Absinthe Films get into gaming

Absinthe Films are about to release their first venture into the video games market with Stoked for Xbox 360.

Some of you will know I used to have a website called Stoked On Snowboarding where I reviewed snowboard movies and snowboarding video games. It had a logo suspiciously similar to Coca Cola's but with a snowboarder on it (Stoked ... Coke ... geddit?) until they threatened me with a big ass law suit. Did you know they have copyrighted that wavy line you see on coke cans?

Some of you may also have heard that my current day job is sticking up banner ads and mini-sites up on Xbox LIVE (which is free by the way to anyone with an Xbox 360 and a net connection if you wanna see my work! - You only have to pay if you wanna play against friends online). So imagine my surprise when this particular gem fell into my mailbox!

Top notch snowboard movie makers Absinthe Films have made their first foray into video gaming by co-developing a new snowboarding game for Xbox 360 with Destineer and Bongfish.

It's called Stoked but hey I'm flattered cos it will feature two of my all-time favourite pro riders Bjorn Leines and Travis Rice!

It's definitely not Bjorn's first time as a video game character as I've played as that dude many many times on the old Xbox.

The game include 5 mountains, dynamic weather systems and sponsorship from respected snowboard companies. Other riders named are Nicholas Muller, Wolle Nyvelt, Gigi Ruf, Romain De Marchi, Annie Boulanger and Tadashi Fuse.

I guess what Absinthe will bring to the table (besides their name, contacts and well earned respect) is their unique style and creative approach which has always been a big part of their film making. I'm anticipating a great soundtrack and some awesome graphics.

The game is out in November and when you can download the demo on Xbox LIVE, I'll shout it out.

Check out Absinthe's forthcoming movie Ready

That's All Folks

If like me, you're thinking snowboard movies are what HD was invented for, then you want to check out Travis Rice's forthcoming movie That's It, That's All.

Not only is it co-produced by Trice and shot in Hi Def, it also includes Terje, Jeremy Jones and Danny Kass among the featured riders.

You can watch trailers on the official site as well as win a heli-boarding trip to Alaska or loads of signature Travis kit.

Also there's a Facebook group for all the latest news and updates.

Visit the Official site

Join the Facebook group

Need lessons but have ADD?

 Method TV do their bit for boys with learning difficulties.

As the new season gets near, indulge yourselves with a reminder from the, erm, pros on how to wax your board. 

Future stars if I ever saw a pair. At least they're not topless.

Watch the video on Method TV

On the Ed

I wasn't going to post again until next season but I had to say how much I enjoyed Ed Leigh's documentary on the BBC iPlayer recently, Siberia To Sahara: A Snowboarder's Odyssey.

The programme follows Ed as he travels from Siberia to Morocco via Hokkaido and the Himalayas in pursuit of some of the world's most exotic snowboarding locations.

Not only was this film beautifully shot and informative but it was even more notable for the things it was not - lecturing, condescending and full of cliches. Well, maybe the soundtrack was the usual kinda thing.

Ed was probably the most genial and chilled host I have ever seen him (well let's face it he is usually on TV whooping it up at some big air comp or rail jam) but he still managed to get across his love and enthusiasm for snowboarding.

If you ever get the chance to watch this, I'd recommend that you do. Even if you think you know everything there is to know about snowboarding, you could learn something from this.

The stupidest gadget ever?

Over the last 10 years snowboarders have probably noticed the effects of Global Warming more keenly than most - so what idiot in their right mind would invent a MOTORISED SNOWBOARD!?

Usually I am a big fan of Channel Five's Gadget Show but to see presenter Jason Bradbury enthuse about possibly the most pointless invention ever, The Powerboard, is not a high point.

What the world needs now is *not* an environmentally unfriendly snowboard when it we already have something elegant and quiet than runs on gravity, can be carried under your arm and for the most part is made from sustainable materials.

So we need a motorised snowboard like a hole in the head. The Powerboard is a snowmobile crossed with scooter. It has a 4 stroke engine and can travel a yawn-inducing 18 mph.

As if skiers aren't bad enough, the prospect of dodging idiots on these things too is just too much. I suppose on the bright side it might keep some stupid rich people off the lifts.

See the ridiculous item on The Gadget Show

Big Air in Japan

It's a long held dream of a friend and I to go snowboarding in Japan. Until that happens I live vicariously through Haruki Murakami novels, writing my Asian cinema blog for MSN UK, and watching movies like Trouble In Japan.

In February 2007 the Analog snowboard team shot Trouble In Japan as part of their Moving Picture Project. Genially hosted by 18 year old Danny Davis, it documents what the life of a pro snowboarder is really like as the riders compete in Japan's Toyota Big Air and the Nippon Open.

Not only does it include footage from both comps but there's also lots of behind the scenes footage, night and day riding on the slopes of Rusutsu and Furano resorts,  and we get to gig with veteran rider Trevor Andrew's band.

It also features a couple of my favourite snowboarders Heikki Sorsa and JP Solberg, as well as Danny, Trevor, Mikkel Bang and Kevin Pearce.

Besides all the wall-rides, car tows and general larking around, there's an excellent soundtrack from Kudu (awesome bass line on their tune), Stiffed and Trevor Andrew aka Trouble.

Not only is this a free movie but its makers positively encourage authorised distribution so BitTorrent it now or visit the offical Analog clothing site and watch it in their video section where there's an iPod friendly version available.

Watch Trouble In Japan on Analog's official site

Asian Provocateur - my Asian cinema blog

Unbelievable!

Travis Rice rocks a Double BS Rodeo at the Nokia Air & Style 2007 comp. Seeing is not always believing!



Trice rules. Again.

Watch the clip on YouTube