St Lary Freeride 2008

If you are in or can get to St Lary Soulan over the 17th to 19th of the January check out their Freeride festival. The 14 films in the competition cover a panorama of recent productions conceived and filmed in the Pyrenees as well as the United States and Canada. The event coincides with St Lary’s 50 anniversary.

Blockbusters, in terms of finance, skiers and the most audacious images can bee seen side by side with imaginative, artsy and crazy videos. The organiser, Bruno Delaye wants to show the widest audience the quality of the films as well as showcase the economic force of an industry in development. Okay, we are not totally convinced about riders jetting around the planet to stop global warming, but we guess they had fun.

The festival is not just about the films. There will be ski and snowboard demonstrations at the heart of the village and on the slopes. A contest in the snow-park (St Lary was the first resort to open a park in the Pyrenees).

The Films

Amochomochoï. The Amochomochoï team was born from the friendship of two pairs of brothers who share the same passion for freeriding and the mountains. The film is set during a road trip to British Columbia and the Portes du Soleil in the 2005-2006 season. Produced by Jean François Blanc (13 min.)

Lines. A documentary about snowboarding the big mountains of Alaska. It follows a crew during six weeks in the Chugach mountains and shows what it takes to ride and film in this unique environment – the stress, the dangers, everything you don’t normally see in a snowboard movie. - Flora and Axel Pauporté (85 min.)

Cœur. Showcase for the best talents of French snowboarding. A quality production with original images and graphics. This documentary distinguishes itself with a unique angle, almost all the tricks are in the backcountry as well as a long section of Xavier Delerue en Alaska. Xavier, a son of the Pyrenees, recently won the World Snowboard Championships. Film with passion, the team has put their heart into this film. - Julien Mata (32 min.)

Enjoy. A big American production. From rails without end in the center of Manhattan to perfect conditions in Alaska. The film team was at the right place at the right time. A large scene with Frenchie Enak Gavaggio. Produced by Sky Pinnick (61 min.)

Free.doc. A documentary about Freestyle revealing the secrets of this exciting sport over a whole ski season. - Ivan Bunuel (35 min.)

Freesteal II, le dictionnaire. Introduces a wider audience to freestyle skiing with a dictionary of images. Fun with splendid images of skiers and landscapes. Film in the Pyrenees at Cauterets and Barèges. Part of a trilogy (due in 2008) to discover this discipline and language.  Produced by Matthieu Pinaud (24 min.)

Idea, and Eric Iberg film. Don’t miss this. The concept of the film. Three professional skiers have spent a decade creating new tricks. A totally new type of ski film. - Produced by Eric Iberg (45 min.)

Jam-Expresso. A collective of Pyrenean artists and riders who want to express their difference and their creativity with live audiovisual projects. The riders want to break out of clichés. With Doriane Vidal, Xavier Delerue, Mathieu Crépel, Mathieu Justafré, Nicolas Watier, Jordi Font, Bruno Compagnet, Julien Maguy, Jean-Mi Gouadain. Produced by Thierry Saint-Paul et Julien Maguy

Labour of Love. Roxy’s snowboard team open in Japan then follow the snow to Europe, under the midnight sun in Sweden. The trip continues in New Zealand then the US. Superb images that demonstrates the current level of women in the sport. – Produced by Sarah, Amber, Alexis, Erin, Kjersti et Torah (20 minutes)

Lost & found. It is a tale of world class skiers and boarders who transform into nomads to follow snow, menaced by global warming. The film takes us to the Tordrillos mountain chain in South America then to Alaska showing that there are many big lines still to be discovered in the world – Produced by Chris Germain (60 min.)

Rip Curl Himalaya Search. During two weeks, four riders from the Rip Curl team head for the roof of the world for a unique experience. In Nepal they ski virgin slopes fresh with powder and discover an alien region and culture. (52 min.)

Rossignol 2007. An astonishing parallel between a skier and snowboarder. Filmed in Russia and Alaska Manu Gaidet and Xavier Delerue devour extreme slopes in harmony. - Guido Perrini

Save. A free skiing film with an environmental approach. Apart from warning about climate change and global warming there are some mind blowing shots as well as a freeride section in the company of world Freeride champion Manu Gaidet and Xavier Delerue - Phil Larose, Thomas Rinfret (Québec)

Yeah Dude. The best riders in the world in incredible action in almost inaccessible sports. A superb cocktail for a film shot in the four corners of the world. In this US blockbuster you will see clips films in Luchon with Julien Regnier. 

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