We’re sure there is still some resistance regarding the big sports brands entering the snowboard market, but come on: Watch this video and all you want to do is strap in and go riding yourself. And if you really need some additional information, this is a Nike clip of some heli-riding and pow slashing in Valle Nevado with the all-stars Gigi Rüf, Nicolas Müler, and Danny Kass plus local/Absinthe rider Maunel Diaz. “Set your drool meter to 11.”

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.

Watch some bangers from Gigi Rüf’s 8mm camera and get hyped for the final backcountry instalment of the Nike Snowboarding Project, dropping December 11.

The third and final chapter of Nike’s Snowboarding Project is set to drop on December 11, features Gigi Rüf, Danny Kass, Nicolas Müller and Eric Jackson sending it in the backcountry, is produced by Absinthe’s Justin Hostynek, and this bonus edit focussed on stuff shot on Gigi’s 8mm film camera will get you pumped for the full, lo-fi experience…

Here’s the Swoosh chat: For the backcountry chapter, Justin Hostynek and crew took things back to basics. In this bonus video, Nicolas Muller, Gigi Ruf and Danny Kass spend are captured on Super 8 film, and take some time to reflect on the changing landscape of the video world. Stay tuned for the premiere of the full edit on 11.12.12

Danny Kass and Nicolas Muller reunite with the Absinthe snowboard film crew in Switzerland. Straight out of the gates the guys score epic pow conditions and Nico goes off slashing. Danny looks to lock down a few last chance jumps including “the biggest backflip of his life.” What do you think: Backflips— awesome or not? Let us know in the comments below.

The second installment of Nike’s trilogy of short shred films will drop soon, so to get you hyped for that Brad Kremer-directed park riding spectacular they’ve released this pre-edit bonus that’s mad gay for the Phantom camera and its 1000 fps slow-mo capability. Pretty tasty.

Much like they did with their street-focussed Chapter 1 of The Nike Snowboarding Project, the Swoosh have released a teasy bonus edit to get you frothing for the full edit, which is set to drop November 13. This one, directed by legendary filmmaker Brad Kremer, looks set to focus on park riding and more specifically the madness that went down in the Nike Chosen Sessions‘ opulent features at the tail end of last winter. It also takes full advantage of the Phantom cam’s ridiculous mega slow-mo capabilities and the results are pretty jaw dropping – the riding looks rad but seeing our mate Jamie Nicholls take an egg to the chops is just priceless…

Go behind the scenes with Absinthe as their crew of Danny Kass, Gigi Rüf and Eric Jackson hit up Arlberg, get some goods, and encounter a shouty Austrian man.

Danny Kass stepped up last season shooting his inaugural part with Absinthe Films. Kass met up with Eric Jackson and Gigi Ruf in Gigi’s hometown of Arlberg Austria. The crew set out on a mission to lock down some shots and succeeded in finding awesome features including an epic jump location. A mini War breaks out between the film crew and the locals over who gets to hit the jump—Gigi, the most un-confrontational rider in snowboarding, keeps the peace.

Take a look at the carnage from the Innsbruck and Munich stops on Absinthe’s Resonance tour. There’s several beers necked, a couple of drunk people and some stomps from Danny Kass amongst it all.

Have yourselves a first look at footage for the Swoosh’s three-part team video project, cunningly titled The Nike Snowboarding Project. Wallop!

Before we start waxing lyrical about Nike’s video project, look out for Peetu’s backside air towards the end of this. DOUBLE WALLOP!

Nike, it’s fair to say, are not short of a bob or two and have assembled one of the finer, all-round-ripping-from-street-to-backcountry-to-contests-to-pipe kinda teams on the planet. Look at the names, just LOOK at them. They’ve also enlisted the help of three of snowboarding’s finest filmmaking lensemen to produce three short films – Joe Carlino, Brad Kremer and Justin Hostynek – and this here is the teaser for them. A mish mash of heavy riding and dicking around that, like the team, looks like it’ll have all aspects of the shred covered.

Each filmer hooked up with a particular crew of riders and the results will be released over the coming weeks. Here’s the deets and dropping dates:

16.10.2012 – A short film by Joe Carlino. Featuring the riding of Johnnie Paxson, Jess Kimura, Halldor Helgason, Justin Bennee and Jed Anderson.

13.11.2012 – A short film by Brad Kremer. Featuring the riding of Sage Kotsenburg, Louie Vito, Gjermund Braaten, Jamie Nicholls, Danny Kass, Ethan Morgan, Jan Scherrer, Peetu Piiroinen and Austin Smith.

11.12.2012 – A short film by Justin Hostynek. Featuring the riding of Gigi Ruf, Nicolas Muller, Danny Kass and Eric Jackson.

Check out the latest at NikeSnowboarding.com/getlacedup

Here it is, the new Absinthe movie teaser. Resonance “brings shred fans deep into Absinthe’s world of powder and powerful riding”.

Featured riders: Eric Jackson, Gigi Rüf, Nicolas Müller, Bode Merrill, Lucas Debari, Blair Habenicht, Scotty Lago, Sylvain Bourbousson, Mat Schaer, Brandon Cocard, Danny Kass, Manuel Diaz

Available in your local snowboard shop and selected theatres soon, and available on iTunes on 25 September 2012.

Here’s the full list of European Resonance tour dates.

To sum up the 2012 edition of the Grenade Games, take your pick from the following words: madness, mayhem, carnage, bedlam, awesome. With an epic snake run-inspired pipe, a waterslide, tit hits, Chinese Downhill moguls and slopestyle race along with a regular booter or two, all of the above apply. Watch the highlights.

Sure, it’s a pretty long edit and includes lardy middle-aged women bogling, but how fun does that ‘Monster Mega Pipe’ look?