Jake Blauvelt has been following his own agenda for a few seasons now, and earned the respect of all his peers for his big mountain freestyle abilities. His movie Naturally is the best example of the flawless, aesthetic style of the Vermont native. The teaser is mouth-watering enough to attest it. We caught up with him just as he was about to come to Europe and visit his Euro-brother in shred, Fredi Kalbermatten. And in case you missed the Naturally teaser, you’ll also have the opportunity to catch up on this incredible void in your snowboardistic knowledge…

You had a pretty special winter so far, can you give us an overview of what went down for you these recent months?

The First film trip of the winter was to Hokkaido, Japan. I went there with Eric Jackson to film in the deep light pillows. It’s always a nice way to start the season snowshoeing around and hitting mini golf pillows and slashes down there. Then we came back to North America and filmed at Monashee Powder Snowcats with Shayne Pospisil who I grew up with on the east coast. Next was to SIA and ISPO trade shows, and while we were at ISPO the snow started dumping so Eric Jackson and the rest of the crew and I drove to France and linked up with Fredi K. After that I was off to UltraNatural for the week, and then to Eagle Pass Heli in Revelstoke to film deep pillows in the trees. Lastly, I was north of Whistler, BC once again with E-Jack, heliing with Black Tusk. It’s been a whirlwind to say the least, but we’ve been hitting the snow real well, staying healthy for the most part, and stacking hammers!

How has shooting for Naturally been so far?

It’s been good. We’ve been lucky to hit the snow well everywhere we’ve been, and lately we’ve been able to shoot Ciniflex in British Columbia, which really gives the film a unique look into the lines we’ve been riding.

How did you manage to include such a sick crew of riders?

Luckly a lot of riders on the roster share at least one of the same sponsors as me so it’s easy in that sense. We’ve just kinda gone with the flow for the past two winters and seen who is available at the time and tried to make it work. I look up to and respect all the riders that I invite on trips, so it’s an honor to shred with them and have them be a part of the flick.

Can you name them and define the best quality for each one of them?

Terje Haakonsen- Flow and natural ability
John Jackson- Huge airs and powerful riding
Eric Jackson- Stomping ability and overall stoke for everything
Nicolas Muller- Unique lines and sick style
Shayne Pospisil- Powder surfing and sick slashes
Fredi Kalbermatten- Swiss precision and stomping bolts
Kazu- sleeping samurai… all around talent on anything in front of him

How hard is it to explore a new direction in snowboarding, like you’re doing in Naturally?

I wouldn’t say we’re exploring a new direction in snowboarding. It’s more bringing it back to it’s roots and where it all started. All the first shred films were riders ripping everything the mountain had to offer. They didn’t have the perfect parks and pipes, but were just as happy jumping off tiny bumps and cracking methods. That’s what we’re trying to show in Naturally is the pure essence of snowboarding in the mountains, on whatever they give us. It doesn’t feel difficult at all, I’d say the complete opposite. It feels natural. We’re just going with the flow of winter and trying to shred as much terrain as the mountains give us.

You also participated in the UltraNatural a few weeks ago, how was this?

It’s an amazing event with the craziest crew of riders there, both judges and competitors. I rode like shit, but still had a blast taking cat laps once the event was over. The snow wasn’t great, which made it pretty difficult landing off from the features, but all in all it was a good time. It’s not my favorite kind of riding, but it’s an honor to be invited and one of the only contests I could see myself competing in.

Is this the only kind of contest you can imagine doing for now?

Never say never, but I don’t have any desire to do the majority of freestyle contests that go on lately. It seems like style and creativity are often overlooked in the regular contest circuit, but the UltraNatural definitely takes that into consideration. It’s always hard to judge style and creativity though… I also like racing like the Banked Slalom and Dirksen Derby. There’s no argument there… Your time is your time.

To use the last sentence in the teaser: where you’re gonna go? What you’re going to do next?

Well, we’re up here in Norther B.C at Last Frontier Heli waiting for some snow so we can rip some bigger, more AK looking lines, and then we’ll be heading to Saas Fee with Fredi K to ride up on the glacier. I’ve never been to Saas Fee so it should be good to check out a new place.

Check Jake’s website for all the updates on Naturally, and to follow his blog!

To check back on all the Miniviews, click this link.

Peep the teaser for Blauvelt’s new 2-year project that’s set to drop in 2013. With an all-star cast backing up Jake’s mercurial shred chops, this is gonna be one for the ages.

Hold up, hold up. Things are about to get nasty. Jake Blauvelt is mid-way through shooting a two-year project that’ll feature Blauvelt’s own mindbending natural terrain freestyle, plus the unquestionable talent of buddies like Terje, John and Eric Jackson, Kazu Kokubo and more. All shot in crystal clear RED and Cineflex, this is gonna make your lid flip. Tasty.

Jake Blauvelt’s awesome definition of the pinnacle of natural terrain freestyle snowboarding lands him the fourth spot in our Top 10 Online Parts posted in 2011. It’s a banger. Watch it.

Rather than produce a regular video part again, last season Jake Blauvelt decided he’d focus his energies on filming for an online doco-flavoured web series, Naturally, which would chart his season and the sessions he had with friends across the globe. The best of the action shots from the various episodes were extracted and edited together to produce this full-on bangfest, which landed him in fourth place according to the Fuck Yeah!-ometer*. Here’s a challenge for ya: count the number of old-fashioned cheese wedge booters in this clip…

Rider: Jake Blauvelt
Movie: Online/Videograss
Posted Online: 07.09.2011
Fuck Yeah! Score*: 34

[* We used a complex scientific calculation method to determine the quality of these clips. Every time something stoked us out we had to exclaim 'Fuck Yeah!'. It could be a triple cork, it could be some rail dancing, it could be a face shot, it could be some editing, but once uttered it was noted down and added up at the end. The part with the most 'Fuck Yeah!'s won.]

Jake made the bold move this year of rather than focussing on your regular, common-or-garden videopart, to film solely for his own online video project, Naturally. If you ain’t seem ‘em yet we’d suggest clicking that link should be next on your list after peeping this bad boy, but the general idea of the series was to focus on showing the realities of Blauvelt’s season – the experiences, the people, the travel, the injuries – mixed in with the action.

But this? This is the bangfest. All the Grade A shots that were in the episodes mixed in with a couple of A+++ shots they kept back specially. Seriously, count the number of kickers in this – we guarantee there’s not more than a couple if that. For the most part it’s just Jake sending it off what the terrain has to offer.

If you want more backstory, check out the exclusive interview with Jake Blauvelt we posted Monday. Plus to celebrate we’ve gone and given you the chance to win Blauvelt’s board thanks to our homies at Ride Snowboards Europe.

Now: Peep. Mind. Blown.

Jake Blauvelt is a dude. Super mellow, super friendly, scarily talented. So when he knocked on our office window in the middle of a Munich summer downpour we had no hesitation to inviting him in, getting some good Bavarian beer in his gut and sticking a camera in his face to get the lowdown on his Naturally series, the imminent release of his full online part, his particular brand of natural terrain freestyle, and more. And if that’s not enough then make sure you pick up Onboard issue 123 where we have another interview with JB, delving even deeper into what makes him tick.

We also inadvertently sat him down in the hottest part of our sauna-like office, hence the forehead sheen. Sorry ’bout that Jake.

Check it out and make sure to come back on Wednesday, September 7 when Jake’s full online part will drop exclusive to Onboard in Europe.

Jake and his Ride steed. The only thing missing from this is you nabbing it.

With Jake Blauvelt’s full online part imminent, we’ve got our mitts on his brand new Ride Snowboards pro model that we’re offering up for you to win. Get involved…

As you’ll know, all last winter Jake Blauvelt focussed his considerable energies on shooting for his online-only Naturally series, with some pretty spectacular results. Giving insight into his life scouring the globe for natural features to send it off, plus some A-grade riding of course, it’s always an interesting way to while away a few minutes. But as they’ve been cutting these episodes together Jake and the crew have been holding back on the A+++ bangers for the all-singing, all dancing full-on Jake Blauvelt banger part – which will drop exclusively online first.

With this full online part in the toaster and about ready to pop (check back here on September 7 to have your mind blown), so to celebrate the release of what’s sure to be a backcountry bangfest our homies over at Ride Snowboards Europe have kindly donated Jake’s band new 2011/12 pro model bad boy – dubbed the Berzerker – for you to win.

The deck is the tits. Aimed at your… well just look at what Blauvelt does and if you like that kind of stuff it’s perfect. Here’s what we made of it when we razzed the 161…

“Now this is a proper snowboard. Jake Blauvelt’s pro stick is a charger with awesome edge hold, pop and stability. The nose felt soft so would be a joy to ride in powder and the ride was light, fast and super lively without being too gnarly. If you dream of powder and freestyle this is it. Not for jibbers, but for real all-mountain snowboarding, charging and backcountry freestyle.”

All you need to do to enter is head over to the Onboard Facebook page and Like the post titled Win Jake Blauvelt’s Ride Pro Model OMG OMG OMG! Rocket science, eh? The comp will be open for 2 weeks from the time of posting. After that, the Random Number Generator will do the rest… Good luck.

Here are the first four episodes for you to indulge in.

Old Jake Blauvelt’s Naturally episodes anyone? Go look here!

The third installment of Naturally sees our boy Jake make a beeline for Interior, BC. Though the weather was harsh Jake knows what’s up and found himself some good lines despite the bad light.   Eric Jackson even shows up to share the joy, hitting some pillow stacks and powder lines in Monashee. Hey, and Heikki Sorsa even puts in an appearance. What more could you ask for?

“After a back injury in January Jake is fit to head out to the powder-filled slopes of North Japan and take Finnish legend Heikki Sorsa along for the ride. Stay tuned for the next episode dropping in May.”

We’re not quite sure if you’ve managed to watch the first show and have hence decided to post it here, to. Enjoy more backcountry riding and witness Jake’s unfortunate back injury: