12.1 English Method Snowboard Magazine

PHOTOGRAPHER: Oli Gagnon RIDER: Nicolas M端ller SPOT: Haines, Alaska TRICK: Ollie

PHOTOGRAPHER: Carlos Blanchard RIDER: Ethan Morgan SPOT: Innsbruck, Austria TRICK: 50-50 FS 270 to switch front board

P

assion is a curious thing. It makes us take decisions that will deeply affect our lives, for good or bad. Yet consequences notwithstanding, I truly believe that a life without passion isn’t worth living. As the renowned German philosopher Hegel once said, “Nothing great in the world has ever been achieved without passion”.

So if you are passionate about snowboarding, get your ass out there and go SHRED! Especially now, that times are so tough for so many people, it’s important to keep the fire burning in your belly. Sure, snowboarding is a total mission: planes, trains, automobiles, sleds, shovels, hiking, digging, shaping, heavy snow, no snow, sharky snow, ridiculously early wake up calls…

Not to mention the grip of cash it all costs (and those annoying little things called avalanches, of course). But instant gratification never made anyone happy, and you can quote me on that.

So embrace your passion, no matter the cost. You might end up hurt or broke or both, but the knowledge that you are doing what you love will always be there to give you solace, a reason for all the sacrifices.

Then again, you might end up not hurt or broke but in fact accomplish something truly great that you will cherish for the rest of your life. And who knows, people might even remember it.

There is a simple lesson here: Don’t halfass shit. If you are passionate about something, give it all you’ve got, every time, because anything else is just not good enough. Simple enough words to live by, yes?

Welcome to the 11/12 season!

TAG

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In the beginning of winter I was back in the east, shooting handrails and urban stuff. There was a drought out west, and the majority of snow was falling on the eastern half of the US. I had been talking with Corey and he kept telling me about these boards he was building and how he was starting a handmade snowboard company. He asked me about making some photos to document the project and I immediately said I’d do it, but had no idea what to expect. Just after Valentine’s Day it looked like a big storm was about to hit Tahoe, so I packed up and hit the road. On the way to Reno it started dumping and for the next few weeks it didn’t stop. Corey showed up with his finished products and I was blown away! At first I was like, how are we going to ride these things??

We started brainstorming about creating the images to support the feeling and freedom of making a wooden snowboard and riding it. I began scoping spots and jotting down little concepts for photos, and soon found a zone that would be perfect to pull off our vision. The tough part was that it was no easy task to get all those boards out into the backcountry.

This particular shot I thought of soon after we got to out to the SB zone. Scotty had said he wanted to try to air off the knoll and I think simultaneously we all said – “you should do it on the Coffin!” Immediately I knew the image had potential to be really cool and begged everyone else getting ready to hike up to wait for Scotty up on the knoll above to cheer him on. I think everyone was kind of hesitant at first, but soon agreed. When there’s two feet of fresh, and you tell a bunch of powder junkies to hang out for 15 minutes to wait for someone in the name of Art, it doesn’t always go over that easy. There’s a big difference between following some riders out to a kicker, setting up and shooting, and actually conceptualizing images you want to shoot.

Having everyone agree to hike up and cheer Scotty on made the image what it is and captured perfectly what that day was all about good times with your friends in the backcountry, trying to ride some crazy wooden objects down some snow. I think it reminded us all what snowboarding is about.

Thank you to everyone for making that day so fucking rad!!

- Kealan Shilling Camera: Canon 1 D Mark III Lens: 70-200 IS f2.8 shot at 145mm with a B&W polarizer filter. The good glass.

Aperture: F9 Speed: 1/500ISO: 400 Rider: Alex Scott Trick: Airing the Mother Fucking Coffin Board!

Spot: Tahoe Backcountry Date: 3/17/11

Editor-IN-Chief: Thomaz Autran Garcia thomaz@method.tv SENIOR EDITOR: Alexis de Tarade alexis@method.tv SENIOR EDITOR: Chris McAlpine chriso@method.tv Art Director: Carlos B. Aranda carlos@method.tv Videographer/editor: Ryan “Diggles” Scardigli diggles@method.tv Web Programmer: Laurie Barker laurie@method.tv French editor & translator: Gabriel Bessy German editor & translator: Oliver Kraus Italian editor & translator: Davide Compagnoni Senior photographers: Daniel Blom, Oli Gagnon, Carlos Blanchard Contributing Photographers: Hrvoje Čemeljić, Vernon Deck, Petter Fettich, Joel Fraser, Tim Korbmacher, David Kündig, Gabe L’Heureux, Oleg Larionov, Adam Moran, Anders Neuman, Chris Peiffer, Remi Petit, Bob Plumb, Tero Repo, Ian Rothwell, Kealan Shilling, Ronnie Skevis, Vincent Skoglund, Greg Stevens, Sean Sullivan, Yves Suter, Andy Wright, Silvano Zeiter Contributing writers: Dan Brisse, Brandon Cocard, Mark Dangler, Nate Deschenes, Java Fernandez, Joel Fraser, Laura Hadar, Phil Jacques, Jessica Kimura, Jon Kooley, Jordan Mendenhall, Wolfgang Nyvelt, Bob Plumb, TJ Schneider, Kealan Shilling, Vincent Skoglund, Austin Smith, Corey Smith, Scott Stevens, Ian Thrashmore, Will Tuddenham, Cale Zima Contributing ILLUSTRATORS: Tom Guilmard, Simon Riviere, Alex Shauwecker

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PHOTO:

5 things you wish existed: 1. Pause button 2. Silent mode 3. Global happiness 4. Invisible suit 5. Waves in Switzerland 5 jobs you would never have: 1. Truck driver 2. Line worker 3. Crime scene cleaner 4. Tunnel worker 5. Snowboard instructor 5 things that piss off Vernon Deck: 1. Aussies in Mayrhofen 2. Aggressive club kids in Zürich 3. Pessimism 4. Eero’s old sled 5. Disorganization 5 things you shouldn’t have forgotten: 1. it’s time to leave 2. Not all roads are made for the rainy season 3. The Hangover isn’t just a movie title 4. I’m not unbreakable 5. I don’t like tequila 5 things to remember when healing from an injury: 1. Arnica 2. Move your ass 3. Benefit from the time off 4. Don’t do it again 5. Get a girlfriend 5 things you almost put on your pro-model graphics: 1. Girls 2. Bottle of rum 3. Indian natives 4. My friends 5. I actually put my mom on one!

5 things about golf that are surprisingly similar to snowboarding: 1. It’s a mind game 2. Focus 3. Sensitivity 4.

You’re with friends in nature 5. It pisses you off 5 things you put in your mouth today: 1. Homemade cake 2. My finger 3. Old chewing gum 4. My tongue 5. Mountain air 5 things you are working on in the pipe: 1. Chuckflip 2. Handplants 3. Various double corks 4. Combos 5. Switch runs 5 things you wish a Swiss Army knife included: 1. Breathalyzer 2. Parachute 3. X-ray vision 4. Skeleton key 5. Cupid arrows 5 things that you never use but always keep around: 1. Notebook 2. Aspirin 3. Fist 4. Flask 5. Reserve power 5 things you should never believe in: 1. The media 2. GPS 3. Politicians 4. Road signs in Brazil 5. Bar talk

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VERNON

DECK

The Dani Rajcsanyi, known to experts as the Danielus Radicalus Cobratus, is a very rare specimen. Best known for its distinctive effortlessness and style, along with a particularly narrow stance, it is quickly climbing to the top of the shred kingdom’s food chain.

barely cover its small ears, which it uses to fill its head with 70’s rock, 80’s funk, electro and the wacky sounds of HGichT! Sometimes plagued by bouts of asthma, it keeps running to a minimum and generally prefers to mount a skateboard or snowboard.

Its direct lineage is of a Hungarian, office-dwelling people that migrated to Germany. Early developmental stages were spent riding in Blomberg, in the mountainous region of Bad Tölz, before migrating in search of better fields. Embryological evidence shows that its evolutionary ancestors may have been birds. Evidence can be seen through its attempts to still catch flight.

Feeding Habits The Dani Rajcsanyi feeds on almost anything and even “ eats shit quite often”. The DR can sometimes be found eating in a silent corner, because it can “taste really well when relaxing in silence”, which optimizes the flavors of its food.

Much of its time is spent consuming liquids, usually something cheap but on a good hunt it can be found foraging for rum-based drinks, and a strawberry daiquiri on the best of nights.

Physical Attributes The common Dani Rajcsanyi stands at 175cm when adult and can weigh up to 65 kilos.

Light in weight but quite tall when fully upright, the DR is very nimble and light on his feet. Its plumage is characterized by exotically colored Volcom outerwear. Other distinctive physical traits include big toes and unusual levels of flexibility. Its head is relatively small, with a mop of dirty blond hair that

Social Behavior The Dani Rajcsanyi is mainly a creature of the streets, also found in the foothills and lowlands, scavenging for rails and spots that require a creative approach. Peaks of activity are during nocturnal hours, which have led this species to develop outstanding night vision. It has no known predators and preys on no one. It

A rare photo of the elusive Dani R, seen here mid-boardslide, one of the species’ favorite activities. Photo: Tim Korbmacher

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shows no evidence of territoriality, since “the world belongs to everyone.” It spends time in small herds of creative party people and positive humans. Many claim to be part of the Cobrat Religion, typically attributed to the DR, but there is no dominant member and “sharing is the key to survival”. Though quite social, it doesn’t show signs of permanent social bonds since it “can’t surf with everybody on the same wave” and will mingle with various groups. On the matter of reproduction, the DR’s preferred method of attracting sexual partners by waving its “dick tattoo” in the air!

Worldview The Dani Rajcsanyi resides somewhere “in between dreams and reality”, buoyed by the fact that “anyone can do anything”. The DR doesn’t live long but lives fast. It’s been hard to ascertain the species’ exact life span due to its elusiveness, but “everyday is [its] birthday”.

A live specimen of the Dani Rajcsanyi has been recently captured, exclusive footage is available in the new Isenseven film, Don’t Panic.

All the design work and line planning takes place in the summer, so it all works out perfect. I’d like to think I shoot just as much as any other snowboard photographer.

PHOTO: SEAN SULLIVAN ILLUSTRATION: SIMON RIVIERE

So what came first in your life, shredding or shooting?

Shredding for sure, I got my first snowboard 25 years ago in Vermont and instantly fell in love with it. I knew from that moment on I wanted to be involved with snowboarding for the rest of my life. Shooting gives me the opportunity to still be in the mix, watching the sport progress, and still get to enjoy some amazing powder days.

You co-founded Technine when you were 18, tell us a bit about that.

It was definitely pretty crazy. It was a time when there weren’t too many brands in snowboarding. We were making our own baseless bindings up at the Beaver Creek metal workshop that the cat drivers used.

We took raw metal, parts from Home Depot and plastic parts from current bindings on the market. The first Technine’s came out sick, the first baseless bindings released at the time. A Japanese company approached us at our first tradeshow and put in a huge order on the spot. Eighteen years later, they are still our best distributors and good friends.

Baseless bindings are a thing of the past but we were able to establish roots and develop into a full-on snowboard brand. Technine has been quite an adventure with many ups and downs, and has taught me so much about life and business. It has been my unofficial college education, for sure. We have a lot of momentum right now and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next couple of years.

You wear many hats, you’re a photographer, designer, marketer, businessman... How much of your time is dedicated to photography?

It’s crazy trying to do so much but when you enjoy the work it makes it a lot easier. I have to do sales meetings and tradeshows during the winter, but try to spend as much time as possible behind the lens. It keeps me focused and allows me to see what’s really going on in snowboarding. As a brand you need a lot of images, so it really goes hand in hand with marketing.

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Anyone can go out, buy themselves a sick set up and take decent shots, but not everyone is capable of taking outstanding photos. What makes a photographer not just good but great?

I can only speak about what I know and that is snowboarding.

You have to know tricks inside and out. You also need to know the rider and what they are capable of, as well as the best way to capture their style. You have to be prepared to work hard, setting up a spot and then putting in the hours to get the job done. You always have to be available, as you never know when that one, outstanding shot will happen. After you put in a certain amount of time, your camera really becomes an extension of you and what you see. Once you have mastered the equipment you can begin to make real art. Buddhists say you need to practice something for 1,000 hours before you are a true master, but I honestly believe photography can take a lifetime to master, as you are always learning. I have also noticed some people just don’t have a good eye for photos, while it comes naturally for others.

You spend as much time in the streets as in the backcountry, which do you prefer shooting? Is it harder coming up with original compositions with the limited elements you have to work with in the backcountry?

I feel like I have been spending way too much time in the streets. I love shooting street because there’s so much more to look at, but

after a while you get a craving for powder.

Getting classic powder shots can be a challenge, so I get really stoked to shoot it. It’s easy to get an average pow shot but to get a timeless, classic shot that will be relevant forever is a huge challenge. When you get one, it’s the best feeling in the world. I plan on shooting more pow this season for sure.

What was the wisest advice you ever got when you were starting off as a photog?

Shoot as much as you possibly can, this is the best way to learn! Work hard and never give up. Don’t ever forget to respect the riders and what is doable, photogs love to push riders into things they are uncomfortable with. This will only lead to injury and loss of respect from the snowboarder.

What’s the hardest you’ve ever had to work for a shot?

This year we built a crazy Grizzly Gulch gap with Dan Brisse. We dug for 4 days straight and then both Dan and BJ Lienes came up short on it. We spent two more solid days digging on what became known as the Bin Laden jump (we were digging it when he was killed). After six gnarly days of digging, I had never been so sore in my life. I still have no clue where Dan found the energy to pull a BS 180 on it third try. After he stuck it that was it, 6 days of work for one hammer trick, pulled in 30 minuets.

Which is your proudest moment as a photographer?

Getting a pro model photo shoe with DVS. They had only done it in skate until last year, when they offered myself and Andy Wright each a shoe. This was an awesome experience, walking into stores and seeing it on the wall was a real good feeling!

In this new section we shed some light on the shred that is often overlooked by the media.

The goal is to enlighten you on local scenes that are no less radical for being tiny. First up is the ancient land of Hellas, or as you probably call it, Greece!

PHOTOS: RSP ILLUSTRATION: SIMON RIVIERE

Powder: Kalavryta is good for freeriding when there’s a lot of snow. You’ll need local assistance in Parnassos to find good spots. Vasilitsa in northern Greece can get pretty deep but it’s very far from Athens, albeit closer to Thessaloniki (second biggest city).

Park: Best for park is Vasilitsa, Parnassos and Kalavryta all have parks but don’t expect anything special.

Avalanche Danger: Worry more about being caught in an avalanche of Tzatziki.

Good Eats: Souvlaki Rules!

Don’t Ever Eat: The Kokoretsi, unless you like lamb guts!

Local brew: Mythos, Alpha and Fix are some of the main beers. There’s a kiosk (periptero) on every corner stocked with cheap beer if you are in a big city.

Fire Water: Ouzo, Tsipouro and Rakis will leave you in rough shape and off your board the next day if you imbibe too vigorously so save it for the last night when you have an early flight the next morning!

Don’t Ever: Trust the taxi drivers, ask for the price of the trip before get in. Also, the way most people in the world say “Hello” with an open hand facing out is actually a major insult in Greece.

Don’t Bring: Your heavy outerwear and thick thermals.

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George Ouzounis back 5

Swearing 101: Malaka: Wanker/asshole/jerk Ay Gamisou: Go fuck yourself As to Thialo: Go to hell Vlaka: Moron Locals Suck At: Driving.

Locals Rip At: Feta cheese and general hospitality, the Greeks are quite welcoming.

Vassilitsa

Why Shred Greece: Pure nature, great views and good people. If conditions are good you can ride almost all the way down to the sea for a swim in some places.

Bathroom Etiquette: If you’re lucky you just might still find yourself pooping standing, i.e. playing golf with your turds.

Matteo Ferraris Pat Campanaro

PH

OT OS

:R OU

GH

How did ROUGH Snowboards get its start and who are the people behind it?

ROUGH comes from the shared views of people who love snowboarding about how a board should be made and about the industry in general. ROUGH was started by Beppe Demonte (R.I.P.), an icon of the Italian scene in the 80’s and 90’s, along with Andrea Zampieri and Marco Sabolo, also first generation snowboarders, who are currently working with a talented crew: George and Joe handle the graphics and overall image, Ecio does marketing, Manno is our IT and web guy and Matteo does sales.

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We love your DIY philosophy, what made you decide to start your own brand?

Our philosophy is a continuation of the message we have been sending over the years to the snowboard community. It’s always been a positive one: think for yourself, do things your own way, live for today. Meanwhile the rest of the industry is trying to impose false needs, introducing new and absurd gimmicks each year that do nothing but add confusion so they can sell more product, and by doing so misrepresenting the original spirit of snowboarding. Just like the punk rock movement in the 70’s brought a flourishing of independent DIY labels, we decided to start our own brand.

Where do you press the boards, at a local factory?

Our boards are made in Austria. Rather than producing the boards ourselves, which would have entailed a lot of trial and error, we felt the need to provide a quality product right from the start, so we chose to work with a state of the art factory which could guarantee excellent quality and up to date technology.

Who is on the team, what do you look for in a ROUGH Rider?

Our team is made up of riders who have a positive attitude that we can relate to. Matteo Ferraris, Michel Dalle and Francesca Ferraris have been with us for some years now, they are part of the family and get involved in developing boards and brand direction. In 2010 we picked up a rider from the Midwest called Pat Campanaro, he won us over with his aggressive and progressive style, which we hope will be instrumental for some exposure in the US. We also try to support as many young promising riders as we can.

What’s up with the scene in Italia, are the kids down with ROUGH? The scene in Italy is alive and well thanks to a lot of dedicated people who take it upon themselves to make things happen. New parks are built every year so kids who want to progress don’t have to go too far, which is good. Kids relate to ROUGH because they know our boards are made for core snowboarders, and they also look cool. Our best publicity is the word of mouth that kids spread, it’s helped us grow every year so THANK YOU everyone!

What does the future hold in store for ROUGH? We would like to get ROUGH known worldwide and expand our team internationally, still staying true to the core philosophy that has driven us so far, and keeping a limited number of boards in our line at a reasonable price.

Shout outs!

DIY OR DIE!

roughsnowboards.com

PHOTOS: OLEG LARIONOV

Can you explain your name, WEARE2012?

The name of the company (and our first movie) is kind of a joke about us bringing about the end of the old ways. We are a revolution against stale ideas and authority, an end to the existing order and the beginning of a new world. We know everyone’s heard enough about 2012, but some people in our crew actually believe something is going to go down next year.

What kind of cameras are you guys packing to start this revolution?

Our equipment may seem basic but it’s fine for street filming. We basically shoot everything with DSLR’s including a Canon 500D, 7D and 60D, plus a generator!

Bonus noseslide

Where did you guys travel to to scrape up footage for the film? Which place was the most fruitful?

This year we went to Finland three times. It’s only a 3-hour drive from St. Petersburg and you’re in the best street spots in Europe, with beautiful views instead of boring Russian landscapes. We also hit up a couple of Russian cities and Kiev in the Ukraine.

Yuri Rudchik street sender

Doomsday Crew!

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A lot of crews have gone to Russia before but few things have come out of the local scene so far. Do you have the feeling you’re exploring uncharted waters producing a full Russian movie?

Well, in some sense it’s true but before us other riders were already producing video projects, like Mitja Fesenko and Pavel Karihalin. But we don’t just make movies, WEARE2012 is also a production & design studio. We run two brands as well, Lil’ That’s what friends are for…

Kings, beanies & shredwear, and Terror, a snowboard brand. Unlike past brand attempts in Russia, we’re putting more creative expression and a message into what it for a long time, now we’re finally starting to feel like we’re creating. The movement has started and just keeps growing! we’re keeping pace with the rest of the snowboarding world.

What do the locals think about all the crazy urban antics? Do cops give you a hard time?

What will happen to you guys if 2012 comes and the All sorts of things have happened. Once the cops even tried to shoot us with riot control rivet world doesn’t end, change your name? Just keep guns. But from the videos it looks like the US is more strict in general. In Russia there’s alsnowboarding? ways a solution if you get in trouble, you just gotta pay off the cops!

Like I said, some of us believe and some don’t in what 2012 will bring, but the meaning of the name is more than a Have any of the punk guys in the crew ever put on Bonus’ clothes for a laugh? date, it won’t change even when 2013 comes… Thanks Haha! You could easily fit two people in his clothes but on him somehow it looks alright. again to ThirtyTwo, Salomon, Lil Kings, Virus, M-Video, TerHe’s not trying to be trendy, it’s his own style. Denis is not really one to follow the crowd. ror and Method Mag for supporting La Resistance!

Does the future of snowboarding hide somewhere in Russia? lilkingsclothes.com Snowboarding has existed in Russia for about 20 years, but it took the first 15 to make terrorsnow.com it possible to actually ride, to have a right to snowboard. The ski resorts were against

to: Hrvoje Čemeljić

Vid Bariċ 50-50 Pho

Matic Zavodnik 50-50 front three off Photo: Fettich

Balkans represent!

Nejc Ferjan FS blunt Photo:

Vid Baric: Well, from my point of view 45 DeWhat’s the word dudes, give us the low grees are just a bunch of friends who love down on your posse. Who’s in the crew, riding, traveling and hitting up the rad spots where is your local hill, how long you guys together. have been together, etc.

Matic Zavodnik: The whole thing started Why did you decide to call yourselves 45 Dein autumn 2010, we realized we had so grees? Is it cuz you guys are too hot to handle? much shit and random photoshopped Matic: We Googled the temperature in a wompictures making fun of ourselves an’s punani, and it turns out it’s about 45 dewe wanted to share, so we started a grees celsius. blog. Eventually it turned into something more serious, we started postDo you have crew hoodies? Die cuts? Secret ing shredits from this season and they handshakes? got featured on some sites, including Vid: We have pretty sick highback socks, man, :) Method Mag. But we do it mainly for the Matic: We thought about all that stuff but girrrrls, of course. The blog was origiwe’re too lazy to make it happen right now. nally created by Dejan Brozovič, Nejc We’ll try working on it this season since our Ferjan and myself. A week or so later we blog is still growing. And secret handshakes added Mark Pirc to our crew. But 45-Deare supposed to be secret, so we gots to keep grees isn’t just us four guys, it’s all the Yuthat shit on the down low, haha. go boys who happen to ride or hang with us. It’s hard to say which is our “local” hill, Who is the biggest slob in 45 Degrees? Who because we come from all over Slovenia, is the laziest? Who hooks up with the most but our favorite place to ride is definitechicks? Who is the biggest drunk? ly Vogel Mtn. The scene in Slovenia isn’t Vid: There is no biggest slob but there is one that big, considering we only have 2 milreally lazy guy, he’s not an original member lion people, but it’s plenty big for such of the crew, same as me, but we always shred a small country. That’s the main reason together so it’s all good, Balkans united! His we’ve known each other for so long.

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Fettich

name is Toni a.k.a Palermo, it takes a lot of work to wake him up in the morning but once when he’s on the hill he can seriously throw down. As for chicks and drunks, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Matic: Actually, we’re all slobs in a way.

Mark makes one post a year on the blog so I would definitely say he is the laziest. The one who hooks up with the most chicks would be Dejan, haha (claim). As for alcohol, the Olympics are coming up, we gotta work on our triple corks sober.

But other than that we’re just a bunch of guys who really love to snowboard and have as much fun as possible doing it.

Tell us a funny story about 45 Degrees.

Vid: We went on a trip to Romania this winter, there was a rail jam with the coolest setup ever. While we were there a friend of ours had a really disgusting experience with a cat.

Ever since that day we call this kid “Deadcat”, feel free to use your imagination. (I’m sure you can’t imagine anything this gross though…)

Matic: You’ll hear about “Deadcat” real soon cuz the kid is killin’ it!

45degrees.blogspot.com

Stephan Maurer has been snowboarding for quite a few years now.

After so many descents, one’s shred stick can get a little limp. So Mu is always down to reshuffle the cards to keep things exciting. A couple seasons back he got more than his feet wet. He jumped headfirst into the lake of novelty and decided to ride his Fish freeride deck everywhere! He even managed to get himself into the slopestyle finals at BEO 2010 on it. By now Mu has ridden his Fish on every form of frozen water possible, but like all new things it has become a bit routine for him… So what’s next to keep our hero hyped on the shred?

Well, Mu went and got himself a little gnome named Digger that acts as a hype man. Mu installed some custom tiny bindings for Digger on the tail of his board, so the little man just clicks himself in at the top of the hill and rips along with his homie Mu. Keep in mind, Digger is not your normal gnome, he’s an adrenaline junkie and he points out new spots to Mu all the time. If you pay close attention as Mu tears down the hill, you will hear Digger yelling “hit that wall”, “gap that rock”, “slash that hump”, “hand plant”, “be more awesome” and so on.

Digger knows where all the powder spots are too, he sniffs out the white gold like a bloodhound.

Sometimes Mu will unstrap Digger and toss him off a cliff to check landings. Little known fact, all gnomes love to burrow, and Digger loves burrowing in the snow most of all. Since he’s nice and light, once Mu has stomped his trick, Digger can scamper across the snow like a squirrel and strap back in quickly. In this photo you can see Digger requesting an invert. Digger tells Mu to do handplants all the time cuz he loves dangling from his feet upside down. This is so much better than the last job he had, where he guarded

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tulips and got peed on by a poodle.

Don’t be discouraged that you don’t have a Digger of your own. A little hype gnome lurks within all of us, you just have to listen, he’s in there somewhere. Just bend those knees, catch some speed and he’ll speak up!

PHOTO: GABE L’HEUREUX

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Holy Cow is a new page in the mag which might lead some of you to think we are into creepy bovine sacrificial rituals.

Well, you’re right, we are creepy, but that’s not what this page is about. It’s about those shots that make you scream “HOLY COW!” and cause you to firmly grasp your scrotum in hopes of not pissing your pants. And that’s exactly what this shot of Iikka Backstrom made us do. As you can see here, Iikka, the Scandinavian man-whore, isn’t afraid to send it to the moon as he stomps the shit out of this back 5 in the Whistler backcountry.

The zany alien brain behind Hakuin Airlines, Alex Shauwecker, put his art tentacles to work and pushed out this issue’s (f)ART for us.

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The collage is titled “Ghosts Before Breakfast”. It explores that moment before being fully awake when you are already half awake, but still half sleeping with a head full of odd dreams about powder and girls. One second she’s there, next second she’s gone...

PHOTO: VINCE

NT SKOGLUN D

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“Jeff Curtes, Vianney Tisseau and I after a great quarterpipe session in Las Leñas, Argentina, circa 2000. Shaun White, Terje, Mike Michalchuck, Gigi, Trevor Andrews, DCP and Michi Albin, amongst others, completely slayed the QP we had built 2-3 days earlier. This was one of the last really big photo shoots Burton ever did. I have a Profoto 7b pack on my stomach as well as a medium and small format on my back, complete with umbrella and tripod cane. Other photographers at this shoot were Kevin Zacher, Trevor Graves and a few filmers. Total media hype.”

- Vincent

PHOTOS: David Kündig

Zombies prefer Fresh Meat, it’s kinda like Kobe beef to them.

So we decided to ask the upcoming Fresh Meats of snowboarding a few questions about the living dead.

Boris getting an extra dose of UV radiation

Please introduce yourself to the zombie horde.

Hi, my name is Boris Bühler and I live in a small town called Glarus in Switzerland. I’m 19 years old and I hope you won’t eat my brain.

other people, chill in graveyards or play soccer with someone’s head. Living the undead dream!

What would be the benefits of already being dead?

There are none, life is too beautiful. But being undead for a day would be cool, you could do whatever you wanted, like jump off a skyscraper or do some sick, super dangerous stunts without worrying about dying. You could totally freak out your friends too, that would be really cool.

Can you give one good reason why you shouldn’t be eaten by zombies?

I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t like my meat.

Unless they like hairy, tenacious, bony meat. But no one likes that, not even zombies!

What do you do if you are attacked by zombies?

Have you ever seen “Bad Taste”? It’s one of Peter Jackson’s first movies. I would do like the kids in that movie, just walk away, because zombies are way slower than humans. But in a worst case scenario, I’d find a shotgun and blast their heads off!

What kind of people do you think should be eaten by zombies?

I don’t think zombies make a distinction between good and bad people. But if they did, they should eat homicidal maniacs or bad politicians. Then again, if all the bad people turn into zombies they would eat all the good people, so that would still suck.

fluence and motivate me the most. Thanks for that, homies!

Who keeps your unholy, undead body kitted and fitted?

Academy Snowboards, Airblaster, Transform Gloves, Union Bindings, ThirtyTwo and Etnies, so stoked on that!

Thank you all!

Do you prefer eating humans on the streets, the park or the powder fields?

Variety is very important, if you pay attention to your diet and eat a little bit of everything you learn to handle all kinds of situations. But personally I think humans on the street and in the park taste way better than humans in the powder.

What other zombies do you mob around with?

There’s a bunch of cool people I terrorize the hills with, all the locals from Glarus. We went to school together, they’re super cool people. In Laax I hang with the Adapd Distribution crew, it’s super motivating to mob around and eat brains with those dudes.

Tell us about a crazy crash that made you think you had returned from the dead.

I’ve never had a really bad crash so far, luckily. But once during a handball match, I was hit while scoring a goal and landed on my head. I was knocked out for a few seconds and the first thing I saw when I came to was blood on the floor. I had no idea what happened and tried to get up. My face was covered in blood, there was a big gash over my eyebrow.

I’d say this is probably what it feels like being a zombie, confused as hell, all messed up and covered in blood.

If you were bitten by a zombie, would ask your friends to shoot you or would you try to eat everyone?

I would definitely try to eat all my friends because if they were zombies too we could do some crazy things together like feast on

Who are some of your favorite old zombies?

I don’t really have any, I guess. There are definitely a lot of people that inspire me, but they aren’t pros, it’s more the people I spend time with. My friends are my biggest in-

Can you give one good reason why you shouldn’t be eaten by zombies?

There’s not a lot of meat on me.

What would you do if you were attacked by zombies?

A shotgun to the head should work, but since I don’t have one I’d probably just panic and run.

PHOTOS: Chris Peiffer

Please introduce yourself to the zombie horde.

I’m Wessel van Lierop, snowboard addicted indoor rider from the Netherlands.

Wessel weaseling past security with a mega method

What kind of people do you think should be eaten by zombies?

The gapers who fuck up the take-offs to every feature in my local indoor slope. Though they might come back as zombie gapers, which would be bad.

You have been infected and your brain has begun to rot. If you could only mumble words, what 5 words would describe you in zombie language?

Graagh, ughh, bleghh, bwaah, guuhh. But I don’t speak Zombie that well, so no clue what it means.

Tell us about a crazy crash that made you think you had returned from the dead.

What would be the benefits of already being dead?

I was doing nollie back ones over a fence, but my Being pretty hard to kill, and not feeling pain friends were saying the nollies weren’t gangster enough. So I nollied even harder, screwed up, caught when I crash on my snowboard. my nose under the fence. I turned the fall into a little Do you prefer eating humans on the streets, backflip and landed on my face and knees, which was the park or the powder fields? better than directly on my neck. It ended up not hurtI like it all, but most of the time I only get to ride ing that bad, but it was a close call. There was actuindoor or sometimes in an outdoor park. I hope I ally a video of it online not long ago. get to ride more pow and street next season.

If you were bitten by a zombie, would you ask your What other zombies do you mob around with? friends to shoot you or would you try to eat them?

My homies at the local indoor slope. You If I wasn’t completely zombified yet, I’d get my might have heard of Kas Lemmens, and if friends to shoot me. I’m nice like that. not, you probably will soon.

Who are some of your favorite old zombies?

Robot Food crew. But although they don’t count as “old” zombies, my biggest influences are people like Jed, Grenier, Stevens, Louif, Jake Kuzyk, Phil Jacques, Ryan Paul, E-man and a lot of others I’m forgetting right now.

Who keeps your unholy, undead body kitted and fitted?

I ride for Arbor snowboards, Rock On snow and skate shop, and Westbeach clothing.

PHOTOS: GREG STEVENS

Please introduce yourself to the zombie horde.

Hello, I am Rowan Coultas, I am 14, I come from England and I like to do snowboard stunts!

Can you give one good reason why you shouldn’t be eaten by zombies?

Because there would be no one to beat up my little brother.

What do you do if you are attacked by zombies?

I’ve heard that a rad nose bonk to the head does the job quite nicely.

What kind of people do you think should be eaten by zombies?

Angry skiers who hit snowboarders in the lift queue with their ski poles, and ski racers with giant bags in small lifts.

Tell us about a crazy crash that made you think you had returned from the dead.

I was in the mini pipe in Penken Park and went for a backflip to the deck, but halfway thru I realized I wasn’t going to make it and fell from the sky like a rock. Landed hard on my collarbone and straight away I knew I had broken it. Luckily James Thorne was there to get the medics and make sure I was okay, so thanks again James Thorne! (Even though it was all his fault for making me do it with all his peer pressure!)

If you were bit by a zombie, would ask to friends to shoot you or would you try to eat everyone?

I would find every angry skier that’s hit me with a pole or anyone who shoved me around to try and snake me and eat them.

You have been infected and your brain has begun begin to rot. If you could only mumble words, what would be 5 words that describe you in zombie language?

Steezy, Dippy, Park Rat, Jib Monkey, Junior Spesh.

What would be the benefits of already being dead?

Bails would be painless.

Do you prefer eating humans on the streets, the park or the powder fields?

Mainly park but occasionally I treat myself to an eating frenzy in the powder fields.

What other zombies do you mob around with?

Jamie “Pickles” Nicholls, Chris “Inward Bubble” Chatt, Matt McCormACK, Jonny “Fartpants” Russell, Fat Dad. Who are some of your favorite old zombies?

JP Walker, Joe Sexton, Simon Chamberlain, Halldor Helgason, Seb Toots and Torstein Horgmo.

Who keeps your unholy, undead body kitted and fitted?

Vans, Stepchild, Giro, Grenade, Clast, TSA.

Rowan putting Penken Park in his pocket, noseslide thru the kink

Please introduce yourself to the zombie horde.

Hi, I am Joelle Jill Jinny Juchli, 22 years old, born in Davos, Switzerland. My favorite resort is Laax.

Can you give one good reason why you shouldn’t be eaten by zombies?

I’m just skin and bones, ;)

PHOTOS: Ian Rothwell

What do you do if you are attacked by zombies?

Grab my hairspray and a lighter.

What kind of people do you think should be eaten by zombies?

Animal and child abusers.

Tell us about a crazy crash that made you think you had returned from the dead.

I’ve never really had a super crazy slam, but I have had moments where I thought, “holy fuck, that was close”.

If you were bitten by a zombie, would you ask your friends to shoot you or would You you try to eat everyone?

What other zomhave been I would bite my friends, it’s not fun to bies do you mob around with? infected and your play alone, ;) Sharpshotaz crew, all the Laax shredders brain has begun to rot. and friends.

If you could only mumble words, what would be 5 words that describe you?

Who are some of your favorite zombies?

Funny, honest, cheerful, earnest, courageous.

Jess Kimura, Laura Hadar, Hitsch Haller and my boyfriend Blume!

What would be the benefits of already being dead?

I don’t know. Separating good from evil...

Who keeps your unholy, undead body kitted and fitted?

Do you prefer eating humans on the streets, Ride snowboards, boots & bindings and the park or the powder fields?

CAPP3L outerwear.

I eat people on the street, because I hate Sunday drivers, haha!

JJ’s got mad flextrogen! Front noseblunt in Zermatt

This was an all time trip to Japan! We were on a Salomon team trip with Louif, Harrison, Chris, Taka, Oli, Boris and, of course, Java Fernandez. I was looking forward to going on a trip to a fun country with that guy for a long time, because all you do is laugh and get lost with Jav! Mix this with Taka´s knowledge of the mountains and snow in Japan and you’re in for a perfect trip! Everyday he had a new spot up his sleeve, it was a mission to keep track were you had just been, especially when all you have to do is play Angry Birds and step out of the car into perfect snow!

This particular cliff was at one of many roadside spots we hit, so bringing a bunch of birds… uhm, boards was always easy! Taka, Louif and myself hit that thing with the snowboard a bunch of times, then I grabbed the äsmo to get a quick lap in and thought this could be a nice bomb drop spot for it!

All you have to do for the caveman part of this trick is to pack the take off a bit, so you don’t sink in with your boots and get a good, solid

running leap. Once you’re in the air it’s just like a skate acid drop, just with a bigger board and stiffer boots! So make sure you get that board under your feet and stay centered for a good landing. Oh, and make sure you got an amazing photodog like Oli with you to get the shot!

Eeeööööööö!

PHOTOS: OLI GAGNON

What to say about Bode… Well, he’s the only person I know that does not have a fear mechanism. I’ve been to spots with him where 3 people before looked at something and all responded, “this looks fucked up, I think I’m over it.” Then Bode pokes his head over the edge, looks back at me and says, “This looks fuckin’ sick!”. Five minutes later, he does the craziest shit imaginable down the craziest obstacle ever. Filming with him used to make me super uncomfortable. I would never want to say anything at the time, but in my head I’d always think, “man, this is fucked up. I don’t want to be around for this shit if anything doesn’t go right.” Then he’d lighten the mood by doing the most insane trick I had ever seen go down in my life. There were many times that I was sure Grenier’s head was actually going to explode. I guess that over the years I’ve seen him do so many fucked up things that I’ve learned to have faith in his decision making, but seeing him do things in person never ceases to be anything but fucked up. On another note, he’s one of the funniest, goofiest, and kindest people I know. He’s got a sense of humor that is truly one of a kind but is understood by everyone. If I was ever in a pinch, I know Bode’s the kind of guy I’d put my life in the hands of. Not to kiss too much butt or anything, but Bode is the shit. Anyone that meets him even for a second would say the same thing.

- Java Fernandez

Bode turning up the thermostat in the Utah backcountry with a colossal switch BS180 Photo: Bob Plumb

What are the best and wor st things about being half-Amer and half-Norw ican egian?

I can say pretty much say it is th e perfect combi of both worlds. nation. The best Norway = beau tiful women an limited opportun d the USA = unities.

If you had to give up one of your pa ssports which on mean, give away e would you sell, ?

I I would give up my Norwegian one. Because th hard to get. I also e American one am living in the back to Norway is so US now, so I don’ just yet. I just m t want to move oved to Salt Lake City. It’s sick!

You have mainl y been filming with US produc nies? tions, don’t you like European fil I love them both m compa, but I have spen t a lot of time in th the years. Theref e States snowbo ore, I have conn arding througho ected with mor tried to film with e US film compa ut the Pirates one nies than Europe year, but it didn wanted to film an. I ’t come together with Stian Solb in the end. I real erg, I love riding

ly with that guy!

What’s the hard est thing about trying to film a Not getting hurt legit part? and always trave ling. I always se This year I brok em to get hurt on e my ankle in tw o places, in the the dumbest stuff But what can yo beginning of Fe . u do, you know, bruary, so that su you just have to what you got! cked!!! move on and tr y your best and enjoy Do you have a ch ecklist of tricks you want to na you just improv il in your head ise and go with for your part or the flow?

I would recomm do end having a tr ick list at the star up improvising t of the season, . I try not to do th but I pretty muc e same trick too landings... h end many times. Yo u can’t be wastin

g What do you se e as the biggest difference betw moment? een the US and the Euro scenes Videograss. Just at the that style of snow boarding. I know the main differe nce. it’s coming to Eu rope, but that’s Do you think th ere will ever be a boy born that Of course! I belie can swim faster ve NASA is wor than a shark? king on that rig personally can’ ht now. We as hu t wait for people mans must evol to start walking ve. I on their hands.

You are an all te rrain shred mac hine, how impo rything? rtant is it for yo u to be able to ri I think it is diffe de everent for everyone . I say just do wha like riding ever t you like to do be ything. I suck at pipe because I ha st. I personally ju years. But I used ve not really rid st to ride pipe all th den one for the e time when I w riding the pow last 4 as in high school and cracking bi . I loved it! Now g ass ollies!

I like You have a pret ty strange first name (for nongling of your na Scandis that is), me you’ve hear what is the wor d? Anyone ever A guy at Starbuck st mancall you K-Nut? s called me Conr ad one time... Th call me NUT out at w here. But it’s cool as pretty messed , my name is wei up! People usua speak a Scandina rd, it pretty muc lly vian language. h only works if yo u can

Win the X-Games or win a week fully paid for in Åre with the boys?

Win the X-Games, that way I could buy a place in Åre for all the boys... Plus that way I would be a gold medalist... hahaha.

You seem to be always smiling when you’re shredding, is this just your game face or are you really having that much fun?

I know it sounds stupid or gay, but I really love snowboarding. It doesn’t matter what type of snowboarding I am doing, what the weather is like, the snow conditions or who I am with, I am always so stoked to go boarding. I can just set my mind free and have real, pure, organic, classic fun!!! It’s the best. I feel bad for everyone who has never snowboarded, because they are missing out... Smiles for miles!

If a hot girl asked you out on a date and told you to bring some baby oil, a chicken and a video camera, would you go?

That is actually how I met my fiancee, Cathrine. She is from Norway, so that is a classic first date situation!

Knut getting kinky on the quad, back fiddy fiddy in Wisconsin Photo: Oli Gagnon

What were some crazy things you had to do just to go snowbo arding in the past while growing up in Croatia ?

When I started snowboarding I was still professionally into ath letics, so I remember taking my snowboard gear to an ind oor Croatian track meet once. I jumped my last long jump heat, took my gear, got on the tram, then hiked up the mou ntain for 2 hours cause the gondola was broken, just to ride a wooden bench on 10cm of snow.

How did growing up as a single child affect you? Did you have any imaginary friends?

Not only did I have imaginary friends, I also have an ability to transform into different characters.

Let’s just say I run with Usain Bolt, play guitar with John Fru sciante and for every other occasion there’s Spike Jon ze. Although, the one I should probably be worried about is thinking I’m Wo lverine while I’m snowboard ing.

How do you think your parent s influenced you? Do you rese mble your father or mother?

My dad raised me as a Spartan warrior and my mom balance d me with her kindness. Right now I’m a gro wn up, turbulent mix of ambiti on, adventure thrust and occasional appreh ension for the normal world around me.

What is something that hap pens only when girls ride tog ether?

Synchronized periods.

We think your style stands out from other girls. Some girls are making a push to go bigger and spin more. Do you think they forgot style alo ng the way? Is there even a point to going big ger without style?

Since skateboarding was the first thing I got into, my snowbo arding was always influenced by it. Plus the skate crew I grew up with wer e really harsh on bad style. So simple, smooth airs and slides are what make me happy. Plus everybody knows I don’t like to crit icize others. Except maybe skie rs, rollerbladers, sketchy snowboarders, tight stance, wide stance, tall tees, short tees…

You seem to reflect on life thr ough visual montages, tell us about your Photoshop therapy?

Photoshop for me is what a san d zen garden is for a Japanese person. Cameras can never capture what I really see, so this is the way to let it out.

Do you think it’s important to be able to make fun of yoursel f?

I only make fun of myself to hav e an excuse for making fun of others. That’s way more fun.

When you land your tricks you really stomp them, does the same go for when you bail?

When things go wrong, they go really wrong. Plus, I have a certain talent for really big slams on really sma ll rails.

Hotter than lava! Ana nosepressing in Finland. Photo: Carlos Blanchard

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ccording to Wikipedia, a Smörgåsbord “is a type of Scandinavian meal served buffet style with multiple dishes of various foods, which originated in Sweden”. According to me, however, a Smörgåsbord is a shred trip to one of the most amazing places on our blue planet with some of the raddest dudes in snowboarding, served buffet style with a smattering of random Scandinavian activities for good health.

WORDS: IAN THRA SHMORE PHOTOS: ANDY W RIGHT

Bennee making out with a trout

Fish-smoked wurst!

Every once in a while you get presented with a goldplated opportunity that is just too good to turn down.

That was the scene when, sitting at my computer in early May, thinking the season was all but done, I picked up an email from Method HQ. It asked whether I would cover a trip to Scandinavia for them with the Nike SB snow team. The riders were to be Nicolas Müller, Gigi Rüf and Justin Bennee, along with Nike brand manager/shred legend Bobby Meeks, renowned photographer Andy Wright and Joe Carlino from Videograss to film. Oh, and me... No pressure then.

After half a second of worry that Method thought I was actually a journalist, the diary was cleared and having checked with our lass that missing her birthday wouldn’t render me single, it was on.

Less than two weeks later I was on a flight with Jamie Nicholls from London to Ålesund, Norway. We only stayed there long enough for me and team manager Jon Weaver to blag junior into jumping into the sea and and wait for the rest of the group to arrive.

The next day everyone travelled to Stranda for a Nike 6.0 shoot. In keeping with the smörgåsbord vibe, we swapped the one-hour drive for a six-hour boat journey so we could sample another morsel of what Scandiland has to offer. Unlike the 6.0 team’s pretty sailing boat, ours was a giant tin can captained by the love child of Ted Bundy and Jack Sparrow (minus the eye makeup). Setting off down the fjord, our Norwegian pirate pointed us in the direction of beers, red wine and a coffee pot, which had already been over the stove long enough that the thick black liquid could have fueled a rocket. Better than a posh old school boat any day!

Beware!

Meeks

I’ve never been anywhere with such a clean sea that is so full of fish as Norway.

Having arrived at what he obviously considered to be “The Spot”, our indomitable captain instructed us to drop the lines overboard.

Thinking his sonar might have brought us to some place that made open-water fishing more like shooting them in a barrel, we all got into it. Within minutes Bennee made the first catch. Having (maybe) missed the large holding tank a few feet behind him, he unhooked the fish and then unceremoniously staved its head in

The Method Master dropping some science, Nico getting bio

The Backcountry Boys

l!, GiGi

Holy mackere

Arthur Longo with his own rendition of the method, fistful of awesome

right here

on the deck. I say maybe because perhaps he saw the tank, but that’s just how folks roll in Salt Lake City.

Within the hour most people had hooked some type of mysterious silver fish, but Nicolas won “Man of the Match” by simultaneously snagging two of the suckers on the same line. It was the first day I had ever caught a fish. I usually prefer to sit on the river bank drinking beers without any fish-related disturbances, so I had never bothered with a hook on the line before. Bobby decided more beers were needed so got the boat to pull over at what looked like a derelict pier, where the captain assured him there was a liquor store nearby. When Bobby returned awash with booze and the BBQ stoked for fish and reindeer sausages, I decided our captain must be more Sparrow than Bundy!

Sitting in an almost exactly east-to-west valley, the ski area at Stranda had snow all the way to the base of the resort on one side of the valley and none for miles on the other.

The lifts were already closed to the public but Nike had taken the whole place over for a week. I know, super lame, right? That evening we all went up to inspect the set-up. The jumps were built on the sunny side of the valley, positioned to catch the best of the sun and one epic backdrop. Towards the top of the chairlift the main kicker came into view.

My house plus the front and back gardens would have easily fit on the table. I’m not even kidding. It was fucking massive!

Behind the knuckle, a couple of kilometers away, was the town of Stranda and behind that, a huge fjord edged by snow-capped peaks shrank into the distance. Immediately up the hill from what can only be described as “The Career Ender” was another, smaller jump. It was still wicked large, but compared to its bigger, infinitely gnarlier brother the thing was positively inviting. With shitty light, Jon Weaver, Nike Team Manager extraordinaire, made the call that the 6.0 team would head back up the hill at 3:30 in the AM to shoot a sunrise session.

Fortunately our group was spared the mandatory booter work, and with an average age over decade older than the 6.0 groms, a 2:30

AM call time seemed unlikely. In fact, we got up at 8:00 after a good night’s sleep, just in time to see the little bastards coming down at the end of their session. Ha! With bad weather in the forecast and twenty hours between sunrise and sunset, everyone headed back out twelve hours later for the sunset session. It was going off on the top kicker with some sick stuff from the 6.0 heads. The older and wiser SB crew, on the other hand, were all about a mini-shred hip to sign jib that was a lot of fun.

Despite the shitty forecast, the next day was another blinder weather-wise, so making a serious effort we were at the booters by the late morning. A session was getting under way while the paraglider pilot and cameraman were trying to get airborne. There is something oddly surreal about watching two grown men who are strapped together trying to run down a steep slope covered in deep slush. Especially when one is carrying a big camera and the other has a parachute and giant fan attached to his back. It was pretty sketchy and on the second try they fell. Somehow Greg Martin’s (from

l linger. In

that wil what we call a stinger This Nico FS invert is ata, that is ong obl a dul me r you

Friday Films) hand went into the fan when they went down. Ouch! It got pretty mashed up and he had to be heli-lifted to hospital. Brutal.

The Love Boat

Meanwhile I spent an hour or more watching Gigi hitting a mini-shred spot on the side of the run-in whilst keeping an eye on the main session; getting psyched to hit the beast myself, I thought I had gotten off easy.

No airborne cameraman, no session. Right? I mean, I’ve seen the Nike promo films before… It turned out,

Best switch method in the game, Gigi

More, more, Thrashmore!

n Fish

BYOF - Bring Your Ow

whips out a boner

Nicolas goes for the hook shot, back one metho d

however, that there was one of those crazy six-rotor radio controlled helicopters with a camera strapped to its belly as a backup, so I wasn’t off the hook yet.

over the big boy

Gigi bucking brodeo 7 step up

As the sun started to dip behind the mountains on the far side of the fjord, the 6.0 session came to an end and Gigi, Nicolas and I went to join Halldor, Ethan and Jamie at the top jump. I went last, but still shit myself on the first drop. Which, as it turns out, was totally uncalled for, because the jump was perfectly shaped and the landing sweet as soda pop. After the first hit I realized that sled tows from the resort’s own particular brand of snow machine were way sketchier than the jump itself.

kid is one sick puppy! After the session Jamie, Nicolas and I went for the old “death before dishonor” and decided to ride back down instead of an inglorious chairlift ride home. Hopping between increasingly wide patches of snow, we ended up hiking through the woods for the last couple of miles.

Great day, though. We then had a beer or ten to celebrate!

So we ended up having a wicked good session until the light was totally gone. Nicolas was showing the kids what’s up with super stylish back one methods and Gigi was just totally wildin’ out. Halldor did back threes and fives off his heels, which on a jump that size is certifiable lunacy. But that

Wanna find out what other deliciously tangy adventures our intrepid chronicler of shredtastic adventures got up to with the notorious Nike snow gang? Get the full skinny and more photos at www.methodmag.com!

Bennee tesy of Mr. Justin

Nasty nollie cour

PHOTOS: BOB PLUMB

Stomp or get smoked, Will Tudds gap out to back lip

I spent the two previous winters rehabbing my knee on the beaches of Mexico and Panama. Ready for winter, I headed to New York during record-setting snowfall with Jon, Jordan and Will to film for the new Videograss movies, Retrospect and Shoot the Moon. The trip consisted of lots of Dunkin Donuts, gangster rap in our car and everyone logging clips. Unfortunately I was rooming with the photographer, Bob, who never shut up during the day, snored throughout the night as well as having the worst smelling feet in New York. But besides that, Bob and the whole trip were all time.

Austin with a furious FS 180 over the whole damn spot

We decided to go to Syracuse again this year. I love this place, I’ve been coming back every few years since filming for Shakedown. Last year we made an attempt, and it ended up being one of the worst tips of the season. We arrived to 3 feet of snow and perfect weather, only to have it rain for the next five days. That trip was so bad Bob lost his mind, paced around the hotel, changed his flight 3 or 4 times, and swore off ever coming back. So here we were again in Syracuse, except this was hands down one of the best, most productive trip of the the year for us. The main highlight was this sports bar we found randomly about an hour outside of Syracuse, best wings I’ve ever had. We went back twice. I got to watch Jordan film half of his part in one trip, Austin learn tricks as he was filming them, and Will was doing what Will does, only hitting things that you could get totally smoked on. It was a super fun trip, really positive. Good thing too, because being on a bad trip with Bob is like being on a trip with a hyperactive 10-year old with anxiety attacks.

Ahhh, upstate New York, you bring back such fond memories. If it wasn’t for that trip, I would probably be seeking some form of employment right now. Since I have no practical job experience, college degree or the mental stamina to work from 9 to 5 every day, my job prospects would be downright dreadful. Anyway, it was one of the most productive trips I have been on in ages.

Everyone “dropped the hammer” as they say, and left with a few clips for the old video part. In spite of all the slim fit pants and emotional asides (mostly made by Bob), I didn’t see a single tear roll down the cheek of any man in the crew. Damn it, now I’m feeling all nostalgic and shit, so I’m not ruling out a potential downpour...Yep, here come the tears.

I think everyone walked away from that trip happy...

Even Austin, who wasn’t used to filming with a crew that can’t get their shit together. He also may have wanted to strangle Bob once or twice. But It was productive, pretty much saved my video part... Plus, we got Dunkin Donuts everyday.

off Will fiery nollie front tail with some 270 loving the donkey dick

I nose what I ham, Mendenhall dropping the hammer

Pressin’ to impress, Austin nose switcheroo

Jordan spanks this spot with a

steezy back lip

I wanted to write about how sweet our trip to Syracuse was, but after getting everyone else’s take on the trip I decided to change the story.

Each guy took a cheap shot at me, so now it’s my turn to get even.

First, Jordan Mendenhall. I’m sorry but if the shoe fits, wear it. Your pants look like your balls can’t breath and your lack of enthusiasm is quite annoying. Does anything get this guy excited? The man doesn’t even get hyped after landing a trick, he just walks away all emotional and quiet. Think Eeyore from the Winnie the Pooh cartoon.

Oooohhhh, Austin Smith. He’s from the Bend, Oregon area. A place known for being close to Mt. Hood, fixed gear hipsters and overall emotional people.

Sure, Austin does look E-code but after this trip he definitely isn’t G-code. He doesn’t like rap music, instead he listens to BBC radio. There was one point in the trip where he locked himself in the car and wouldn’t talk to me. He just sat there listening to his precious news radio. What a nerd.

Jon Kooley. Sure, I freaked out last year in Syracuse, but I wasn’t the only one. I actually blame Jon for this. Every 5 minutes I had to hear how shitty the trip was.

“Worst trip ever,” was his favorite line.

You would think, new year, Jon could turn over a new leaf, but NO. Every spot we hit went from being “the best spot ever” to “the worst spot ever” after a few attempts.

Just because you don’t land your trick in 3 tries doesn’t mean you need to get all negative. As far as being a hyperactive 10-year old, I blame that on the coffee intake.

Will Tuddenham. It was pretty nice what he wrote. Still, I have to lay into him a bit. It’s funny how negative he was the whole fucking trip, yet it’s the best trip of the year. Will spent the whole time staring at his laptop in the hotel, staring at his iPhone in the car and staring at his iPhone at the spot, when he was done snowboarding, of course. Sometimes I think Will would rather socialize via facebook than socialize in person.

Sean Mcormick is the filmer and overall a great guy; until it gets cold. Just a side note man, you are a snowboard filmer, chances are your gonna be cold most of the time. I’m just saying, keep your complaining to yourself.

Oh man, look what one trip with these guys has done to me.

Those assholes have rubbed off on me. I’VE BECOME E-CODE, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...

Kooley two seven heaven over

the chasm of hell

G

LAN SHILLIN

PHOTOS: KEA

L

os Angeles can be a difficult city to live in if you don’t play your cards right. Rent’s expensive, drinks are expensive, food is expensive, and gas to drive anywhere can amount to the wages of a part time job. In the fall of 2010 I decided to sell all of my belonga 25ings, move out of my house in Los Angeles, and move into ing upcom the on work and Tahoe to move to was foot RV. My plan Rusthe of s Secret COMUNE snowboard film now entitled “Psychic ntly being sians and the Shape of Content 1983”. I was tired of consta of wasttired was I smog, the of tired was I cash, stressed out about I wanted out ing four hours a day simply driving from place to place. of the rat race, I wanted to drop out. y what I If dropping out was what I was asking for, that’s exactl lt difficu was it and Tahoe in RV my got. It was too cold to park the for settle to decide I So city. electri steal to places to find foothills. I ended up

an hour south, in a town called s a ranch Applegate. A good friend of mine own park my RV me let to gh enou ious grac was down there so he growing been had d and plug in. All summer long my frien more had ally liter he so erty, weed in the woods on his prop y; all the reall ious hilar ty pret was It y. awa than he could give grass. The whole place closets and drawers were stuffed with bad in Tahoe and nowas ther wea just reeked. Whenever the the COMUNE team form yone ever d, boar snow body wanted to partied and just and h and friends just came down to the ranc ded in the seclu so was erty prop kind of lost their minds. The you were like felt you that a orni Calif hern Nort dense forest of et. plan her anot in another country and sometimes

enjoyed November and Once January came around the snow we y and 70 degrees and it sunn December just seemed to stop. It was we were getting restand by t wen ks just seemed hopeless. Wee ranch other than party, less. There’s nothing really to do on the . We would get so sleep and shoot guns, play music, get weird, to the house, just road the n dow e drov y excited when somebod stave off the boreTo because it meant a new person to talk to.

Jason Kell, making a stale fish look fresh

dom I read a book about an infamous surfe r from the 70’s named Bunker Spreckles.

He was this surfer in Malibu who took acid and inve nted all these surfboard shapes and helped pioneer modern day short boarding. Unfortunately he later became the heir to the Spreckles family sugar fortune and inherited milli ons of dollars, which led to him getting all fucked up on drug s and dying in Hollywood at 27. Anyway, my point is that the experimented with shapes and styles of surfing, whic h really inspired me to think the same way about snowboar ding and contemporary snowboard shapes. My friends and I started talking about it and tossing around ideas for shap es.

Modern snowboard shapes have beco me so sterile, boring and performance-driven. Not to mention they are all mass produced by machines and typically have

the most marketable, homogenized graphics. They’re seriously lacking any soul. I decided why not try to make a snowboard? How hard can it be? I mean, I started out snowboarding on a skateboard deck with rope to hold my feet with. Did a snowboard really need to have space age technology and all the gimmicks the brands tell you that you need?

I don’t know… I mean, probably if you’re gonna be chucking triple lindy’s in the half pipe, but I’m not. doing that anytime soon. I just wanted to rip some powder. We were all dreaming of riding powder, deep Tahoe powder. It hadn’t snowed in a month and we were all going out

of our minds, praying for snow.

From this boredom and craving for powder I decided to make some really primitive, edgeless, powder-specific snowboards as an experiment.

I started out with some really huge, 8-foot. shapes. I didn’t even know if they would work nor did I care. I wanted to make a shape of a snowboard as if you were a little kid dreaming of a snowboard. I wasn’t even making them necessarily to ride but just to imagine and smile at. They became more of a sculpture of a dream of a snowboard than anything. These first ones were more conceptual shapes than anything. The huge surfboard shape, spider web tail, coffin, powder holes were all just far out ideas and it didn’t matter if they were functional or not.

When the middle of February rolled around it started to dump. It was insane. I’d heard of this happening in Tahoe before, where it doesn’t snow for a while then it

Alex Scott in the white room

Corey, late night board painting at the Drop City Gallery

Top secret sun-curing technique

just goes crazy. The spring-like conditions of the past six weeks were forgotten. Tahoe received 1 to 2 feet of snow overnight, every night, sometimes even 3 feet. It was the largest amount of snowfall since the 1970’s. We just got pounded. Because it stayed cold, the snow was some of the deepest and lightest pow I’ve ever encountered on the West Coast. Luckily for me and my crew, I had been building giant powder boards for the past month. By this time I had constructed a quiver of over 10 boards. Now we just had to try them out and see if they worked.

The Mob Squad

The snow was so deep you couldn’t snowmobile, and avalanche danger was at an all time high. We decided to just find some spots off the side of the road. Once I hiked up, strapped on this giant board and made a turn, I knew I had something special. It was a totally unique experience compared to anything I had done in the past 17 years of snowboarding. The board accelerated quickly and floated effortlessly over the snow. It turned like a slow motion dream. Since the boards are so large, I was able to shoot up powder slashes larger than anything I was capable of before on a traditional board.

Even though the boards are large, they’re also really soft and flexible. This makes them really easy to turn and gives them a surf-like feel. Even on terrain that wasn’t that steep I could just mob over everything super fast, whereas a on a normal board I would just sink and stop.

Ben Rice airing on Logan’s Run

Corey pays homage to the late Bunker Spreckels

Because the boards float so well, we could ride all the mellow terrain and pillows that were previously unridable on a regular board. This opened up a whole new world of stuff that was relatively easy to hike and spots that we could see off the side of the road. We were beyond stoked. We felt like kids in a candy store. There was as much fresh snow and terrain to ride as we could hike. That’s the story of Spring Break Snowboards.

Marcel waiting patiently for the boards to be finished so he can go to Dog Beach

Brendan Gerard laying one out above base camp

PHOTOS: TERO REPO

Hey Xavier, how have you been, man?

Do you remember when I almost killed you at Defraggen a few years back on the Big Mountain Pro tour?

Hehe, hell yes I remember! Even though I shouldn’t remember much, considering the amount of alcohol we consumed that night... Pretty crazy!

It was definitely a memorable night, jumping from that roof in the middle of the Austrian woods, full of snow, that session with the tractor... Damn, it was good times.

When you were young, how long did it take for you to get off the piste and start hiking around?

It only started once I started snowboarding when I was 13, in 1993. I guess that’s what made me love snowboarding straight away and quit skiing... It was a really important time for me and I completely rediscovered the mountains and the act of riding. It was just fresh and open-minded. It’s been the best school in my life!

You had a very successful career in boardercross, what led you to decide to focus on big mountain riding instead?

It’s nice to be a gladiator for a while, but it just seemed obvious from day one that what was out there, untouched, was definitely the sexiest thing!

When you started going into the backcountry, did you see a clear division between people who were satisfied with easily accessed, piste-side powder and guys like you who clearly need to drink from a deeper cup?

Clash of the Titans: Xavier versus the Mountain

Xavier goes where you shouldn’t go‌ ever! Crazy chute in

the Dolomites.

To be honest, there isn’t such a big gap between the two things. Everyone likes to ride backcountry in the resort, and some people like to go and explore a bit further out. Some people only do that, but to me it almost becomes a different sport called mountaineering. I like that aspect of it, cause it gives me access to incredible terrain, conditions, landscapes, but it’s far from being everything in snowboarding for me. I like riding, not just climbing down a mountain.

What is in people like you that want to explore further, what is the animus behind the impetus?

It seems that I just have it in me, I like to prove myself by getting in these zones.

No matter what I do, I like it that way. I still like to keep control, but I like to push that control far away.

When will you know that you have reached the limit? Or at least your limit?

In the mountains you reach your limit very often, I don’t really look for it, even though I play with it. It comes naturally very often to show you that you are just a microscopic piece of shit compared to nature, but I find my inspiration by finding new stuff, new zones, new challenges...

Have you ever thought of naming your next first descent something like, oh say, Rue de Xavier?

I’m not really into that whole bagging first descents thing... I look more for riding things in a new way.

Do you have to be able to memorize your line to be able to actually ride a face? Do you ever pull out your camera mid-run to double check your line?

If you have to get your cam in the middle of the run it’s not a good sign at all. You need to know the line by heart without

any doubt. If not, either you get in trouble or you ride slow and stop at every take off, and end up spending way too much time in exposure… Big risks!

The urban scene is like an echo chamber, riders are constantly influenced by each other and certain tricks come in and out of fashion. Is there something about backcountry riding that breeds less imitation and more individuality?

It works kind of the same except that you are a very little dot on a big face. Facing the mountains is something that makes you think more about staying alive, being efficient, I’d say that style comes into play after. I mean, style is super important, but I also think less riders have the chance to film lines and that means they have less influence on the scene. I would love to see more new styles coming up into big lines.

Have you ever climbed to the top of a mountain and hiked back down because something just wasn’t right?

That happens a lot, way more often than what you think. I’m shit scared of avalanches, so everything needs to be perfect for me to drop in.

Xavier the Alchemist using his powers, turning

snow to blow

Best single tip for surviving an avalanche.

Not getting into one... ABS, a nice outrun and all the rest could help, but it’s better to not count on anything.

Can you tell us a story of a mountain miracle that you experienced?

You might have seen that big avalanche I got caught in. Enough said, it was more than a miracle, and caught on film so that people can see how things can go horribly wrong sometimes.

Do you ever think your hair has curled from the overdose of adrenaline you expose yourself to?

Hahaha, you haven’t lost your sense of humor, :-) Are emotion and rationality spoken by the same voice in your head or is it more like a conversation between two different sides?

Both speak together and both help. If I only used rationality, I wouldn’t be snowboarding, and if I only used my emotions, I might be already dead...

You ever think the wildlife is wondering, “what the hell is that brightly colored creature”, when they see you because people never (or rarely) go where you go?

For sure getting to the bottom of a run in the middle of hundreds of penguins and sea lions in the middle of Antarctica… They must have wondered, “what the hell is this thing”.

Are animal tracks usually a good guide for which way to get up or get down a mountain?

They can be for sure. But there are so many factors...

Do mountain goats get caught in avalanches?

I’d say yes, but I’ve never seen any, even after an avalanche.

Can you describe the sound of an avalanching cracking for those of us who have never been that near, is it kinda like popcorn? Or more like like a gun shot?

You hear a big “whoomp” sound when you break a wind slab, which is the most common kind of avalanche in the terrain/conditions I ride.

Staring down death, T-minus 3 turns to ice wall straight line, no big deal

What was the worst case of a “powder mirage” you have experienced, like when you think a face was pure powder but when you cut your first turn it’s pure ice… or does just happen to amateurs like me?

Just watch the Timeline movie coming out in November, you will understand straight away what I’m talking about... It was pretty gnarly but I’ll leave the suspense in the air.

What is your favorite down day activity?

I love the spring when you can wear shorts after riding and start to feel the summer, when I get to go climbing or biking. And of course, the first BBQ at the end of the winter, mmmm.

What is the hardest thing to do when you are shivering at 3,000 meters in the cold night?

Having to wait until morning... hehe.

Getting Godzilla in AK

How does one poop or pee when suspended off the side of a cliff like a ball sack flapping in the wind (like that scene in Deeper)?

Sit down on the railing and do your duty...

Just try to always use the same spot so that you don’t have to climb in it the next day.

Have you ever ended up in a situation where you realized you’ve gone too deep and wished you could click your heels three times and poof, teleport back to St. Lary?

I find myself sometimes in this situation.

It’s hard to keep the faith when it happens… But it usually works out well in the end. I like to tell myself that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

How much experience did you have climbing with a pick ax before you brought one on your snowboard missions?

I’ve been mountaineering for a while here and there, and the level required to climb those faces we ride isn’t really hard compared to some missions you could be doing in mountaineering.

Was there a specific moment or event that led you to start wearing a helmet?

Gilles Voirol getting taken down by his slough and ending up dead because he didn’t wear a helmet... Or my uncle dying while climbing from a rock falling on his head… It’s still sad to hear some guys in Chamonix criticizing people for wearing a helmet.

Do you ever say anything before or after a hairy line?

I’m usually super psyched after a big line, all the pressure coming off. But this one line I did in Cham at the end of last sea-

son, I told myself it was really stupid and I wouldn’t ever do it again... But that’s rare.

After you stop riding professionally, would you rather become a team manager or a kindergarten teacher?

Neither.

What’s worse, a flat piste covered in powder or icy steeps?

If there is some pow after the ice and a cool straight line to hit, I’m all up for it!

Tell us a bit about the experience of filming for Timeline, and having a whole project revolve around you. Are you working on something similar this season?

We only just got going on the Timeline project. We started last December without really knowing what we would do,

Life of Xavier

exactly. It’s been really enjoyable to work that way and to show things in a different light. We are starting a second Timeline season with lots of cool things lined up, some new gear, and a ton more experience. Wait until you see the movie!

When you are offered a heli ride, do you hop in or do you subscribe to the Jones mentality that there is a riding/eco/ spiritual benefit to hiking up?

I don’t like to be too radical in my choic-

es. I like to do what best suits the objective.

I don’t really like helis but they are really practical to get good footage. I also really like to climb some lines if they are worth it. I actually got a bit annoyed last season with JJ when we were in Jackson Hole. He made us go on a tour for 5 hours to ride a really shitty run when the resort right next to us was full of pow and cliffs... Anyways, he is on his own trip and I respect that, even though we don’t always have the same vision of riding.

Do you enjoy pressing the replay button from your runs when are falling asleep?

Hell yeah... Those few runs make it all worthwhile!

Will you ever stop exploring?

Never!!!! Says you know who... hehe. I like to change my ways of exploration so for sure I’ll keep going, one way or another.

UTER nes VES S sche Y e D & e at TER DS: N O ZEI WOR S: SILVAN O PHOT

C

oming from Jackson Hole, Breckenridge, and Salt Lake City, it’s a long walk to the Atlantic Ocean. It’s an even longer swim across it. From there, I imagine the fields of cheese and rivers of wine are guarded tightly by the pesky French, making a direct route to the Swiss Alps nearly impassible. Fortunately, we had our snowboards, and if this crew knew anything, it’s that a snowboard can take you anywhere.

Born with an idea more profound than most snowboard brands, Bluebird founder Willie McMillon insists the benchmark of his company’s success (or lack thereof) is the experience snowboarding can provide you. “I’ve always said that kids need to look at their snowboards as their vehicle to travel the world.” He continues with more than a hint of irony, “I mean, we went to Switzerland with no money and a half-maxed credit card. Everything was working against us but in the end we prevailed.”

Here’s how you make something out of nothing.

Chad Otterstrom front 9: FIRST! Photo: Silvano Zeiter

Once I had a dream to go to Switzerland for a magazine story. Or rather, let me say I simply had a dream to go to Switzerland…

I would write a magazine feature in order to pay for it. That is, if any one cared about magazines anymore.

I don’t know how it works in Europe, but coming from the States, getting a crew together can sometimes be quite the trick, no matter where you’re going, no matter what the project is.

What I have gathered is that in the world of the pro-daddy snowboarder, video parts trump a magazine feature every time. Winter is short and glory-hungry pros don’t want to waste their days for anything less than the pursuit of logging tricks. I understand that months of tireless work, digging sleds out, building jumps, crushing vertebrae, and spending thousands of your own dollars can amount to 30 seconds of footage that no doubt pales in comparison to Rice, Müller or Rüf.

Aurel getting shacked Photo: Silvano Zeiter

Burnin’ & turnin’, Kurt lays dow

n some trenches Photo: Silvano

Zeiter

I know that it will be ultimately forgotten as soon as it is watched one time, exiled to a dark recess of a hard drive because the song to your part was so revolting that it made all your tricks appear noticeably smaller and polluted your style. I get that. You’re a professional, that’s the deal. But how important is it to be the focus of a feature in a magazine? Something that will no doubt warrant repeated views as it sits on the back of the crapper for months on end, through bouts of irregularity and/or meditative practice. You will be the center of focus for legions of young men and potentially a half-dozen women as they relieve themselves. To be immortalized forever in print… This is not nearly as important as that video part, I’ve learned.

At any rate, they say print is dying a slow, dementia-riddled death, no longer able to remember who it is anymore, void of any purpose in life. So I guess I’d better get with it and either find a new profession or find a film crew. So I adjusted the plan.

Now, who wants to go?

My phone wasn’t exactly ringing off the hook. There was, however, a common theme from those who did get back to me.

“Why would you go to Switzerland?”

“You know they have no snow?”

“Why would you travel all that way when it’s so deep here?”

There was no shortage of people claiming it would be a waste of time. Soon enough I found myself wanting to go to Switzerland for the sole purpose of proving everyone wrong.

How could they not understand that “We should go to Switzerland, because it’s FUCKING SWITZERLAND!” So what do you when nobody is backing you? What do you do when the Western US is having a record snow year and Europe is claiming their worst year in recent history? Who the hell would willingly go into a world of unknowns? Who would make a movie out of spite, if nothing else?

Fredi K, the host with the most

, digs in a rail Photo: Silvano Zeite

r

Chuck T, FIGHT THE POWDER! Photo: Silvano Zeiter

Bluebird. They’re always down.

Hailed by many as “the best team in snowboarding”, Bluebird’s roster starts with Travis Rice and ends with Kevin Jones, with anyone and everyone who simply “believes” in snowboarding included on the team list. I left the rest to Willie, trusting his judgment in rider selection and movie direction.

Chad Otterstrom: “I knew I didn’t have a travel budget but I didn’t care. I didn’t pay any attention to whether it was good or bad as far as snow went. No one really cared about ‘getting the shot’, so there was no stress like if you went with a real film crew, if you know what I mean.

I knew what I was getting into with these guys from the beginning!”

Kurt Wastell: “I don’t get opportunities like I used to, so to be able to jump on something like this was amazing. What can I

say, there was tons of fun, lots of chaos, a little stress… All of the things that make for an adventure. Plus we saw The Hoff.”

Adam Dowell: “I didn’t even question it.

From the minute Willie said, ‘potential Swiss trip’ I was in. I didn’t care if there was tons of snow or no snow; I was in. Who knows where life is going to take you, so why would you pass up a ride? Snowboarding can be your initiative to experience what is out there in the world–to meet people and experience new cultures.”

Here’s another reason we could have bailed on the trip–money. None of us had any of that stuff. That said, if lack of money ever stopped any of these guys from snowboarding, they would have given it up long ago. There’s always a way to make it happen. So after some inventiveness and a few tall promises, we greased the golden wheels of the Swiss Tourism

agency, managing to get some of our travel and lodging taken care of. In a totally unrelated matter, you should definitely check out myswitzerland.com for trip-planning ideas and last-minute deals regarding your next Swiss dream vacation. That’s myswitzerland.com…

Where was I? Oh yeah… we told myswizerland.com (your one stop shop for all things Swiss) that we would make a movie entirely about this two week jaunt by train through the majesty of the Swiss Alps in exchange for a little help. How about a story of three young men willing to do whatever it took to see a new part of the world? There would be, in no certain order: An up close and personal documentation of the train wreck that has become David Hasselhoff, live and in concert; a red alert cheese overdose; some heavy vagrancy; beer drinking; rodeo style train riding; attempted triple corking; powder slashing with Nicolas Müller in Laax; ice crashing and almost dying in St Moritz; hanging with Fredi K in Saas Fee and a number of unforeseen enstand, but at the same time represents evecounters that brought us closer to the art rything that snowboarding, traveling and of living, if nothing else. In short, all of the living can be. Traveling lightens the load. things that make traveling so extraordinary.

It simplifies life. It takes you away from the familiar and gives you no other opWould the film be about snowboarding? tion but to grow. alpenHOFF turned out to There would be snowboarding in it was the prove what we already knew; that a little best answer I could give. risk investing in the unknown makes clear what is so important in life–that whatever In the end, it turned out to be alpenHOFF, a you give yourself to will surely give back in term which admittedly we don’t fully underways you simply couldn’t know otherwise.

As the youngest member of our crew, Adam Dowell quite aptly put it, “Pretty soon it’s not about snowboarding anymore, it’s just about life. Snowboarding is just the fun thing you get to do every day.”

Willie ain’t no Vanilli, dude still hang s it out to dry, steezy front 3 Photo: Silvano Zeite r

B

PLUM SER, BOB JOEL FRA T H PHOTOS: RIG & ANDY W

For being my first big project, I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity and crew to work with. CAPiTA feels like a family and as clichéd as it may sound, I mean it. I’m excited for the video because I got to film with some of my favorite snowboarders. I mean, there is some serious diversity amongst styles on CAPiTA and I think that is what is going to make this movie awesome. We have Dustin holding down the backcountry scene, Brisse is going to blow some minds with his riding, Scott is going to make people ask “how did that just happen?”, Jess and Laura are on top of the girls game. Not to mention we have some great younger guys coming up who are really going to turn some heads, I think.

Being able to travel and spend the year with these guys and gals was amazing. Everyone contributed to the effort in different ways. This was my first year ever sledding up in Whistler and Dustin was a big help. Jess was putting us up for weeks at her place in Squamish and having coffee ready in the morning even when she was hurt! TJ, Cale, Cocard, everyone was just willing to do whatever they had to in order to make this thing happen. It was a great year.

TJ puts on his awesome

Atten-HUT! Sgt. Brisse reporting for duty

face

nose in public is unScott Stevens’ mom never taught him that picking your t. Photo: Bob Plumb couth. Rude boy nosepick pullover at the Team Shootou

Riding for CAPiTA is the best thing in the world, for real. I always feel like someone has my back no matter what happens. For that reason I wanted to try my hardest to film the best part ever, in order to contribute to their movie in the same way they have contributed to my life and my shred career. I think I put a bit too much pressure on myself and ended up getting hurt a lot this season. It was definitely a struggle and a lot of time on the couch, waiting to recover.

I would just sit there, going insane, watching snowboard videos over and over, making trick lists, envisioning this part I wanted more than anything and going days without sleeping, just because I was so anxious to ride and film again. In the end I really had to fight for it and didn’t spend too much time filming with the rest of the team.

However the moments I did have with those guys, I will never forget. I left every session so inspired and pumped on CAPiTA and this awesome thing we are all so lucky to be a part of. I think I got around a month and a half on snow in total this season, which is pretty weak in comparison to last year, but I know I tried my best and I just feel lucky to be included in such an epic project.

Jessica making it rain awesom

e on your dome piece, switch

50-50

This year was just amazing, we had such a good crew to work with. I had so much fun filming with everyone on the team and I think the crew was really tight, there was a great energy going into sessions and working together. Everybody was really motivated to make the project work and I think it shows in the final product. Hanging out with Joel is always so funny, it definitely helped having him tell so many jokes at times, helped lighten the mood. Dangler also played a huge role in having everything go smoothly. He was the team motivator, always down to go film something even if the weather was bad. Overall it was my best season yet for sure, and hopefully we get to do another team movie again in the near future.

I think this vid was much needed!! The team is strong and this was the year to pull together and make one. I think the best videos are the ones where the crew is extremely diverse. From Brisse to Hadar and Burns to Ravelson, it was awesome seeing the spectrum of riding. CAPiTA has a family feel for me, and filming was easy because of that! I filmed with Matt Roberge and Mark Dangler, those guys are so on point. It was a pleasure! Blue held down the reins as director and Joel Fraser oversaw the comedic side of things. I mean, everyone involved with CAPiTA made this happen. CAPiTA is the shit!!! taild way front one to switch Phil spanks out a spicy har WESOME SofA DER FEN /DE SER press, picante! Photo: FRA

Eye of the Tiger: Cale locked into a FS noseblunt in Quebec

Cocard & Zima

Filming for the new CAPiTA movie was basically the funnest year shooting a part I have ever had. It was really great to get to ride with new friends and different filmers.

The three people I rode with the most were Brandon, Phil and TJ. It was really cool because they all ride so differently and bring really unique things to a trip, snowboardingwise and just hanging out too! One of the best trips I went on this year was to Quebec with Phil, TJ, Joel and Dangler. It was super productive and it was fun to cruise around a really beautiful city. Any trip you go on with Joel is the best! He’s so funny and entertaining, but when it comes down to business and setting up a spot, he is always working his ass off while maintaining a positive attitude. He is truly a great human being! All in all, I feel very fortunate to be a part of this project and the CAPiTA family as well!

The CAPiTA team is so sick, and I enjoy working with every one of the dudes and dudettes, so that part was easy. My favorite part filming this season was during the Team Shoot Out, just being around the whole crew. Everyone has their riding style and sees things differently, and it was fun to sit back and watch everyone go to work.

The shittiest part of the year was when I tore my MCL, on January 22nd in Minnesota, which took 2 months to heal properly. It was a bummer it happened, but it was cool to take a step back during the middle of the winter so I could take a breath and get back on the right track. CAPiTA is a rad company because it's not trying to be something it isn't. It's a company that has awesome people behind it who really love snowboarding.

This year I got to film with all the guys I’ve looked up to for so long.

Stevens is hands down my favorite snowboarder and just being around him, seeing how he looks at snowboarding, is overwhelming at times.

In a good way. Scott is a machine. I’m so thankful to Blue for the opportunity to film for DOA. I had the time of my life with those guys. CAPiTA has always felt like a family and that’s exactly what I want from snowboarding, to feel comfortable and be able to explore my riding knowing I have their support.

CAPiTA is just an incredible thing. It’s whatever you want it to be, you know.

Heaven and hell wrapped up into one. Haha, it’s a package deal.

One of the last snowboard companies that truly believes in what they sell. Scizzor Wags, Sleepy, Burnsie Sprits, Dankler, Brisse Burgs, Uncle Joey, Kenny Chimps, Ma Hades, Crusty Dusty, The Vanilla Brown Bear. You guys rule. Thanks CAPiTA and C3.

Cocard going down to Kink Town, upstate

NY

The Dankler

Filming for the new CAPiTA movie was basically the

It ain’t easy being Brisse, front 3 tail street

snatch in SLC Photo: Bob Plumb

I've been with CAPiTA since day one. To say we've had our ups and downs would be an understatement. Sounds corny as nacho chips but we are, and always have been, one big, slightly dysfunctional family. I think we're lucky - everyone is on the same general wavelength. Not once have I ever sighed and thought "I gotta go on a trip with ___". Thus filming DoA was like a dream come true. If anything, it made our crew even tighter.

The timing was right - it's been nearly 5 years since we made First Kiss, and our team right now is chock-a-block full of radness. Why would we keep it to ourselves? Gotta expose our special places to everyone, ya know?

How to sum up the winter in a few words? Impossible. So many stories, so many good times.

Lots of weirdness, hi-fives, strange smells, driving, gas, cop dodging, shoveling, airplanes and the usual shenanigans that go down while filming. Dangs put the team on his back and carried it like a champ. Now he's concerned about his hairline, but lots of filmers are. No biggie! I shaved his head so he could "face his future" - he came out better than expected.

Few more years, Dangs, few more years! I fucking love our gang and I'm really proud to play a small part in this all. WE DEFEND AWESOME.

Synchronized awesomeness, Sebi Müller & TJ in Japan

Terje inside the Large Hadron Powd er Particle Collider

There really isn’t anything that compares to filming with the CAPiTA kids. Making the first movie (First Kiss) was something that really changed how I felt about snowboarding. I know after that I really wouldn’t want to film with another company. When we started kicking around the idea of making another team movie I was really excited to see what would happen. We have so many new faces around... I personally am super stoked on where CAPiTA is headed. Traveling with these guys made this one of the most fun years I have ever had. All of them are such rad snowboarders it blows my mind... More importantly though, they are all super cool humans.

Filming for the CAPiTA movie is such an honor. Being on the CAPiTA team is such an honor. What's the coolest thing about CAPiTA, you may ask. We are all individuals being ourselves and embracing each other's differences. There is no team manager telling us what to wear, how to act or who to look like.

We are all celebrated for our unique outlooks on life and snowboarding and that to me is one of the most amazing things in this saturated world of shred. Riding for CAPiTA really is a dream come true. Snowboarding for snowboarders by snowboarders.

Ma Hades thumping a tail bone all the way home Photo: Andy Wright

TJ coordinated his outfit with the rail, HEAVY switch BS 270 lip over some cheese grater steps

Blair Habenicht diving into the Garden of Delights Photo: Oli Gagnon

Terje inside the Large Hadron Powder Particle Collider Photo: Adam Moran

Shaun White pulls out of a 4G negative dive on afterburner, alley-oop FS lien booster Photo: Gabe L’Heureux

The Bjorn (Leines) Identity Photo: Vernon Deck

Outer body experience front lipper, Brandon Hupp in Stevens Pass Photo: Bob Plumb

It’s rainin’ more than ever, you can stand under my umbrella, ella… ella… Gus Mah in Stockholm Photo: Oli Gagnon

Battle scars Photo: Oli Gagnon

Cumulonimbus clouds over Hokkaido, Taka Nakai creates his own weather patterns Photo: Oli Gagnon

We don’t know who this is, but does it really matter? Photo: Oli Gagnon

Close Encounter of the Back Five Kind, Gigi Smalls in his backyard Photo: Daniel Blom

Lisa Filzmoser surfing waterfalls Photos: Carlos Blanchard

Slidin’ spaghetti in Stockholm, Noa Gaudelius BS 50-50 on a skinny kinky Photos: Anders Neuman

Big Lou Paradise always brings the mighty moves, BS 270 lip to fakie Photo: Oli Gagnon

Victor de le Rue making like a tree, see ya next month! Photo: RĂŠmi Petit