Article by Daniel Cochrane

Last season was an amazing snow year for much of North America. It should come as no surprise then that seasons crop of videos is simply stunning to watch.  Obviously the back country riders were blessed but even the front country urban kids found plenty of snow in which to build wall rides, drop landings, transfers etc. For these reasons almost every video Ive seen this season has been purchase worthy. It will truly go down as a banner year for snow porn. Below I have assembled a quick reference guide for 15 of the major releases of the season. The first few lists give you pow/urban/mixed ratings and the second gives you a list of which movies have lots/normal/and few amounts of extras. Finally after that each one is broken down by name  with running time, cost, lists of extras, and a very brief synopsis. Enjoy and I hope you find it helpful in choosing which videos you’d like to buy for the season.

Quick Guide

Powder movies … Givin, Twe12ve, Art of Flight, YES

Even mix …  RomeSDS, Capita , VG Retrospect, Burton, Forum, People, TB20

Rail Flicks … Familia2, Shoot the Moon, Think Thank ( could go in Even Mix  its real close), 32 Ammo

 

Lots of Extras  … Both Videograss movies, Art of Flight

Moderate/Normal amount of extras … People, Familia2, Twe12ve, Think Thank, RomeSDS, Capita, TB20

Few Extras … Ammo, Given

 

Givin “One”

retail $24

Runtime 50 minutes

Extras .. one 7 minute clip of Europe

Synopsis … a pow heavy flick full of psychedelic music and effects, a great flick to watch before or after riding, great for background movie watching

Absinthe “Twe12ve”

Retail $30 iTunes $8

Runtime 53 minutes

Extras … a few episodes of Flipside from the making of Nowhere, a slam section, photograph section, and winning clip of last years Whitelines contest

Synopsis … perhaps Absinthes best ever … tons of powder with urban balance courtesy of Paxson, Brisse and Bode …. Bode has an epic 10 minute ending part

Yes “Its a Movie”

$20 Yes site (not a download)

Running Time 39 minutes

Extras Unknown

Synopsis … Way better than I expected … ungodly deep pow in Japan, Revy, and Russia ..  Frank April the “token jib kid” has a banger part too

Standard “TB 20″

Retail $26

Runtime 43 minutes

Extras … Standard Show “Alaska” episode , Montreal street edit, teaser

Synopsis .. Kevin Jones … the end  .. ok ok a well rounded flick with urban,big mountain,  and girls!

Forum “Vacation”

Retail $24 iTunes $8

Runtime 44 minutes

Extras  unknown

Synopsis … Finally getting the whole crew healthy (minus John Jackson whose left the team anyways) Forum drops a  better balanced hammer this year. Finally jumpers Wiig and Moore have full parts and evenStevie Bell gets his long awaited back country footage.. Welch, Sweetin, Nico, Cam and the rest hold it down from front country  to bc booters as well…

Burton “Standing sideways”

Retail $13 iTunes$8

Runtime 40 minutes

Extras  unknown

Synopsis … Everyone except the Red Haired kid and the girls make a showing in this years Burton flick. Solid but not groundbreaking with Jussi ending and Kokubo opening .. only downside is much of the footage comes from their riders parts in other films so may be redundant for some …

RomeSDS “The Shred Remains”

retail $24 iTunes $8

Runtime 1hr 13 minutes

Extras …  Jib Farm, Day in the Life with Lazz, AmArmy Remix, and the party bar

Synopsis … one of my favorites for the season.  A two year project that feels like an old school video from the 90s. Fast riding and fast times with a good mix of pow and urban…

Think Thank “Ransack Rebellion”

Retail $30 iTunes $10

Runtime 41 minutes

Extras… Bfootage from most riders, some skate from Visconti, Filmer/Photog riding, Yobeat contest winners YaGoons part

Synopsis … Another creative effort from Think Thank … took a bit more getting used too than previous films but I grew  to like it .. solid and inventive

Capita “Defenders of Awesome”

Retail $20 download $5 on Capitas site

Runtime 39 minutes

Extras … Stevens bonus stuff,  short clips of Capita homies, Cale’s sponsor me video, slam section

Synopsis … one of the best teams today puts out their second vid… solid riding from everyone even Stevens and Kimura who spent much of the season hurt .. downloadable for 5 bucks = cant miss

32 “Ammo”

Retail $10 Download on 32′s site $3

Runtime 28 minutes

Extras…  riding montage

Synopsis … featuring ams Hobush, Alito ,Schubert,and Brewster as well as regional flow riders and a few shots from Grenier, Stevens, and Bradshaw … raw and wild as you would expect from an Am flick.. for three bucks you cant go wrong

Brainfarm “Art of Flight”

Retail $30 iTunes $10

Runtime 1 hr 20 minutes

Extras … 13 extras ranging from behind the scenes, to POV TRice/Jones footage, slams, fishing, and even music videos

Synopsis … most people will list this as movie of the year but I place it in the documentary category not shred flick category … amazing eye candy and stunning riding from the best free riders of the day .. the one film all season your parents will tolerate watching with you

People “Good Look”

Retail $25 iTunes $10

Runtime 37 minutes

Extras … five bits about 3 minutes each  from out takes to bonus riding footage

Synopsis … People is a cast of vets and established riders so you know youll get solid well rounded riding.. a good balance of rails and pow with Eric Jackson giving his best part ever at the end

FODT “Familia 2″

Retail $30

Runtime approx 35 minutes

Extras … Team Shootout, Estone  and Sean Kerrick Sullivan photos, Windells footy, and Familia2 teaser

Synopsis .. injuries took their toll the past season on the FODT. The riding is still solid and the cinematography is top notch but Familia 2 lacks the repeated bangers of last seasons Arena. If youre a fan of FODT youll be stoked but possibly wishing for just a little bit more .. some seasons just get the best of you…

Videograss “Retrospect”

 

Retail $25  $10 iTunes

Runtime 38 minutes

Extras … The Rascals short movie, Andy Wright photo, Cal Surf shop check out, Bungee bonus, Team shoot out stuff, Curtis Ciszek set up, 8mm bonus

Synopsis .. .. of the two VideoGrass flicks this is the more balanced with ample amounts of rails and pow. Although the riders arent quite as familiar as those in Shoot The Moon you wont be disappointed.

“Shoot the Moon”

Retail $30 $10 iTunes

Runtime 39 minutes

Extras … Airblaster edit, Jonas brothers, Brighton edit, Rail gardens edit, Ashbury demo, Jed bfootage, One off shop check out, Rascals Movie

Synopsis … full on urban chaos in this Videograss release. Easily the most progressive rail video of the season and on par or better than the first Videograss release two seasons ago