This year I teamed up with Reuben Krabbe for the Arc’teryx Deep Winter Photo Challenge.

This event sees 6 invited photographers and their chosen teams of athletes compete for a $5000 prize for best slideshow. Each team has three days at Whistler/Blackcomb in bounds to capture imagery and create a show that is judged on action, creativity, storyline/theme and overall impression.

While conditions were extremely difficult (we hadn’t seen fresh snowfall in a couple of weeks) we still had a blast cruising around the hill looking for good light, interesting features and patches of fresh snow. Our team consisted of Tatum Monod, James McSkimming, Rupert Davies, myself and photo assistant, Michael Overbeck.

When it was all said and done, our team took home the second place prize! However, the contest isn’t over yet. Please take a minute to swing by and vote for Reuben Krabbe for People’s Choice here:

http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/events-and-activities/events-calendar/events/2013/01/deep-winter.aspx

Thanks for the vote!

Enjoy the show:

Click here to view the embedded video.

]]> http://www.austinross.ca/2013/01/12/january-skiing/feed/ 0 http://www.austinross.ca/2012/12/30/december-ski-adventures/ http://www.austinross.ca/2012/12/30/december-ski-adventures/#comments Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:39:47 +0000 Austin http://www.austinross.ca/?p=3290

Skiing this December has been unreal!

Here are some “behind the scenes” photos from some of this months outings. Access was primarily ski touring but there was some heli/cat/lift action tossed in as well to keep the balance

Happy New Years everyone!

Here’s a sneak peak at the new two year project from Sherpas Cinema, Into The Mind.

I’m really excited to be involved in this project, these dudes are at the forefront of action cinematography and the finished product is guaranteed to blow some minds.

Click here to view the embedded video.

This past week I found myself at Sunshine Ski Resort in the Canadian Rockies. Each time I ski in Alberta I’m amazed at the sheer beauty of the surrounding peaks and the difference in their limestone mountains and our coastal granite faces.

We were shooting on location for an ad for the Japanese Railway. The stunt persons included myself, slopestyle skier Yuki Tsubota, freeskiers Chris Rubens and Eric Pehota, snowboarder Rupert Davies and speed flyer Sean Dillon. The ad saw each of us involved in an on mountain relay race where we passed off an “icon” which was basically a replica of a tablet computer. In my stunts I had to perform a 180 off a table top and pass the icon to Rupert mid air as well as ski a line next to Sean while he was flying his speed wing and then get close enough to grab the icon from him while he was still suspended in the air. Both stunts required careful planning and concentration but we were able to nail it within a few tries.

The busy week flew by for me and it was awesome having such a special group of people together for this project. Thanks to everyone involved for making it a memorable stay at Sunshine Mountain.

Got up close and personal once again with one of my favorite mountains in the world, Mt. Currie. I spent my entire childhood playing on trails, in fields and by rivers while Currie loomed high overhead like a protector of our valley. Each time I’m on Currie, whether with skis, my paraglider or hiking boots, I feel a great connection with the mountain.

My most recent adventure was a heli drop with Luke, Alex and Dirt. We hopped in the chopper from Pemby airport and caught a lift to the col by the first summit (West Face). Alex and Luke brought speedwings and were able to fly with the terrain until about 4000 feet where the ditched and landed over the Green River at the golf course. Chris aka Dirt and I caught lift off launch and were suspended in the crisp, stable air for around 30 mins before touching back down in the valley.

This flight was a great way to gather some beta on Currie’s terrain for future ski/paraglide/speedride adventures. Thanks for the great day boys! Looking forward to our next excursion!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s the latest from Sherpas Cinema and Selkirk Wilderness Skiing, “Origins.”

This was one of my favorite trips last season. We had awesome snow conditions, a great crew and a beautiful lodge with some of the delicious food! What more could a ski bum like me ask for?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Kye, Hoji, Callum and I made our way to Wedemount Lake yesterday. Hoji, Kye and I made the climb in 95 mins from the truck to the lake (our personal bests). It was a non stop hike/jog/climb to the cabin followed by a good ol stretch session on the flat rocks by the water and then a dip in the pristine, blue, alpine lake. What an awesome way to hammer the legs and get some recon for lines we want to ski in the future… Thanks for the day boys!

Kye & Hoji near at our rest point by the cabin

The Lake

The Glacier

Stoked!

Scoping lines...

Shared a snack with this little guy

Great colors up there

Heading to the water's edge

If only this were a hot spring...

The lake hanging on the edge

The Rethel couloir calling my name

Rainbow Mountain across the valley

Hoji (aka Eric Hjorleifson)

Time to test the water

REFRESHING

A great way to spend an afternoon...

Spent last night overlooking the Pemberton Valley from the Mackenzie Launch. We flew in the afternoon, ate dinner off the fire, played music in the moonlight and then woke this morning to soar the skies again. Not bad, not too bad at all…

Soaring above upper launch

Looking South. Whistler Mountain, Black Tusk & Tantalus in the back

Mt. Currie in all it's summer glory

Sam Daniels begins his evening flight

Sam searching for thermals

Snapshot from my flying lawnchair

Selfie from a few hundred feet off the deck

Our landing zone

Redbull Paraglider Pal Takats is in town

Mom & me on launch

Taking 5 in my tent

Grillin for dinner. 3 types of meat.

Bon nuit!

I recently linked up with Whistler local and professional photographer Mason Mashon to grab a few photo samples from our 3 days of shooting on hill at Whistler for the Arc’teryx Deep Winter Photo Challenge this past winter. We had a very talented crew of skiers and boarders and I’m pretty sure our laughs echoed through the valley as we dashed from locale to locale in search of good light and unique features. Huge thanks to Mason and the rest of the gang for their hard work and all around awesomeness! I hope I can be a part of this competition again next year.

To see the rest of the collection check out my 11/12 Photo Samples Page under “BIZ.”

Wind lip handplant on 7th Heaven, Blackcomb

Spine slashin' in Lakeside Bowl, Blackcomb

Tackling a quick mixed climb near Blackcomb Peak

Rappin in

First line on this chute

Just the way I like it!

Heni planting one in my goggle reflection

En route to Saphire Bowl

Tight to ski is alright with me!