Fernie gets dumped on! Brian @ FWA testing his skis / Photo: Leslie Prentiece
We all dig our heels in sometimes.. especially on issues that matter deeply to us.
Brain is a bit stubborn when it comes to big powder events…. With over 170cm over the week..
He is pretty much demanding he stays on the job until all the guiding work is done…
CATSKIING CANADA @ K3 Catski / Photo: Lisa Gover
Sometimes you just gotta burn elevation to make a big leg burner turn.
In deep pow you can make your board like a tongue depressor.
Open up and say AHHHH!
Guide @ Powder Mountain Catskiing / Photo: Lisa Dawn Photography
Monashee Powder Snowcats Photo: Colleen Gentemann
Phil Casabon @ Retallack Lodge / Photo: Chad Spector
Choking on your turns at FWA Powder Catskiing / Photo: David Couse
Andre Bloemink @ FWA (Fernie Wilderness Adventures) Catskiing / Photo: David Couse
Finding the line. The one that you replay all off season. You know exactly what I mean.
Everyone does it. We are constantly scouring the spaces between trees, beside a run little spaces to ensure our skis or snowboards “find only virgin turns”. I think its part artform part experience and a good portion of luck. That said, I feel and swear that some people just have the “powder sense”. Surfing can be the same way, some people without any indications on the horizon know to paddle to the horizon when a sneaker set is ripping in. In the backcountry while Catskiing you need not put those instincts hard to work, however, there is this next level of sense. “Finding THE line”.
Backcountry Catskiing I think just puts you in the best possible position for those magical moments. You have more space. A bigger powder canvas to draw your turns on. A guided leader to point out features that are out of your eyes reach. A Fresh pair of legs rested and ready to push your line to the next level. I am talking about “The Line”.
Sure, each time you go Catskiing you get fresh turns, but every once in a while you just have that magical line like a perfect line drive with your golf ball genltly placed on the green. You shanked all season but had fun, then you nail it. Its this perfection that stays in our minds and keeps us coming back for more.
scott
Stephan Maurer @ Powder Mountain Catskiing / Photo: Markus Fischer
We caught up with Mike McPhee from Island Lake Lodge with 7 questions to share some backstory on the Promo Video called “Balance of Powder” (see the teaser at bottom of article)
Mike McPhee is an respected photographer / marketer and still a stoked snowboarder living the dream. Quiet but well spoken, he doesn’t need any encouragement to get talking about powder and Catskiing… Someone to keep an eye on the future of Catskiing.. His photo blog is: www.MikeMcPhee.com
Mike McPhee on set shooting "Balance of Powder"
1) Tell me a little about your new upcoming movie.Balance of Powder.. For the last few years we have been putting together a TV show for syndication in the USA and DVD handouts. We usually use all the B-Roll we get from the various companies that film with us. This year we wanted to take it up a couple notches and create something that looks different and also speaks to our demographic, whom tend to be older affluent skiers.
2) What was the origin of the concept behind the idea of the movie? I was reading some demographic / psychological info about our client types and it talked about how they need to get out of the city on a couple ski trips a year, how they dream about standing on remote peaks, like to be unique and ski unique terrain features and are driven to find these special exclusive places. So I thought it would be cool to contrast our demographics city existence with our pure mountain experience.
On set of "Balance of Powder" Photo: Mike McPhee
3) Who are the people involved in the movie? Darryn Shewchuck from Mica and me from Island Lake, Malcolm Sangster, Eric Crosland and Dave Mossop from Sherpas Cinema and skiers like Callum Pettit, Eric Hjorliefson, Kye Petersen, Ian McIntosh, James Heim, JP Auclair and Lynsey Dyer.
Photo: Mike McPhee
4) What are you hoping the movie conveys? I am hoping that it conveys the magical internal craving that makes us go to the mountains and the aesthetics of the experiences we offer.
Filming 'Balance of Powder" with Sherpas / Photo: Mike McPhee
5) What was unexpected during filming/ editing of the movie? We almost had too much snow when filming at Island Lake Catskiing! The Sherpas came 3 times and it was always snowing, so we ended up filming in the trees every time. Unfortunate, we did not get to film the amazing alpine bowls, ridges and chutes that Island Lake has to offer. We also got shut down for a few days at Mica for weather and because there was an expensive ciniflex camera involved – things got a bit stressful.
Dumping on Set of "Balance of Powder" /Photo: Mike Mcphee
6) How was the movie shot? (original angels/technology/terrain) Well we hired the Sherpas, as they are the most unique and creative filmers in the snow industry right now. They spent several days setting up a huge wire cam in the trees and got one of the best group ski shots I have ever scene. They also used a Diablo high-speed camera for a few shots. Then they brought up a Ciniflex camera to Mica and shot some of the coolest looking ski footage and scenic’s we could have hoped for. Basically it took more time, logistics and patience to set up the unique shots, but was well worth the effort in the end.
Photo: Mike McPhee
7) Where do you see Catskiing filming / Self marketing going in the future? With so much ski and snowboard footage, movies and TV shows out there, you really have to be unique to stand out from the pack. Self marketing takes some vision and patience, but seems to be the way to hold true to your brand and get the right message out.
CATSKIING CANADA filming at Monashee Powder Snowcats / Photo: Colleen Genteman
One of the unique things we found at Monashee Powder Snowcats were all these inviting oversized marshmellow pillows in the clear cuts.
