Y2K Snowboard Videos

As technology improves, and the number of DV Cameras and iMacs per household grow, it seems that everyone and their brother are making a snowboard video these days. It doesn't really matter what your doing, if you catch it on film, it will probably be part of your video part. Now, instead of going snowboarding for fun, any day could be the day you catch that trick on film. Perhaps this is why there were about 5000 videos released this year.

At this point I think I've seen enough of this seasons videos to give an overview, and perhaps save you from what seems look a good idea, but is actually 40 minutes of powder turns.

The very brief reviews:

411 Snow: Issue One

It seems like this has been coming soon for about 2 years now, and that everyone you meet is filming for 411. Well, it's finally here, and one things for sure, you can tell how long they've been filming for by the fact it's about 4 hours long. 3 bail sections, a couple profiles and spot checks later, and it's over. You will learn how to backside 360's, why Breck's park is in so many videos and what Jeremy Jones does everyday, but other than that, you might have to use your remote a little more than you'd like.

Open Season

This is not so much a snowboard video, as a documentary on the 18th US Open. It features footage from the halfpipe, boardercross and big air competition as well as interviews, all set to a slamming techno soundtrack. It is straight out of Southern Vermont, with all the redneck appeal of such, and although some of the snowboarding is tedious at times, it does do a good job of making you reminisce about what possibly the best contest last year.

Cold Fluffer

Like a good issue of Eastern Edge, this video is only really good if you are from the east. However, if you do make the ice coast your home, you'll be psyched to root for your boys from all over the North East. Filmed across the country, this video features only riders such as Rahm Klampert, Mark Reilly, Kyle Clancy and the Kass brothers, showcasing the fact that we do learn to rid things other than halfpipe in VT.

Destroyer

After the rave reviews of last year's Revival, Whitey obviously had no trouble getting a budget to make this film. Great skits, which include plenty of car crashes abound, set to the sounds of the early 80's and the riding of all of snowboarding's superstars. Possibly the most entertaining of all video, simply for the fact that it requires rather impressive acting from those involved.

Hi-Fi

Two years in the making, Hi-Fi showcases most of last season's contests, a bunch of Mammoth backcountry, and plenty of Mt. Hood. While the snowboarding in the film is at high technical level from the riders, a basically new crop of them, the rather bland locations are somewhat detracting. However, what is lost with lack of variety, is made up for with incredible lifestyle footage all shot on film, and a great, diverse soundtrack of punk, emo, rock and hip hop.

The Resistance

At first the idea of a Forum video is somewhat depressing, because it shows how powerful the six remaining dwarves really are (they can sell a video all by themselves), but after watching The Resistance, you'll still be stoked on the team. Other than being some of the best snowboarders out there, they also manage to display a sense of humor. Although their image shouts hip hop, the soundtrack is only partially that, and even includes a little Twisted Sister and Ween. For entertainment value check out Peter Line and JP Walker's part, as well as the Devun Walsh confessional during the credits.

Amp

Amp would be the exact opposite of the previous. You watch the entire thing, and then wonder, where was JP's part? After 12 years of watch snowboarding set to punk rock Mack Dawg's movie was lacking something, and it was the content of the Resistance. It's not to say that the snowboarding in Amp wasn't top of the line, because it was some of the best, it was just somewhat dull.

TB9