In today’s era of outdoor adventure sports, where social media followers, engagement and ‘likes’ have shaped the industry, an important question remains unanswered: If a snowboarder rides a steep, exposed line in the Whistler backcountry and no one sees it or hears it, did it really happen? Joe Lax would put this age-old philosophical debate to rest— “Who cares”?
DARKHORSE is an observational documentary following Joe Lax, a 44 year old Pemberton local, who’s created a life defined by snowboarding, family and wildfire. Despite his accolades amongst the mountains over the last two decades, he remains one of the most accomplished backcountry riders you’ve never heard of. And he’s happy to keep it that way.
Inspired by over a decade of documenting Iceland’s glacial river systems and their intersection with the ocean from the seats of small aircraft, Chris Burkard sets out for an immersive expedition across 41 of these rivers – by connecting a 400km series of exposed sandbars that provide a barrier between the harsh waters of the north atlantic along Iceland’s southern coast, armed only with a fat bike & inflatable raft and accompanied by two seasoned bike-pack/rafting veterans, Steve “Doom” Fassbinder and Cameron Lawson.
Runtime:
31 minutes
Language:
English
Country:
United States
Director:
Chris Burkard, Brian Davis
Producer:
Mike Sandifer, Ben Weiland
Cast:
Chris Burkard, Steve Fassbinder, Cameron Lawson, Ryan Hill, Jeremy Bishop, Siggi Petur, Mumi Markusson, Einar Sigurosson, Reynair Jonsson
“In the midst of a municipal swimming pool, the freediver Arthur Guérin-Boëri finds himself suffocating. His once spacious swim lane has now become a dead end. The French athlete, a multiple world champion in dynamic apnea, decides to escape the warmth of the pool and dive into the icy waters of a Finnish lake, seeking to set a new record. His daring journey then leads him to immerse almost naked under a block of ice, attempting to break another record in the frozen waters of a Canadian lake. In his quest for validation, which brings him perilously close to death several times, Arthur Guérin ultimately finds himself.”
This is a film about Atlanta based artist Michi Meko whose life is expressed in multiple layers of mystical meaning. It’s a film experience about journeys, navigation, cartography and way finding into the unknown and the uncharted. It’s a narrative about the buoyancy of our souls and survival, keeping our heavy heads filled with heavy thoughts above water. It’s about his struggle to become orientated in the pitch black and discovering his metaphysical balance. It is about his decision and the journey to become an artist. Michi Meko is a postmodern cartographer and artist who lives within the parallels and meridians of two distinct worlds . . . the Urban world and the Rural world. Michi is highly influenced by his surrounding urbanization and the disposability of humanity, culture, injustice and waste. He’s influenced by nature and wilderness and its ability to heal and inspire. His art attempts to answer the question – What is his place is in this unfamiliar world of nature and wilderness and how does his art define and exhibit a newly fused relationship between his past and a radically new and radiant expression? – Michi found his place and voice in nature as a fly fisherman and outdoor enthusiast. Michi Meko’s journey inspires a new mindset and new possibilities for everyone but especially African Americans. Michi journey comes to life in a complex topographical language of his art that leverages icons and objects of the past while inventing a new iconographic language for the future.
The silent hours of deep, snowy mornings at Alta Ski Area are ruptured by the reverberation of heavy artillery echoing off the surrounding granite crags. Since 1949, weapons of World War II have been an invaluable tool in combating the ever-looming threat of deadly avalanches that descend upon the town and around the ski area’s steep slopes.
Amid Alta’s record-breaking 903-inch season in 2022-23, the gunners of Alta’s Ski Patrol fired their 105mm Howitzer for the final time. It’s the end of a 75-year era where weapons of war have reliably protected Alta from destructive avalanches. Dip into the story of Alta’s avalanche artillery program from infancy to its end. These massive artillery pieces, recruited for a peaceful purpose, now face retirement as Alta presses ahead into the forefront of the latest technological advancements in avalanche mitigation.
“Twin Oaks” is a captivating documentary about the Hoyt family, and their experiences trail building in the Pacific Northwest spanning over many years and multiple generations. The documentary chronicles the profound relationship a human develops with the earth when spending their entire life working entrenched in the natural world, and everything it has to offer.
The Hoyt family – Avery, and his parents, Daryl and Krista – each reflect on their own personal journeys, sharing their unique perspectives and experiences about trail building being a medium for connecting with nature and finding solace. They go on to describe the transformative nature of the journey itself and how it becomes an integral part of one’s identity. As the narrative unfolds, the film highlights the many challenges and personal struggles the Hoyts have faced over the years, both as trail builders and as a family, opening up about battles with mental health, addiction and an immense gratitude for their unwavering support for each other.
Through breathtaking visuals and intimate interviews, “Twin Oaks” showcases the healing power of nature and the trails that connect people to it. The film captures both the technical side of impressive construction being performed in often untouched corners of the world, and also the spiritual side of the experience doing so. The documentary underscores the transformative impact of being humbled by the vastness of the natural world and the enduring legacy created by the family’s trail building endeavors.
Rogers Pass represents one of the most complicated avalanche programs in the world. Ski touring through its storied terrain is only possible thanks to the visionary mountain guide who architected the ski system years ago, and the woman she mentored who’s now at the helm of that avalanche program. The stakes are higher than most skiers could ever imagine.
The story of five women who boldly embark on a ten day trek with total strangers to conquer the iconic Tour du Mont Blanc. Their goal? To heal their past traumas, together. An uplifting tale of reliance, female friendship and the incredible power of using nature and community to heal and forge a brighter future.
Runtime:
12 minutes
Language:
English
Country:
United States
Director:
Jordyn Romero
Producer:
Sarah Stewart, Scott Mellin, Nick Martini, Meredith Rodriguez, Jason Israel, Davey Spens, Jon Brogan,
For the Sake of it is an exploration into the multi-faceted creative mind of skier, musician, and van-builder, Jacob Callaghan. The film beautifully explores the relationship between ourselves and our work.