsson, Lucas Debari, and Tom Burt

What It's Got: backcountry, documentary style, big lines, long trips, hikes to every drop, huge mountains, Alaska, Chamonix, Sierras, Antarctica, a few backcountry booters, that epic feeling

What It's Not: parks, rails, anything urban

My Opinion: If it doesn't make you want to shred, it will make you want to get better.

A fresh one-footer over a foot of fresh powder

Title:  Right Brain, Left Brain (disclaimer: I only saw the Right Brain)

Crew: Think Thank

Riders: Jesse Burtner, Matt Edgers, Scott Stevens, Sean Genovese, Gus Engle, Pat Milbery, Nick Visconti, Tim Eddy, Mark Thompson, Jason Robinson, Chris Beresford, Austin Hironaka, Blair Habenicht, Chris Larson, Ben Bogart, Sam Hulbert, Austen Granger, Andre Spinelli, Chris Brewster, Jess Kimura (no wonder they 'needed' two discs)

What It's Got: lots of jibs, some park, some backcountry, crazy one-footed stylings, crazier 'kickflips' and other no-footed shenanigans, some big spins off of big jumps, fun feeling, fast pace

What It's Not: that self-serious feeling that so many videos get these days

My Opinion: It will make you look at snowboarding (and your snowboard) differently and that's a good thing.

Yes it was

Title: In Color

Crew: Transworld Snowbording

Riders: Chris Bradshaw, Devun Walsh, Iikka Backstrom, Jake Olson Elm, Jussi Oksanen, Keegan Valaika, Mark Sollors, Mikkel Bang, Phil Jacques

What It's Got: shred porn, good mix of urban and backcountry (maybe leans more toward urban), giant glacier-maw gap, old-school and new-school riders, solid

What's It's Not: big mountain lines, lacking

My Opinion: Plenty of amazing riding, so why was I feeling a little 'meh' at the end? Was that just me?

Minibike himself showing love at his hometown screening of 9191.

Title: 9191

Crew: Volcom

Riders: Gigi Rüf, Nicolas Müller, Austin Smith, Curtis Cizek, Wille Yli-Luoma, Wolle Nyvelt, Jake Blauvelt, Blair Habenicht, Luke Mitrani, Bryan Iguchi

What It's Got: Gigi-centric without actually feeling Gigi-centric, custom-made soundtrack (Slayer's drummer performs a drum solo), extraordinarily creative backcountry, enough of said backcountry to make you want to spring for a heli this year (as if you didn't already)

What It's Not: urban, bad

My Opinion: This one really made me want to ride. Add a little more documentary and it's up there with the best ever.

No, it's not censored in the actual movie

Title: Fuck It

Crew: Forum

Riders: John Jackson, Stevie Bell, Nic Sauve, Niko Cioffi, Austen Sweetin, Jake Welch, Cameron Pierce, Pat Moore, Andreas Wiig

What It's Got: funny intro sequences, urban, big park jumps, John Jackson getting gnar in the backcountry, some others get a little in the backcountry

What It's Not: Peter Line, Daniel Ek

My Opinion: I was bored with all the rail and park porn. Then John Jackson came on and I got stoked.


Hopefully this list will help you get a grip on some of the videos out there this year. As usual, you have dozens of choices and they're all different. Mostly different. The few I've listed are but mere flakes on the grand mountain of shred celluloid. Fortunately, unlike Indy's choice in The Last Crusade, you can't really go wrong. And with iTunes out there, you can put a couple bucks away toward your season pass, too. If you're lucky, you have friends who like shred flicks, too and you can borrow some. Trade back and forth and get a little library thing going. Which makes me think, why isn't there any place out there where you can rent these videos? Would anyone else partake in this? I know I would. While I'm mini-ranting, does anyone else feel like it's giving away the ending when people who preview videos tell you who had the ender? I do. That shit has got to stop!

Deeper and 9191 are the two from this list that I'll buy. Their re-watching potential is sooo high. I'll also probably buy Absinthe's NowHere (though maybe on iTunes) because I know, instinctively, that it's going to be good. I might have to get Right Brain, Left Brain, too, if only to see the other half.

No matter how close the season is, it will always feel like an eternity. With the right exercise and stretching routine to get you in shape (you know, so you can actually ride without feeling like every bit of soft tissue in your knee is going to explode on every landing) and a couple movies to keep the kid in you alive you'll be on that first chair in no time. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to find someone to convert my old, twisted Mack Dawg tapes to DVD.

Exit Real World: Portland Birthday Bash

When you're Exit Real World, you throw three birthday parties. The first show was the little one. Out in the suburbs, lots of drunken teens. Salem went second and hosted 9191, complete with Jake Price, Austin Smith and Curtis Cizek. Now for the grand finale. Friday, October 22 Portland's Mission Theatre (1624 NW Glisan) will host Exit and show Think Thank's Right Brain, Left Brain. Just 5 bucks at the door gets you the movie, a sneak peek at Exit's new skate team video and undoubtedly a chance to do ridiculous things to win prizes. In Salem they even had a pie-eating contest.

Close dude won. Far dude said the pie tasted like crap.

Oh yeah, don't forget, biggest sale of the season at Exit's Portland location on NW 23rd the Saturday and Sunday following the show. Somewhere between 15 and 75% off any and everything. How about a picture of the flier? OK!

Exit Real World is Just About Legal

Think Portland and snowboarding and you probably think unreasonably long drives to schralp some glaciated park features in the summer... or in the rain. Right after that, though, you probably think about Exit Real World, the down-as-hell, 'core' shop that's celebrating it's 17th anniversary this month. That seed was actually sewn in Salem way back when and the party returns this weekend. Friday, October 15th at 8pm, The Ike Box in Downtown Salem (299 Cottage St.) will be lighting up the silver screen with Volcom's 9191 and Peepshow's Let's Make Better Mistakes Tomorrow. As if a shred double-feature wasn't good enough (did I mention it's only $5!?) Exit is having their biggest sale of the year the following Saturday and Sunday! Up to 75% off and shit!! Could I be more excited!!! Of course I could, think of all the free stuff they'll probably give away at this jam!!!1 I can hardly contain myself...

Kip Winger will not be appearing

Forum Double Fucks Portland

No one does Willamette waterfront warehouse snowboard video parties quite like Forum Snowboards. Don't believe me? Check out the On Air warehouse at 1300 N River St. on Saturday, October 16. Forum's new team movie Fuck It will be playing not once, but twice this weekend. The all-ages showing is at 7pm and PBR will be flowing at the 9pm show ($2 each or 2 for $3, no freebies here). Also at 9, riders Peter Line, Stevie Bell, Jake Welch, Austin Sweetin and Cameron Pierce will be tossin’ out product to the jams of DJ ISM. Aforementioned riders will appear for an autograph signing on Friday the 15th at US Outdoor Store. Check their blog for more details. And if you want to check out a teaser that will remind you of Top Gun, head over to Forum.

Going Deeper: Two Years Worth the Wait

Two years of hiking. Two years of scoping. Two years of mountaintop bivvy-ing. Two years without helicopters; the occasional plane or boat, but mostly just ice axe, crampon, rope and boot. Now, Jeremy Jones (yeah, the big mountain one) and Teton Gravity Research bring Deeper to the screen and it was worth every one of the 730 days.

I never did see that backstage college

Deeper is as apt a name as this movie could have. The crew goes deeper into the Sierras, deeper into Alaska, deeper into Chamonix and, hell, just sacking up to Antarctica is pretty deep. A deep cast of characters changed on every mission, Jones being the only constant. Tom Burt, Xavier De Le Rue, Josh Dirksen, Forrest Shearer (who made the trip for the Portland screening), Travis Rice, Lucas Debari, Ryland Bell, Jonaven Moore and Johnan Olofsson put boot to snow for different sections of the show.

A little taste of the opening from the front row

The film's format is more documentary and less shred porn, which suits the subject matter perfectly. Aside from one Travis Rice-constructed booter and De Le Rue's name which translates to 'of the street' the crew eschews anything packed down or metal for steeps that require rock-solid mettle. Each trip is given plenty of exposition before the heavy lines get ripped. And don't forget, every line they ride, they must first climb. Jeremy starts the action with his first ever trip to Alaska before he brings it all to the present. The evolution is clear. As a viewer, my reaction went from, "Holy shit!" to "Where the hell is he even going!?" on some of the steepest, most exposed lines I've ever seen. A heavy dose of helmet cam gets the point across. Professional riders, closed course, etc.

Now it's time for me to nitpick. One of the cameras was grainy to the point of distraction. Toward the end of the movie, I pointed it out to a friend, who concurred. My guess is that they used a few different media (helmet cam, 16mm, HD video) and they just didn't match well. That would be the only thing I would change. The shot selection was on point. The riding was next level. The lifestyle shots, information and soundtrack brought everything together. Bottom line, when's it out on DVD?

Overall, this picture is the one that will propel Jeremy Jones from Big Mountain Rider of the Year to Rider of the Year. After seeing everything that goes into his exploits, people better recognize. Also after years of dominating the former category he finally has company in the latter, Xavier De Le Rue, who took down the award last year. Ryland Bell isn't far behind either. When you look a little deeper, you'll find Josh Dirksen and the rest, alternating beautiful turns and deep trenches on the steepest of pitches. Boot-accessed big-mountain riding. Who knew?

Robotfood Double Feature at Exit Bridgeport!

That's right snowboard fans, Fuel TV and Exit Real World are coming through with Afterbang and Lame, Friday, January 22. As an interesting aside, Afterbang is the last shred flick I ever bought on VHS. It's still hanging on, too. Back to the near future, pre-party starts at 4pm with snacks and drinks, small talk and aimless milling about. Store discounts, movie posters and Afterlame DVD give-aways encourage early attendance. The projector rolls at 7pm, so don't hit snooze too many times. By the look of things, this is going to be an every Friday type of deal. Check out Exit's site for all the bits and pieces.

Upcoming Portland Video Screenings

Just two of them this week, but they are worth noting. Tonight at the Clinton Street Theater People Creative's Nice Try is showing at 7pm and 9pm. The early show is all ages, but the late one is 21+ and for good reason. Get this, PBR is sponsoring, so your paid admission ($6) gets you a free beer. I'm sitting on a full write-up of Nice Try, but I'm getting it a little confused with another of this year's movies, Transworld's Get Real. My brain just can't handle the subtle similarities. Expect reviews for both of those as early as tomorrow if I can get them straight by then.

Tomorrow night at the Hollywood Theater is another of Exit Real World's birthday parties. Expect chaos and depravity as The Skeleton Crew takes the screen with Group Effect. If the teaser(s) are any indication, this one's going to be chipmunk shit nutty. Get to any Exit Real World location and buy advance tickets for $5 to guarantee a seat. Hollywood Theater, Sandy Blvd., 8pm. Be there or circle takes the square.

Ask for a B-Movie and That's What You Get

Old habits die hard. I've gotten into this habit where I feel it's acceptable to drive three hours to see a snowboard video. Even when I have no one to help with gas money. That's how badly I want to see some new snow footage. That's how badly I miss winter. Burton provided my fix this time. They promised a free video in Seattle and I was powerless to resist the siren song of the highway.

Even closer to the Space Needle this time.

Not just Seattle, but the IMAX theater at the Seattle Center. Who hosts a free, check that, two free showings at an IMAX theater? Burton, that's who. Rumor has it a bunch of pros were at local core shop Snowboard Connection signing autographs before the show. My exit off the highway was shut down, so instead of driving right there, I drove around in a big circle for half an hour and showed up after everyone left. They were also out of the free tickets for the show. Who makes a premier free and then tells you that you need tickets? Yup, Burton. Time to show up at the venue and see if I can scam my way in.

When I got to the venue, the line was small and no one had extra tickets. Then again the first screening just started and it was 45 minutes 'til the next. Just enough time for me to find something else to fail at. This time I chose eating chowder. The first spoonful burnt my tongue, so did the second one mere seconds later. It tasted so good, though. By the time I was done with the bowl, a couple guys showed up with stacks of tickets to give away. No scamming necessary. (Turns out the theater was only half full in the end anyway, so much for the sellout.) Time for the show.

I hate to spoil it for you, but the new Burton movie is about dolphins.

They evolved from humans, you know...

On the way into the theater, free swag bags for everyone! Seriously, who does that!? You guessed it. My mellow bag had a shirt, bar of wax, some stickers and a lift ticket to Stevens Pass (everyone got these). Others had sweatshirts, hats and Golden Tickets that turned out to be good for a free board (3), a set of luggage (1) or a season's pass to Stevens Pass (1). Wow. I only saw one person walk out of the early show with a board, but still that's a ton of free shit. Pretty decadent, that's for sure. Wait, there was a movie, too! Let me tell you about that.

The first thing they show is the giant B feature. Can you believe that? They have this one huge feature that would be shocking to build up and then blow people away with at the end, but no, they blow it up first thing. And no one even hits it yet, they just show it off for the intro. Then at the end they try to build it up a little and I'm sitting in the audience thinking, "What, that big 'B' you showed first thing in the intro!?" Please. Here's how you do it. Show everything but the 'B' in the intro. Give a little build up, then hit the credits. Then re-build at the end and give 'em the payoff. How hard is that? Seriously.

Anyway, that aside, what's worth mentioning? Keegan Valaika breaks himself off heavily in the opener. In between sessions of torturing himself, he tortures some urban features. Nicolas Müller is one of my favorite riders and his part is my favorite in the movie. Nicolas in backcountry powder. How can you go wrong. Just push record. He seems like one of those guys who makes filming easy. Vintage stuff. The 'fun with friends in pow' part leading into his was, well, fun too. We get a taste of Shaun White in his not-so-secret-anymore backcountry Silverton, CO halfpipe. It's amazing pipe riding with more corks than jumps, if you know what I'm getting at. When he falls and they make a big deal out of it I think back to Keegan Valaika's part and how much harder he fell and how they didn't make a deal out of it. He was probably working on his Olympic run, so if you want to see that in advance, check it out. Jeremy Jones had a pretty good part. I've always like his riding and he's got some new tricks. He's perfected the one-foot 360 shove-it(?) and does a few of them in tricky situations. I loved his 'Propery of MDP' had, too. Then, guess what ends the video? Yup, the giant session on the 'B'. It was interesting to see all of the things they could do simultaneously. Some circus shenanigans, for sure. I'll say it was the best conglomeration of park features in a single place. Why couldn't they have just kept the secret?

I ain't Blotto, left to right: Spencer O'brien, Mikey Rencz,
Mikkel Bang, Danny Davis, Kevin Pearce, Mason Aguirre.

In the end it was worth my time. The problem is, I had to think about whether that was actually the case. When you have a name like The B Movie, you're setting yourself up to be second best and in my mind, that happened. It just wasn't as good as it could have been. Another gripe that just occurred to me. During the multiple rider segments, they just didn't title any riders. Especially at the end, when 40 or 50 different riders are hitting the B, I had no idea who was riding. That's the sort of thing I could have missed during a premier atmosphere, though.

Overall, plenty of top-tier riders, but a B-tier movie. Make no mistake, it made me want to get out there on my own board. If it comes near you on tour for free, it's worth the price of admission. It's just not one to buy. Save your money for Absinthe or a lift ticket.

How the Northwest Was One

Another day, another original movie with the Northwest front and center. This time it's got a sub-story of lawlessness and bounty filming complete with guns and horses. At least the snowmobiles are dubbed to sound like horses... The Seattle premier went down at a fire code disregarding Evo. The place was so packed I was picking out the nearest emergency exit (keeping in mind that the nearest exit may be behind me, it wasn't). The vibe was intense enough for the show that most of the dialogue between parts was lost for the crowd's excitement. That probably just helped sell more DVDs. It didn't hurt my choice. Afterward, music by The Senate Arcade, art showing by Spacecraft, beer by rogues entering through the windows. Then, I drive three hours home. Bitchin'. Now, howza 'bout I tell you about the movie?

Yup, 360 degrees of that.

Nick Ennen sets the pace that doesn't let up, except for the mini skits. Severe backcountry action is the name of the game: big gaps, heavy cliffs and a pillow field big enough to run a hundred person Chinese downhill. Blatant Holy Oly and Mt. Baker shots. Jibs in this movie are generally made of wood. Andy Bergin-Sperry tweaks and pokes more than a dude whose girl just got a boob job. Camera dwarfing powder tsunamis roll in from every other part. Manuel Diaz and Joe Bosler are each on the double cork stagecoach. Is that just a given anymore? Seems like every movie's got at least one. Shaun McKay has one of the funnier mini skits and one of the better parts.

Clocking just over half an hour of video, this flick keeps the hits rolling. The storyline is funny and helps to break up the action. Maybe some of the shots could have been tighter or crisper, but in the end, it was good enough to make me daydream about hitting some of the soft stuff myself. It was also good enough for me to put my money on the table and walk out with a copy.

In fact, if How the Northwest Was One doesn't make you want to get out and ride, you're probably the sort of person who prefers to ride icy halfpipes while it rains razor blades and demon heads and Sarah Palin blabs full volume in an unstoppable speaker from above. Maybe you're looking for How the Northeast Wasn't Fun. (If that title ever gets used for anything, I want a dime for every copy sold!) Catch it (the good movie, not the one I just made up) Thursday night (10/8) in Bellingham if you know what's good.

Washington State Represents with Cool Story and As Green As It Gets

In the seen-it-all world of snowboarding, originality is hard to come by. Thank God for Jesse Burtner, Sean Genovese and the Think Thank crew. I'm not talking about adding another 180 to a spin, I'm talking about a new way to tell a snowboarding story. I'm getting a little ahead of myself here, though. Seattle hosted the premier of Think Thank's new video Cool Story and YKWII/Snowboard Connection's As Green As It Gets got the crowd all warmed up.

This can mean only one thing...

As Green As It Gets came out strong with Austen Sweetin showing some range. I've seen Austen at rail jams and the Baker Banked, but in this part he lets us see what else he's got, including some footage from Superpark. Seth Kitzke also brought a stellar part to the table. Just a couple guys showing that the Northwest has a bright future. Also, it was good to see the crowed stoked on some local boys. I didn't take notes and I couldn't win a game of memory if all the tiles were apples, so check out YKWII and Snowboard Connection if you want to know more.

The autograph line was long on both sides.
In there are Blair Habenicht, Austin Hironaka, Matt Edgers, Jesse Burtner, others?

Now, on to the feature presentation of the evening, Cool Story. Starring John Candy as the coach of a ragtag bunch... wait, that's Cool Runnings. Cool Story stars the Think Thank crew and tells the story of their winter. It still follows the standard rider part formula, but breaks with convention in that it moves chronologically through the winter with each rider introducing himself, or someone else, at a specific time and place. The execution is a shred diary full of personality.

Burtner, best face forward. He also hosted the longest product raffle ever.
Thanks to the sponsors: Lib Tech, Snowboy Productions, Spacecraft, others?

Ben Bogart scored the opener and gives us a hustler's perspective on 'this economy.' He proves his worth on street rails and jumps equally. Austin Hironaka's moving up that ladder, watch out for him. Progression, right thar. Burtner shows a blatant disregard for bindings. Andre Spinelli takes it to the Alaskan backcountry and gets all double-corky (and I don't mean retarded). So many parts stand out that I could name them all... and there's a lot of them. This thing just keeps delivering. Rails, backcountry pow booters, resort fun sessions; so all-inclusive it's the Club Med of snowboarding.

This flick is worth a buy on dollars per minute alone, but that's not all, the riding is hair-pullingly great, too. Not to sound like Ron Popeil, but what more do you want than a good long shred vid to get you in that winter state of mind? Go buy a copy, a cold beverage, a snack, maybe a catheter and get ready to experience all that snowboarding has to offer. Except pretentious trick porn. None of that here.

How the Northwest Was One

This one came out a few months ago, but it's not to be missed. Just in case you've been out riding instead of combing the web for shred flick teasers. Description below by Kurt Jenson via Vimeo.

"How The Northwest Was One" teaser from kurt Jenson on Vimeo.

This is the snow project I'm working on this year, enjoy!...

After years of aspiring film makers and riders in the Northwest struggle to Make it. They have come together and formed a new company "Wild Card". Join the new alliance on their journey through another epic winter of powder, progression, passion and of course comedy......

...It's 2012, and the economy has crashed completely. The snowboarding industry is non-existent, and Washington is brought back to the times of the wild west. Outlaws and renegades struggle to survive. In the Pacific northwest there is a small band of riders who's passion for riding and filming still fuels there will to live, and there is a bounty out to collect footage of these outlaws. But bounty filmers are few and far between, and the competition to film is deadly. Watch the riders push there skills to new levels, in a quest to film a video part. It won't be easy, as their is more to filming now than just riding. They must face each other in fierce competition for a filmer, and end up in a unforeseen twist of fate.......this is "How The Northwest Was One!"

They Came From...

I'm a huge fan of snowboard films and it's never too soon to start watching some teasers. This one's from Factor Films. They even have a 3-D version for those of you who held on to your blue and red glasses from the 80s. You might not have heard of them, but they brought you Notes in 2008 which was a big improvement over Up in the Sky the year before. (Psst... Click those links and you can watch the films in their entirety) Judging from the teaser, they look to continue that trajectory and come through with a great one this year.

Video Review: Pirate Movie Production's Overseas

I just got done watching this video of Travis Rice at the Transworld Riders' Choice Awards and it reminded me how good Overseas really was. Especially Benedek. Here goes.



Rider list: Gigi Rüf, David Benedek, Dan Brisse, Danny Larsen, Björn Hartweger, Marko Grilc, Lukas Goller, Marco Feichtner, Dimi Fesenko, Mike Casanova, Osa, Drew Fuller, Eirik Haugo, Sani Alibabic, Teo Konttinen, Emeric Front, Hannes Metzler, Tyler Chorlton, Jocki Köffler, Hans Ahlund, Kalle Ohlson, Josh Sherman

Opinion: Lots of riders, to be sure. And most of them get after it hard. Let me start by saying that some friends and I are pretty sure that David Benedek wasn't born to parents, but created in a lab somewhere. He does things on a snowboard that don't seem human and he does them with style. Including the trick mentioned by TRice. Gigi is off the chain yet again. Talk about style, his has to be in my top 5 currently. So smooth. Another guy who laid it down was Dan Brisse. You might have seen Dan filming some with TJ in The Snowboard Realms, but that's not even a glimpse of what he's capable. He shows off a toolbox full of hammers in this one, despite being one of very few non-Euros in the vid. Speaking of which, I don't know whether it was the music or all the flips, but this film had a distinctly Euro feel to it. Similar to Isenseven's stuff. Speaking of flips, keep your eyes open for the triple. Madness!

If I had to knock the movie on any front, it would be the pace. Non-stop rapid-fire action. It might have been because I was in a premier setting among a crowd and talking to friends in between segments, but it felt a little fast. That and some of the sections just didn't live up to the standards set by guys like David and Gigi. What can you do? Not everyone has that deep a bag of tricks.

I really got to give the cats props on coming out with Runway to support Boarding for Breast Cancer and SOS Outreach on the premier tour. A few of the riders showed up with the tour to sign autographs and otherwise elevate the vibe. It's always nice to have an event like that for such important causes and every year someone steps up for B4BC and they put on a great event. Salomon and Bonfire also pitched in and free beer and dancing wrapped up the night.

Anyway, back to the film! Snowboards were flexed from every angle: from backcountry booters to cityscape concrete and park action in between. Next-level shit was hammered in every venue. If you don't mind sitting through a couple comparatively mediocre sections pick this one up and get your mind blown from Overseas.

Gnar Wars, No I'm Not Kidding

I just watched this again. Unfortunately, my ribs are bruised from a hard fall yesterday, so it hurts to laugh. Don't watch this video if it hurts to laugh...


Gnar Wars by Mike Benson from Mike Benson on Vimeo.

Check out more of their stuff at knifeshowinc.com most of it is pretty cool, if a little over-produced. Fun with After Effects, anyway. I wish I knew how to do that shit on FCP. Must take forever or they know a lot that I don't. Always watch 'til the end, too, funny stuff after the credits.

Video Review: Car Danchi 3

A while back I checked out the US premier of Car Danchi 3 up in Seattle and wrote about it for snowboardermag.com. You can see that piece here. Honestly, I don't have much to add to that story, so this write-up will be short. I gotta say that Car Danchi 3 is probably among my top 2 favorite movies this year (the other being That's It, That's All). The video was just really compelling. It made me want to shred, it made me want to step my game up on multiple fronts and it made me want to go turn my Subaru into a car danchi and roam the mountains of the northwest in search of the best snow.

Car danchi or grocery getter?
(Taken today in Portland, by the way)

Honestly, almost anyone could do it. Neil Hartmann, the Car Danchi mastermind, started off in a Subaru Legacy wagon. I certainly could if I had the sack. Will I? I'm about 50/50 on it. I have a 15° sleeping bag that I've never been cold in. I tested it a couple weeks ago when I was bored and slept in my car on a night that got down to about 25°. That was comfortable enough to sleep 'til about 10am with cars whipping by and the sun fully up. Seriously. It felt strange, but you gotta start somewhere. That's a long way from sub-zero mountain nights, I know. I'd have to be fully stocked, prepared and committed for that. Maybe I should try it on one of these snowy nights in town. That would be closer to a true test. Even closer would be if I cooked my dinner in the oven of my hot engine compartment. Look at the upside, though, so close to the lift for those first tracks and driving up the night before totally eliminates traffic.

Anyway, all of this speculation may never have happened without the Car Danchi movies. They are truly inspiring. What started out as a three-minute flick in In Short two years ago, has blossomed into an amazing documentary-style, full-length snowboard masterpiece. This one is worth the effort to track down. Search it out at your local shops, failing that check the internets. If you're in Seattle, check out Snowboard Connection, if not maybe drop Neil a line at his blog. May it inspire you to live in your car and/or drive your home.