Swiss whizz Alvaro Vogel has hooked up with Shred and Slytech just now, so will be rocking their goggles and protection for the rest of his filming this winter. For a closer look at their kit, cruise over to www.whyweshred.com 

The Hotzone.tv Park Opening went down from 5 to 7 October on the Hintertux Glacier in Austria. Once more Europe’s earliest park opening boasted good weather, world class snowboarding and a unique party schedule. The excellent park conditions and the many international snowboarders make the annual event one of the most important dates in the snowboard season.

Already on Friday a number of pros like Peetu Piiroinen, Spencer O’Brien and local hero Werni Stock rode the pro line in the Betterpark – arguably the best training option for the upcoming contest season. The park – which also includes the small and medium lines as well as the jib area – was in perfect condition and stayed open for everyone all weekend. A lot of spontaneous jam and photo sessions took place with a visible hunger for the upcoming winter. In the test area visitors tried out the newest gear from 30 brands all weekend, and in the valley the premiere of the new Pirates production UNIQUE8 as well as the Shred Warm Up and the Pirate Party made for the ideal beginning for the Opening weekend. And the pro line-up from Sage Kotsenburg and Janne Lipsanen to Elias Elhardt and Marco Feichtner enjoyed the party schedule, too.

On Saturday blue skies, no wind and pleasant temperatures awarded those who made the ascent on the mountain early. Up there, the traditional www.hotzone.tv Session of the Dudes offered a fascinating mix of technical trickery and unique style. While Gigi Rüf tried the kickers with some straight airs, stylists Werni Stock, Marko Grilc, and Chas Guldemond battled the more technical approach of Roope Tonteri and others. In the end Werni scored the Style Award with tweaked backside airs, switch back 1s and other slow spins. And the double cork fest was dominated by Roope and his Finnish perfection. Not only did he show the ‘standard’ 1080s in the front- and backside versions, he also laid down cab and back 12s onto the soft kicker landings. He was hence declared the Best Overall Rider. And while last year’s best rookie Roland Tschoder impressed the judges with one-foot jumps and double backflips, it was 15-year-old Tim-Kevin Ravnjak from Slovenia who scored the award with his repertoire of backside 9 and perfect 7s. In the afternoon the shred circus moved on to the Hintertux parking lot. Visitors enjoyed a beer and even more sun and had fun taking part in activities like bag jumping, tarp surfing and hitting a piñata. The Analog Opening Night hardly needs introducing anymore: Thousands of visitors flocked to the Hohenhaus Tenne and partied with the Wax Wreckaz DJ collective, DJ NLP, local act SMoK1NG FING3RZ and London-based DJ IRK on several dance floors until the early hours of the morning.

On Sunday the Billabong Kids Shoots took place with Pleasure photographer Fischi and Billabong pro Wolle Nyvelt coaching 18 motivated kids in the onset of winter. The planned Cash for Trix Session had to be cancelled due to the weather. Most Opening visitors, however, did not care: They had enjoyed another perfect mix of park riding, parties and product testing and looked forward to the fresh snow; it means loads more Betterpark sessions in the coming weeks!

Click here to watch the video

Portrait by Johannes Brenning

Blue Tomato: Hi Halldór! You and your brother Eiki have only been Blue Tomato team riders for a few months, but you both have already made some big sensations during that time. TWS and Snowboarder Magazine Rookie of the Year and now the X Games Gold medal – Congratulations! We are really proud having you in our team!!

How was it at the TWS Riders Poll Awards? Big party after Eiki and you both got an award? Or did the party started even before price giving?
Halldór Helgason: (laughing) Too bad I couldn’t be there. I had Big Air at X Games the next day so I was just chilling in Aspen, but Eiki sent it for both me and him (laughing).

Do the riders know who will win before the winners are announced on stage?
Yeah, because they have to know if we can be there or not, if not you have to make a video of your speech.

Which of the nominated Rookies would have won if it was your decision (Jed Anderson, Ben Bilocq, Seb Toots, yourself)?
Jed Anderson, I think his riding is cool because it’s so different

Did you plan on getting a medal when traveling to Aspen or was it just for fun at first?
Of course I didn’t plan on getting a medal, and I didn’t think that was ever going to happen. But somehow it worked out (laughing). So I’m stoked!

After your two perfect runs it was clear that you were going to win the Big Air but you kept on shredding as hard as before. Was it just as much about having fun as it was about competing?
I don’t take contests seriously at all. I look at contests as a good opportunity to learn new tricks, and get better at jumping.

Double-cork fs10 and double-cork bs12, pulled down perfectly… What is going to come next after the double-corks? How do you think snowboarding will develop in the future?
Don’t really know, I don’t think about the future too much. Just live at the moment!

The average snowboarder is never going to experience an event like the X Games. At least not as a rider… What is it like behind the scenes? Is the atmosphere more chilled or competitive? Did you party a lot? Let us know your personal impressions of the X Games.
The X Games was the coolest contest I have ever been at, the riders lounge was full with good food, drinks and sick sofas. All the riders were super mellow and not competitive at all, so it was good.

There is a really huge media output at the X Games – it’s completely different to European snowboard contests. Have you already noticed any differences while walking down the streets? Like people asking for autographs when they see you…
Ahh… A little bit, it’s been crazy with interviews after X Games. But it’s only been good and I’ve gotten a lot of new Facebook friends (laughing).

Do you think all the attention that snowboarding gets, especially shortly before the Olympic Games, is good for the sport? Or would you like to keep snowboarding a little bit more “core”?
I don’t care about the Olympics at all, just because I think it’s too serious for the sport. But I don’t really mind it either, if that’s what some people want to do then do that. I’m just more focused on shredding, filming and having as much fun as I can.

I saw your „helgasons.com-moustache“… Great marketing idea! Did you write that by yourself or did somebody prank you?
I made my DC team manager do it. That was probably the best idea we have done for the blog so far. Was Eikis idea!

Last but not least: Let us know, what’s coming up next? What’s your plan for the rest of the season, besides doing some more Helgason Hills Episodes and finding the perfect date?!
(Laughing) What’s next for me is filming as much as I can with Standard Films and the Pirates. I’m pretty stoked that the contest season for me is over! Now it’s just chilling and doing exactly what I want.

Thanks for taking the time. Have a good rest of the season!

The Viking Project is an ultra low budget production from beautiful Styria in Austria. The producers of the Viking Project are Christoph Gaisberger, Mac Krebernik, Hans Kainz, Stefan Morocutti, Peter Kricker, Michael Ruhdorfer und Tom Staud. Filming mainly took place in Planneralm, Loser, Tauplitz and Riesneralm but also at the Dachstein glacier and in the rest of Styria.

Visit www.viking-project.com and check out the trailer HERE

Catalogue Cover Shooting Story

It was in the middle of February and it was dumping since almost a week. As we heard the forecast saying that snowfall will fade overnight and the next day will be sunny, it was clear to us that on the next day we had to get up early. With great expectations we rose the next day as early birds and the blue sky and the shimmering winter landscape showed us that this was the only right thing to do. We packed our stuff very fastly, took our breakfast in the car and off we went to Flachauwinkl.

When we arrived in Flachauwinkl we were hurrying to get up the mountain. The guys (Roli Scharmer and Flo Galler) were highly motivated and the ride on the ski lift became a spot-search game. We went straight to the spot I discovered the day before with Josh (Absenger). I wasn’t sure if it would work properly as the landing was very flat. But the guys agreed that there was no problem because the powder was so deep. We quickly built a kicker, played Rock, Paper, Scissors and Roli was first at the Run In.

The final shot for the cover.

Unfortunately he had to wait for about 15 minutes because in the meantime there appeared too many clouds which were hiding the sun. Finally all was perfect and Roli cleared the tree with a lovely Shifty Bonk. Flo put another log on the fire with a FS 1 and the session was opened up. The guys did some more FS 1 until the shot was perfect and nothing had to be concealed anymore. Later on we realized that the landing was not as safe as we thought. In the middle of all the tracks we found the chop of a fence. It wouldn’t have been that much fun if anybody had landed on it.

Roli at his method pillow line.

Flo Galler at his pillow drop down.

So we packed our things and went of to the spot which Josh had already prepared. It was a Pillow Drop Down. Josh, Roli and Flo did a BS 1 over it and all of them looked like a lot o fun. After that we straight went to a pillow line which ended with a drop. The boys hiked the line twice and I had some fine Methods in the can.

Flo after his FS 3 bail.

From that moment the light was getting worst and we decided that this was it for the day. The guys offered to carry my foto stuff so I had the time to get my own powder line. On our trip home we were all stoked and reviewed the day by looking at the pictures. The camera was passed around in the car and we laughed about bails and gave props for style.

Flo and Roli are hiking the pillow line.

Thanks guys for the sick day. Those are the days of which I think in summer when I am looking forward to winter!

Ciao, Simon

And here you can order your catalogue for free!

Behind the Scene of Loveolution – Interview with Seppi Scholler

The Austrian Snow-, Skateboard and Streetwear Brand LOVE is very proud to bring out their first Teammovie. Premiere on October 24th in Vienna’s Volksgarten Banane. Open doors at 22.00 o’clock, premiere starts at 23.00 o’clock. Sound will be provided by Pezo Fox, Mosaken, Mastercash, Joshimizu, Stylestab & B.Visible. Further information can be found on the Love Website.

The film was done in cooperation with Blue Tomato and it is for sure one of the most different and entertaining Snow and Skate movies in 2009! It features the riding of Blue Tomato Teamriders Marc  Swoboda, Domenik Wagner und Diz Pichler plus Seppi Scholler, Matevz Pristavec, Thomas Feurstein, Flo Mausser, Xico Basabe, Allesandre Massotti, Thomas Vevjar and Friends.

From powder shots at the Arlberg and in Switzerland, massive park jumps in Slovenia, Sweden and the Superpark to the Special “rainbow jib session”. This movie is a good mix of powder, park and jibs! Also the skaters Xico Basabe, Allessandro Massotti and Thomas Vevjar spent days and nights filming and you will see that it was worth it. Besides this, the riders show that some of them also got other “hidden talents” and the whole crew guaranties that this is for sure the most entertaining and flashiest movie in 2009

Just for you we interviewed one of the Loveolution Masterminds Seppi Scholler:

Pic by Markus Rohrbacher

How did it come to making a Team Video?

There was some intention to make a video but the idea of making something own has been around for a longer time. There is always a lot of responsibility in “power”. I have to say that I have a lot of respect for each and every film production because now I experienced (in a smaller setting) how much work you have to invest if you want to make a good video. At this point I would like to thank my old friend Naisi for having that much patience with me in the past and also Gipsy who enabled us to film our movie!

You won’t believe how much work it is to do everything… from the first Team meeting on: filming, trips, PR of the movie, cutting, animation, stickers, shirts, flyers, video premieres, media partners and not to forget shoveling for days and hiking for spots. Hard to believe how much work hides in some spots.

As already mentioned, the project occupied me apart from snowboarding and office a whole year. But I think/hope that this work will pay off.

How was working on the movie? Were there some strange incidents?

Working on the video was/is quite intensive. Especially for me. I am responsible for a big part of the production, graphic design, direction and of course I was riding myself.

The whole season was full of strange incidents. But we have to say that altogether production went well and I think we all can be very satisfied. Of course you have to be quite spontaneous no matter if it is because of the weather, injuries, locked mountain passes or overnight stays in the car at minus 15 °C.

You say that your video is “different” to the others and has some sort of drive. What is it exactly that distinguishes your film from others?

I hope that it comes across and people recognize that we put in “loving attention to detail”. Just if you think of the music. Being “different” starts at the DVD graphics and ends with the last part of the movie.

It was our goal to portray the people not as the “super cool, awesome, whatever” image holders. We wanted to picture them as completely different. Just as we are in real life. I think being authentic is the secret.

What makes a really good video in your opinion?

Even if it is really hard but a video has to be some sort of “quirky” and as I said “different” from other productions. This “being different” can be triggered by several factors. However no such other elements should eever be used to conceal a lacking athletic performance.

It is important that all of the involved, so riders, filmers, musicians, illustrators, producers, PR people etc. should support the project with 100 %. At this point I would like to thank all of the supporters. Without their help, energy and emotion this project could have never been realized.

Which is your favorite part of the movie?

I don’t really have a favorite part. Each part has some elements I totally like. But I really like the intro and the last part.

What do you expect from the premiere on October 24th at the Volksgarten in Vienna?

I expect the pressure which I felt the last year to be relieved.

No, to be honest I have no clue. To speak absolutely freely I am really curious about people’s reactions. And I mean REALLY curious.

Where can the movie be bought? How do you distribute it?

The movie will be distributed over two ways: on the one hand via free online download on our Website and on the other hand the film (incl. a lot of good bonus material) will be added to the Blue Tomato goodie bag. Furthermore there will be some DVDs and Giveaways in every shop where you can buy LOVE stuff.

Closing question: What do you expect from the future? Are there further projects already planned?

I expect to keep well in future and that everybody I like is well off too. And of course I hope that I can reach self-fulfillment on the fields that I like.

There are already quite concrete plans for the future. But I’ll tell when the time has come. I like talking about things when they are ready and have some sort of surprise effect. That’s the reason why nobody should know how and what our movie will be about in advance

Also check out the teaser

Trip to the Hintertux Opening

Thursday evening, two weeks ago, Franki, Jürgen, Alex, Lukas and me started our trip to the Hintertux Opening. Franki got some sweet apartment for us in Zell am Ziller. Props to Franki, the flat was amazing! Friday morning we headed towards Hintertux. First it seemed to be real foggy however on the glacier weather was ok. In the morning it was super icy but thanks to the sun and temperatures about 6°C it got slushy at noontime. The park offered a medium and pro kickerline, pipe, corner and a jib line consisting of a downbox, downrail, rainbow box, flat box, up box, curved box and pyramid box. You see there was something to shred for everybody.

Additionally you had the chance to test some new shredsticks of the upcoming season. E.g. there was Rome, Forum, Burton, Lib Tech, Nitro, Ride, Bataleon and many more. On Saturday and Sunday weather was great, there was not a cloud in the sky. It just felt a little like being on summer shred and especially at the corner some nice sessions were going on. At Saturday evening we went to the official Opening Party, was cool but a little overcrowded. Anyway Alex found out that the garbage bags were real comfortable… at least he claims that. Sunday morning we took the gondola to the glacier with a little hangover. But after some relaxing and a second breakfast we beat it and took some laps through the park. In the end we arrived back in Schladming about 9pm, real tired but with a big smile on our faces.

Cheers,

Philipp
Blue Tomato Intern

Check our Blog for more pics