Boulder, CO – Matchstick Productions released their latest ski film “The Way I See It” to a packed crowd at The Boulder Theater. Based in Crested Butte, CO Matchstick Productions is one of the premiere ski film making companies in the world. Founded in 1992 by Steve Winter and Murray Wayes, Matchstick Productions has released a feature-length ski films every year since.
The night got kicked off at Georges with skiers, fans, and small business owners sharing their recent powder dreams and anticipation for the upcoming ski season. Conversations ranged from full moon resort assaults to heli trips in the Chugach Mountains. Thirty minutes before the showing the line was wrapped around the theater. The Red Bull girls were armed with backpacks full of energy drinks, amping up the already stoked crowd. You could feel the anticipation as the group inched their way closer to the door. Upon entering everyone received a buy one get one free lift ticket voucher for Crested Butte. Along with the voucher fans were able to pick up posters, magazines, and snag an autograph with professionals skiers on the way to their seat. The show got started like any other premier. We got to meet the skiers! Mark Abma, Henrik Windstedt, Bobby Brown, Ingrid Backstrom, Cody Townsend, and Gus Kenworthy were all able to make it up on stage. There was a little moment of recognition for our fallen heroes CR Johnson and Ingrid Backstrom’s brother Arnie Backstrom, who both died following there love of skiing. MSPs sponsors loaded up the giveaways with goodies including Salomon skis, Helly Hansen shells, goggles, and all sorts of other gear for the raging skiers.
It’s going to be hard to beat last years MSP movie “IN DEEPER” which won Powder Magazines Film of the year. With two sold out shows to start the tour, this film may be the next one to beat. Filming took place in some of the best snow in the world. Alaska, Japan, Colorado, BC, Washington, and Switzerland.. Fans were able to see everything from huge lines in the Swiss Alps to some of the largest park features in the world ironically located in Alaska.
Sean Pettit opened up the evening with a HUGE 360 and by the end of his segment had let a tree take his goggles. Sean brings creativity to a new level. Bobby Brown who took the free-ski world by storm last year when he won the X-games with a perfect score! Bobby threw a switch double misty 1440 and is the first person to ever land it in competition. Then he went on to get another gold for a switch double misty 1260. That makes Bobby Brown the first person in history to take 2 gold medals home. Later we get to see him throw a sick double back flip in the Alps. Shortly after Bobby compressed his spine and had to take a little time off, not much time though. Before too long he’s back at it skiing and filming in Mammoth then off to AK.
The jump segment of the movie for Alyeska Resort in Alaska is spectacular! Bobby Brown, Richard Permin, Russ Henshaw, Gus Kenworthy, and Colby West didn’t expect to be hitting the biggest jump of their life’s, but the true pro’s they are absolutely threw down!! Even the producer Steve notes this to be his favorite portion of the film.
Then we are off to a 15 day trip to Niseko, Japan. Henrik just kills the super deep Japanese snow dubbing it “funpow” for obvious reasons. After the Niseko, Japan segment we get to see shots of Rory hucking himself off of castles in Switzerland and finally off to Rodgers Pass in BC. This section takes skiing back to the isolation and self reliance that calls to ever back-country enthusiast. There is nothing quite like staying in an incredible cabin in the middle of nowhere. You can go only where your skins can take you, which is everywhere. Its a simple life skiing, sauna, and then do it over again.
Now we are taken back to the mainland U.S. Right about this time the row full of beautiful girls from Vail and CB that I am sitting with starts to get overly excited. We see a shot of ski patrol tossing bombs at CS Irwin and I notice the patroler is the girl sitting next to me. Maeve and her friends were kind enough to purchase me a double whiskey ginger and I would like to nickname this shot Blonds with Bombs. I have a strong appreciation for those who spend their livelihoods taming the natural elements for recreational skiers. If it wasn’t for these people our sport would not have been able to progress where it has.
Now we get to see lots of female skier Ingrid Backstrom. First skiing with her brother Arne before his untimely death, then shes off to BC with Rory Bushfield. In BC she had a rough time from torching snowmobiles to ripping her Achilles. Ingrid is pretty much a badass though. Nothing keeps her from throwing down season after season. The entire Backstrom clan seems to have been born on snow, Arne was one of the best free-skiers around, Ralph has been dominating the North Face Masters tour on his snowboard and both parents are ski patroler’s at Crystal Mountain, WA.
One notable interaction was with Gabe Martin owner of Colorado FreeSkier in Crested Butte. Colorado FreeSkier is a top of the line ski retailer with one hell of a tune shop. Gabe is very confident and challenges everyone to make his shop the Colorado “core-shot” stop. Gabe’s wife Kyra is also an entrepreneur within the ski industry. She is the administrative director for the local cat skiing company just outside of Crested Butte. CS Irwin offers powder turns to guests in an area which boasts more than 500 inches of snowfall a season. With plush cats and excellent guides, there will be many memories made in Gunnison National forest this season including those of our editor, Mike Hardaker who is relocating to Crested Butte for the winter!
Vancouver BCs Jason Brown operation manager for Kokanee Helicopters got a shout out from the Matchstick crew and you can see their birds flying throughout the film. They are a small company focused on excellent customer service. Be sure to hit these guys up for the heli-trip of a lifetime! Everyone in the entire venues was on the edge of their seats during the film. At the end you could see the look in peoples eyes, like they just dropped their first twenty foot cliff. Leaving there were comments such as “Thats exactly what its like!” “They nailed it!” the Mountain Weekly News couldn’t agree more!!
