I’m on the road for the next two weeks in British Columbia, Canada covering the Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival at Whistler/Blackcomb for Newschoolers.com. The TWSSF is a music, arts & action sports festival that’s in its 16th year.
As it’s website says,
“We’ll throw-down in ski and snowboard comps, party like rockstars, walk the red carpet to events such as the 72hr Filmmaker Showdown, VAIO Fashion Exposed and Olympus Pro-Photographer Showdown, plus be privy to new and improved events, never before seen in the beautiful surrounds of Number One ski resort Whistler Blackcomb.With Canada?s largest free Outdoor Concert Series, ski and snowboard legends aiming high and throwing down, and events to satiate even the hardest partier out there, TWSSF plans to light, and burn, every one of those 16 candles at both ends.”
So I’ve got that going for me.
Leaving Boston’s Logan airport at 12:26 PM EST, I flew into Seattle after barely making my connection in Detroit, MI due to delays, delays that continued in Seattle’s Sea-Tac airport when, waiting for my bags on the carousel, I was informed that a lightning strike on the tarmac forced everyone to go for cover. Already waiting for my bags for 30 minutes, it took another 20 for the carousel to start spitting luggage. At 6:14 PM PST, I finally jumped on board Seattle’s Light Rail in hopes of making the 6:50 PM train to Vancouver. I made it… with only seconds to spare, crossing live tracks in the process and sweating profusely from the run.
These photos are from the window of the Cascades 543, the train I almost missed. As the TWSSF continues, I’ll be looking to post a photo(s) each day from around the village.
One of the main events at TWSSF is the 72 Hr Filmmaker showdown:
“The creative playing field is leveled at Whistler?s annual 72hr Filmmaker Showdown. Post-production trickery, exotic locations, superstar talent and big budget advantages are made irrelevant when filmmakers are tasked to shoot, edit and produce a 3-5 minute short film within 100km radius of Whistler over the course of 72 hours. Relying purely on originality, craft, speed and endurance, (not to mention excessive consumption of coffee), the 72 Hour Filmmaker Showdown distills the art of film-making into its purest form ? getting your creative vision from concept to reality in record time in order for it to be enjoyed on the big screen.”
My former roommate Joe Gaetani, from Rightside Productions, with Alex Adrian and Chris Zimmermann took it last year with his video, “Panty Bloom.”
I’ll definitely be stoked to watch what they put together this year, maybe even lend a hand if needed.
I’m equally excited to see what the boys at Switchback Films come up with, who are the brains behind the Salomon FreeskiTV series,
Whistler Blackcomb – XXS from Switchback Entertainment on Vimeo.
and newest Poor Boyz cinematographer/editor Charlie Grinnell has up his sleeve.
First Sight from B Bell on Vimeo.
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