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Summer started out in 105 degree heat for the first mountain bike shoot of the year in South West Utah. I headed down with Darren Berrecloth to find and build some new stuff for the latest NWD film. After Darren convinced me to buy a new kick ass dirtbike to go scout locations with, Big Red Ted from Squamish came down to start digging some awesome jumps and features. We then had camera dudes Rob Bruce and Dustin Lingrin come in to complete the team and crush it on a week straight of morning and evening shoots in this really unique terrain. It was all work on this trip except for mid day trips to the lake, shredding/scouting on the bikes, and one nasty night in Vegas.

Jumps and more jumps at this time of year. The annual jump shoot with Matchstick in Whistler went down again recently with a massive jump built on Blackcomb mountain. Skiers PK Hunder, Jacob Wester, Colby West, Sean Pettit, and CR Johnson stepped up to hit this unique launcher. The show then moved down to Washington at Snoqualmie pass for another session. Skiers Sarah Burke, Pk, Jacob, and CR all waited out the heavy rainfall in North Bend to one afternoon of sun that made it worth it.>

The Jon Olsson invitational went off with ten teams competing for $20,000 for film, photography, and skiing. I had an awesome time working on this project with Simon and Riley and produced an incredible package of motion, stills, and some amazing skiing from Simon. I look forward to more creative projects like this in the future with these guys.

Bad weather for skiing in the backcountry made for a good time to pull off a clothing shoot in Vancouver, Squamish, and Whistler. Sammy Carlson, Rory Bushfield, and Dan Treadway turned from skiers into models for a fun few days of just hanging out and looking good doing it! Thanks to the Oakley guys Marcel, Jerico, and Strokes.>

 

The Matchstick crew came back for another round in my backyard of Bralorne, BC. Eric Hjorleifson, Hugo Harrisson, James Heim, Hugo Harrisson, Anthony Boronowski, Murray Wais, Guillaume Tessier, Dan Cambell, Eric the Chef, and our guides Kirk and Adam rounded out our all star crew. With the heli parked on the front lawn beside the outdoor hockey rink at the base of unbelievable terrain in every direction, we had the setting for the ultimate trip. Sledding on every day we could not fly, we were able to be out in the mountains doing what we love every single day. Despite a constant flow of problems and obstacles, the crew still overcame on one of the most enjoyable, and adventurous trips I have ever done. Thanks to PJ and all the locals in Bralorne.

"After 16 days in Bralorne it was nice to come back home but I could definitely spend more time up there. Especially when you have a sled, heli, hockey rink and the best chef ever it, would be pretty easy to stay. The first ski run I skied was one of the most fun film lines I have skied yet. It was a pretty big face that started with an air to a spine that was in the sun. The snow was really ripable and the line ended with two fast, good sized airs into the shade. It was also cool to be out there with Hugo and see him ripping again after his injury. He charged a sick line with a big air around rocks and stomped the whole line perfect. Can’t wait to get back up there."
James Heim

"Bralorne is pretty much all time. No phone, limited computer, amazing sledding, and even better skiing... i'll be back, that's for sure. Maybe. I'll move there next winter. I'm not sure i'd fit in with the locals though. I was specifically impressed with Eric's skiing. He sends it. No holding back. His skiing is on another level right now."
Anthony Boronowski

This was the ice breaker for 2008 with Matchstick. Abma, Hjorleifson, Rubins, Heim, Harrisson, and Boronowski , all came out to start the filming of this years film “Claim”. Harsh storms, broken sleds, minus 20C temps and horrendous winds stacked up against the crew, but we still came up with shots and had a great time adventuring and exploring the backcountry north of Pemberton. Hurley Pass, Hope Creek, Tenquille mountain, Ogre lakes, and Face mountain provided yet again endless terrain to start out the year with.

"Just came back from a super sick week shooting shit around Bralorne with Blake and Heim. Sled skiing has got to be one of hardest things to shoot. You combine two extremely difficult things, one… shooting skiing, very hard to get a good shot at the best of times and two… snowmobiling. A couple things come to mind when I think of sledding…getting stuck, getting your friend unstuck, your machine breaking down or your friends machine breaking down. That being said, it can make for some of the best times of your life. No matter what happens every time you jump on a sled with your friends it is always going to be an adventure. This last week was no disappointment, we got stuck, had some great times and my machine seized, we even got a couple good shoots. Some people might be bummed on this, but for us it was awesome. I got to spend time in the mountains, time with good friends, and had the added bonus of getting shots. It was a ton of hard work but I am there for the experience not the end product."
Chris Rubens

"We definitely got some good pow shots on Tenquile on the -20 day. The shots of Ruebens on the ridge must look sick. It was crazy watching him ski that. I don't think I've ever seen snow spray so high behind someone. I guess freezing all day is worth it when the snow is that good. I really liked the angle you shot the Hurley gap as well, definetly does it justice from there.
Can't wait to get out in the heli in Bralorne."
James Heim

The annual Oakley trip went off with mad amounts of deep powder in one of the biggest storm cycles I have ever seen in BC. Filming for the new film "The Massive", Tanner Hall, Sammy Carlson, and the Pettit brothers came out and threw down hard at Retallacks steep trees, pillow drops, and natural rock airs. Then Seth Morrison, Shane McConkey, Dan Treadway, Eric Pehota, and Kye Petersen came in to round out the second Oakley trip with more deep pow goodness. Thanks To Phil, Demian, Kevin, Karl the Gnarl, and everybody at Retallack for another awesome trip.

"It is always a pleasure having the Oakley Team and Blake up to Retallack for some fun. Great line up of athletes filled the lodge this season - Tanner, Seth, Big Air, Kye, Pehota, Shane, Sammy, and the Petits. All time vibes coupled with some of the best conditions we have seen in a while. Blake was there the entire two weeks. Having seen some samples of his work - I think Oakley and Retallack will be well exposed in 2009!"
Phil Pinfold
Retallack
http://www.retallack.com

"Retallack was sick, The best tree skiing period, nice light DEEP snow, and coolest people hanging out at the lodge, definetly a sick trip."
Sammy Carlson

"Retallack was an all round amazing trip. Everything was perfect, it was snowing pretty well the whole time we were there. The people at Retallack were really amazing as well, but I have never before skied at a place so different...steep trees and endless pillow fields."
Sean Pettit

"It's been a great winter in British Columbia with cold temps and tons of snow. I've spent some time checking out my soon to be home at the new resort in Revelstoke. The place is amazing with huge vert, great snow and tons of cliffs and pillow lines. After days of skiing powder, Blake and I totally lost track of dates but knew we had to meet the Oakley crew in Retallack on the 14th. My friend Rob Alford suggested that it might be the 14th, so off we went driving along the Arrow lakes chain to arrive a day early. Turns out it was only the 13th and there was no room for us. We spent the next day exploring a cool new sled zone then had 3 deep days skiing out of the cat with the old boys of Oakley. The crew made the trip a ton of fun, Shane Mconkey, Seth Morrison, Eric Pehota and Kye Peterson. As always the snow was blower and the trees were steep!"
Dan Treadway