Do you remember snowboard photographer Liam Gallagher’s film project The Mad Ones? Him and a select crew of thinking snowboarders created a web series inspired by the writings of the Beat generation. With their new project ‘Search for a Cool Place‘ they pick up where they left of: Art school meets pow slashing meets beat poetry. Not sure if as many family members will ask me about this as they did about Art of Flight, but it has a great vibe to it, and offers some unique perspectives on snowboarders’ lives on the road.

After Jack Kerouac and The Beats came Ken Kesey and his Merry Band of Pranksters. Kesey was a best-selling author turned acid-freak, who was largely responsible for the psychedelic revolution of the 1960s. But, before Kesey and crew started frying the masses, they took a trip across the country in a 1938 International school bus. They dubbed the rig Further and their mission was simple: they were searching for a cool place. Just like us…

Search for a Cool Place is an exploration of snowboarding, mind-expansion, adrenaline freaks, the trips they take and where they’ve ended up. Look for the full-length snowboard flick next Fall.

Featuring: Mark Landvik, Patrick McCarthy, Wyatt Stasinos, Cory Stasinos, Nick Russell, Forrest Burki, Ryland Bell, Shaun McKay, Lucas Debari, Kael Martin, Alex Yoder, Blake Paul, Nick Dirks, Jake Olson Elm, Harry Kearny, Luke Thorington, Brendan Keenan, Jason Robinson, Ralph Backstrom and many more…

Supported by: Jones Snowboards, Drink Water, Anon, The Mount Baker Snowboard Shop.

During the record setting 2012 season in AK, Juneau native Ryland Bell invites friends and fellow Patagonia ambassadors Forrest Shearer, Josh Dirksen and Alex Yoder on a trip to experience his local turf, and shred off the chart snow totals. Expecting to face the challenge of riding in the monster storms that had been pounding Juneau’s coast almost non-stop for the entire season, the crew gets lucky, landing a perfect weather window and getting their fill of a season’s worth of pitch perfect pow under bluebird skies. 
Filmed by Sweetgrass Productions with their upcoming 2013 feature film ‘Valhalla’.

Taking his lifetime expedition to the next level, Jeremy Jones leads his crew of world class riders, cameramen and guides to the far corners of the earth in the second installment of the Deeper trilogy: Further.

Drawing upon a lifetime of experience Jones seeks out first descents and exotic experiences in an effort to evolve not only his snowboarding, but himself. The relationships forged from isolation and travel are almost as intriguing as the maniacal descents themselves. Join Jeremy and his crew in the Arctic Circle, Japan, the High Sierra and the remote Pickett Range among others as they push their minds and bodies Further.

Athletes: Jeremy Jones, Terje Haakonsen, Xavier De Le Rue, DCP, Nicolas Müller, Lucas Debari, Josh Dirksen, Forrest Shearer, Ryland Bell

Visit The Jeremy Jones’ Further Film Page Here: www.tetongravity.com/further

Buy Jeremy Jones’ Deeper On DVD, Blu-ray or iTunes Here:
shop.tetongravity.com/Deeper_DVD.aspx

Dirksen rips one out. Photo: Abe Blair.

Josh Dirksen, Forrest Shearer and Ryland Bell Join Patagonia as Part of Patagonia’s Increased Commitment to Snow Sports

Patagonia Inc., the enviro-minded apparel company, is pleased to announce that Josh Dirksen, Ryland Bell and Forrest Shearer have joined the company as Snowboard Ambassadors. Each rider embodies the company’s core values, comes equipped with a life-long dedication to snowboarding and a desire to ride in the best outerwear possible. As a company, Patagonia has increased its focus in the snow sports category with a major update to its outerwear line in Fall 2011 and plans to continue the progression into future seasons. Dirksen, Shearer and Bell will collaborate closely with the company’s designers to provide first-hand input on every aspect of product performance and design.

“I’m pleased to welcome Ryland, Josh and Forrest to the Patagonia family,” says Josh Nielsen, Patagonia’s grassroots marketer and ambassador liaison, “This group of athletes represents a growing demographic of savvy backcountry riders who demand technical products suited specifically to their needs. We look forward to working closely and collaboratively with these guys as we continue to build the best product on the market while causing the least environmental harm.”

Ryland Bell. Photo: Abe Blair.

Dirksen, an icon in snowboarding for the past 15 years, says, “Now that I’m putting so much time into splitboarding to access my lines and riding more technical terrain, I need clothing that will work perfectly for all situations. I want to eliminate as many X-factors as possible when I’m out there and I know that with Patagonia gear, I don’t need to think twice.”

Patagonia’s environmental efforts and cause-the-least-amount-of-harm design ethics played a role in the snowboarders’ decision to join the company as Ambassadors. Says Forrest Shearer “I want to be involved with environmentally responsible companies because that’s what is important to me. Patagonia thinks about the products they make and tries to have the least amount of impact. The company has a killer history of taking remarkable steps not only in snowsports, but in all aspects of business.”

Forrest Shearer. Photo: Noah Howell

Bell, an Alaska native and Squaw Valley local says,” I’m excited to apply the heritage of Patagonia’s technology and design specifically to snowboarding. Having high-end, light, performance gear is the difference between struggling and being comfortable in the mountains. I’m really looking forward to taking snowboarding apparel to the next level.”

Bell, Dirksen and Shearer join a team of Ambassadors that includes surfing’s Malloy Brothers, Gerry Lopez and climbing’s Tommy Caldwell, Sonny Trotter and other notable athletes at the height of their sports.

SATURDAY

There’s still a lot of snow in Utah. Parcours is possibly even more dangerous than snowboarding. TW Snow lost and found a decent edit. And for people like us it comes as a relief to hear that magazines are not dying. Or maybe they are?!

SUNDAY

There is always a lot of snow in Chile, at least judging from this teaser. And there’s a lot of weird stuff on the internet.

MONDAY

The TTR announces the World Snowboard Championships. A rad girl and a rad dude passed away. Marco Smolla rocks Lederhosen. Dave Seoane has grown a massive beard. This winter, Latvia saw a lot of snow, too. There’s 91 words for snowboard. And our senior Peter has a disturbingly dark side.

TUESDAY

Ryland Bell is a gnarly dude who loves Bärenjäger. The Homies Crew love Vodka. Grilo is living the dream – including private jets. Marc Swoboda rips Bulgaria. And Per Loken ends his pro career.

WEDNESDAY

Jamie Nicholls had a good season. Niki Korpela and Ethan Morgan take minishred to the next level. Snowboard pro-cum-musician Trouble Andrew releases a music video.

THURSDAY

The Sane Crew hits Serfaus. Again. Comune releases an artsy trailer. Again. And it might be time to befriend skiers.

FRIDAY

Eero Ettala has blown his ACL. Zac Marben gets a hole in the skin. The Olympics might take slopestyle, too. And beware, there’s werewolves!

Have a good weekend everyone!