THE ART OF FLIGHT

“The Art of Flight” is the latest film from Curt Morgan and Brain Farm Digital Cinema, the same crew that brought us “That’s it, That’s All” back in 2008. “The Art of Flight” was 2 years in the making and features locations all over the world like Chile, Aspen, Patagonia, Alaska, Jackson Hole, British Columbia and a dozen talented riders.

Right from the start I knew that this wasn’t like any other snowboarding film I’d seen before. This realization really hit me in one of the first scenes when Curt Morgan manages to make waxing a snowboard, one of the most mundane tasks we face, into a visual wonder. Now imagine what he can do with a day in Jackson Hole and you get the picture. The amazing technology and skill at which each shot was filmed grabbed my attention and didn’t let go until the credits rolled.

I do however feel like I need to add a disclaimer. This film isn’t about a bunch of bros enjoying perfect riding conditions day after day and having a party on the slopes. This is the real deal, and it’s intense. Once the action picks up you never really feel safe for the rest of the film. It’s also not just back-to-back snowboarding clips; it’s as much about the nature and the journey as it is about the actual riding.

With riders like Travis Rice, John Jackson, Mark Landvik, Scotty Lago, Jake Blauvelt, Nicolas Müller, Gigi Rüf, DCP and Pat Moore, I don’t really need to go into detail on the quality of riding. These guys are going huge and taking the sport to new levels. My rewind button was begging me to stop a run before, but they do manage to fit in a little time at the park.

One of the first things Travis Rice says in the film is that, “experiencing the world through endless secondhand information isn’t enough. If we want authenticity we have to initiate it.” Well, if you can’t bum a ride to the Darwin range in Patagonia, then I’d say watching “The Art of Flight” is the next best thing. So pop in the disc, rest your finger on the rewind button, and brace yourself for a wild ride.