Fredi Kalbermatten would easily make our shortlist of the greatest snowboarders of all time. The laid back Swiss ripper has made his name by sending it deep off backcountry wedges with the kind of precise style that’s envied the world over. Absinthe chat to his peers and showcase some of his more memorable hits in this rad edit.

If you’ve ever met Fredi you’ll know that ‘laid back’ doesn’t really cut it when describing his countenance, and hearing the dudes rap on this character trait has us cackling. He also tells Terje, “Terje, you must shovel.” Not many riders would give Haakon a kick up the arse, but Fredi knows what it takes to get a booter done…

Check out more Absinthe Rider Profiles. They’re all good.

Hello hello, Absinthe Films just dropped a profile on their most coveted rider, none other than Nicolas Müller. Listen to his peers describe his personality, riding style, and memorable moments while watching him lay down some of the steeziest action in the biz and lose 30 grand the easy way.

Nicolas Muller is hands down one of the most stylish snowboarders out there. A natural talent, Nico rides lines with a truly creative approach. He finds pure joy from being in the mountains strapped to his snowboard, and with style on par with Jaime Lynn and Terje Haakonsen, Nicolas’ riding is definitely worthy of admiration and emulation. Hear what his fellow Absinthe Films riders including Travis Rice, JP Solberg, and Annie Boulanger have to say about Nicolas.

Not nearly enough people have watched Bode Merrill’s Absinthe Films Rider Profile. Why? Because this guy is half rookie, half insane, and the third half is just the best well-rounded riding on the planet. Or as Absinthe have put it:

Meet Absinthe Films shredder Bode Merrill. One of the most prolific well-rounded riders apparent from his parts with Absinthe Films, his X Games Real Snow video parts, to hammers in the streets. Just listen to Travis Rice, JP Solberg and Romain de Marchi describing Bode’s style and raw talent. Dan Brisse sums Bode up in describing his backside double-cork 1080 he threw down first try in Absinthe’s Neverland. Hammertime!

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Gigi Rüf is one of the finest snowboarders to have ever strapped in. Check this profile from longtime homies Absinthe Films – includes a monster front 7 from back in the day that would still be considered fully legit.

Another awesome Absinthe profile hits the airwaves – this time focussed on bunny-suited mindblower and YES co-founder, JP Solberg.

Solberg blew up in Absinthe’s Transcendence thanks to a combination of his epic style, deep bag of tricks and his stint in a bunny suit. He hasn’t looked back since and more than a decade later he’s still dropping hammers with his trademarked aplomb, not to mention running YES Snowboards with fellow Absinthe profilee, Romain de Marchi and DCP. This profile has snowboarding’s great and good waxing lyrical about JP’s skills, style, personality and more along with some sick archive footage from Absinthe Films past. Rad.

Earlier this week, we posted Absinthe’s excellent Travis Rice rider spotlight. Turns out, they’ve created an equally great spotlight on Romain de Marchi. It contains quotes by some of his riding buddies, filmers, photographers, and of course the hellraiser that Romain is himself. If you care about snowboard history (aka the golden times pre Shaun White) you have to watch this!

Backcountry slayer and all-around hell man Romain de Marchi is a legend in snowboarding. Born in Switzerland, Romain set the bar high years ago banging out heavy tricks on every type of terrain from park kickers to sheer backcountry lines. A fearless attitude and determination allows Romain to destroy bar tabs all night and then be the first on hill the next day. Friends and fellow riders including Scott Sullivan, JP Solberg, Bode Merrill, Nicolas Muller, Travis Rice, Gigi Ruf, Wolle Nyvelt, and Patrick Armbruster open up on Romain’s insane riding style along with some of their favorite moments with him both on and off the hill over the years filming for Absinthe.

Watch this engaging spotlight on the übermensch of snowboarding: Mr Travis Rice. Contains rad archive footage, dudes like Gigi, Müller and Bode Merrill bigging up the man’s phenomenal skills, and a bunch of Rice’s patented brand of superhuman snow stunts. Essential viewing.

Behold, world. It’s Nicolas Müller’s FULL PART from Absinthe’s Resonance. With Nico’s pedigree for producing some of the most epic, inspiring video parts each winter, it’s not surprising that this was the most popular video part we posted in the whole of 2012. Even if yu sent it to the moon and back last night and are currently hanging on for dear life, this should blow the cobwebs away nicely…

Sit back, relax and have your mind blown. And Happy New Year!

Excuse us for toning down the official title of this video “Snowboard Carnage Part 1! The Ultimate 2012 Slam Section: Absinthe Films”, but we don’t believe in tabloid journalism nearly as much as we probably should. Having said that, this video IS full of heavy snowboard carnage!

Getting a part in an Absinthe movie requires pushing the limits of progression and personal comfort zones. In pursuit of that progression there are plenty of slams, scorpions, tomahawks, rag dolls, close calls, and falls of every variety. Check part 1 of this cringe-worthy collection of snowboarding bails and fails from the world’s top pro snowboarders. No pain, no gain.

The final installment of the Nike Snowboarding Project is live. Directed by Absinthe’s Justin Hostynek, this lo-fi, pow heavy part features Nicolas Müller, Gigi Rüf, Danny Kass and Eric Jackson and will make you want to ride your snowboard. We hit up Gigi and Danny for some chat…

GIGI RÜF

Gigi Rüf. Photo: Cole Barash

You’ve had a long relationship with Absinthe films. How did that relationship begin?

I have know Brusti as a photographer for many years, before he switched to a film camera and became part of Absinthe Films with Justin Hostynek. That was in the year 2001 when I filmed one day in Laax with Nicolas Müller. Absinthe helped many European riders to get recognition.

And what is it about Absinthe’s movies and methods that makes you want to come back for more each year?

As you propose the history that encompasses us and I must say it’s an evolved group dynamic with the same sort of vision to go about an experience.

A big part of chapter 3′s aesthetic is the lo-fi, analogue feel of the edit. How would you explain the virtues of this kind of moviemaking to a kid who’s been accustomed to seeing cineflex, 1000fps phantom cam, ultra crisp HD footage?

I would suggest to look at it the way you perceive it. It is black and white, so love it or hate it.

In the edit, you’re riding with Nico, Danny and Eric. How’s the dynamic between you when you’re riding and shooting?

That’s easy because together we have the best time possible. We know that we are some lucky fishes. So there really is not one dull moment.

For you, where do those dudes sit in your all-time list of awesome snowboarders?

High fivers no doubt.

Not only do you usually lock down a heavy absinthe part each year, you also usually produce an equally heavy part in your homies the Pirates films. Plus now you have things like this Chapter 3, and the X Games Real Snow Backcountry… we want to know: do you have an identical twin or two? How the hell do you manage to be so productive?

I probably take this snowboarding thing way too seriously.

As if you didn’t have enough to keep you occupied, last year you started your own snowboard brand, Slash. What made you want to go there?

Must be some sort of thrill that I get by constructiveness.

How has year one gone for Slash? And do you have plans you can share for year two already?

My focuses are within the four boards, refining each boards ingredients for distinct character that could divide the most relevant genres of snowboarding.

Finally, resorts are set to open imminently. Where is the first place you’ll go snowboarding this season, and do you have an idea of how this winter will pan out for you?

Well I spend the joy of the seasons splendor sucking in that clean fresh air while playing in the snow with my kids, riding my home mountain, drinking tea and eating cookies for now.

DANNY KASS

Danny Kass. Photo: Frode Sandbech

You’ve only just begun your relationship with Absinthe films. How did that come about, and what was your impression of the crew and their movies before you filmed with them?

I have always watched Absinthe videos not just for there epic camerawork but the riders and terrain they focused on. I loosely made a plan with Brusti at ISPO and once getting on a trip with Justin for the Nike project it was on. I spent most of my winter bouncing around the Austria and Switzerland with Brusti.

As we asked Gigi, how do you explain analogue filming to a kid raised on a diet of ultra crisp HD? 

It’s the complete opposite feel to something with extreme slow-mo and over set up tricks. It’s about riding in the storm and catching the shot while enjoying the ride. When I watch I can feel the trip as I’m there that moment. It’s a real movie when you shoot all year and get to see the shots put together with no replays or second trys.

In this edit it’s you, Gigi, Nico and EJack. How was that for you?

We had such an amazing crew. It’s rad cause everyone has there own style but everybody sees stuff differently. Eric is always flying off of something that turns out to be so fun. Shredding with Gigi is like going to a punk show on hill with so much good energy you know something nuts is going to happen.

For you, where do those dudes sit in your all-time list of awesome snowboarders?

For filming videos and riding backcountry/resorts they are at the top of my list. They have a style of riding that is the blood of snowboarding. Nicolas has a way of painting the slope and finding every bump and shoot to air off of.

From what you said hooking up with Absinthe happened pretty late last year. Would you be stoked to hook up with them to film this coming season? Is it already on the cards?

Yeah, I am excited to film more with them. Gonna be doing a few projects but after last season I look forward to more trips with those guys.

When we interviewed Louie Vito a while back he said you told him to ‘ride the contest train as long as you can – there’s plenty of time to film after’. Are you now at the stage where you’re wanting to devote less of your energies to competing and more to filming stuff like you did with Absinthe?

I have done a lot in the contest circuits and still enjoy riding parks and pipes. I feel like there’s a lot of arenas of snowboarding. For me right now I can dedicate more time to learning and progressing my filming side. As a snowboarder we are always chasing the storm and I would like to keep riding wherever that snow falls.

Finally, where are you going to go snowboarding next?

Mammoth mountain, CA. Come get some, the mountain’s open.