Featured Picture: Brie Cooper | Skier: Kuura Koivisto
Arriving in Mammoth, California on the finish of April 2024, I wasn’t positive what to anticipate. By no means earlier than had I witnessed first hand the dramatic rise of the Sierra Nevada Vary; mountains that appeared to blow up up from the desert flooring into the pale blue skies. It wasn’t the situation that had me curious nevertheless, it was the event. Each skier for the previous twenty years has heard tales and seen footage from the legendary occasion generally known as SuperUnknown. However to view it digitally from afar and to be thrown into the motion could be, I used to be sure, two very totally different experiences.
Began in 2003 by Stage 1 Productions, SuperUnknown was initially a video expertise search competitors calling upon the most effective freeskiers on the planet to place collectively a section and share it in hopes of being topped SuperUnknown Champion. Ship in your video, get chosen, jumpstart your profession; that was the concept. This course of acquired the ball rolling, and we noticed legends like Tom Wallisch, Niklas Eriksson, and Lucas Stål Madison earn their hold on this early format. It supplied a never-before-seen stage of publicity for younger riders within the early phases of the digital world. Round ten years in the past, Josh Berman and crew made the decision to make SuperUnknown an in-person occasion. They invited the finalists to come back collectively and ski, and have since hosted them (because of the generosity of the resorts) at iconic locations like Solar Valley, Winter Park, Mount Snow and extra. As the recognition of the occasion and the game progressed, a feminine finalist roster was added in 2019 to the freeski group’s pleasure. And for the primary time final 12 months, choose professional riders have been invited to affix the occasion alongside the Finalists, turning SuperUnknown into much more of a correct cultural ensemble.
This spring, SuperUnknown 21 returned for an additional 12 months at Mammoth Mountain, California, and FREESKIER was given the privilege of attending the occasion. That is our account of six days alongside one of many biggest gatherings within the vast world of snowboarding, from first chair to the ultimate ice chilly Dale’s. Whether or not it’s the tradition or the camaraderie, Stage 1 SuperUnknown is what’s proper with snowboarding.
For a lot of of the 16 Finalists, the week started in Reno, Nevada. The airport foyer was brimming with ski luggage and Arsenic attire, and maybe extra slot machines than people. Arriving at a “competitors,” you would possibly count on tense hostility between these opponents. Nevertheless, that might not be farther from the reality. Whereas there have been bragging rights, media publicity, and $2,500 on the road, the Finalists all shared the identical pleasure and pleasant demeanor. Exchanging names, we stuffed out from the airport into the nice and cozy Nevada sunshine and loaded ski luggage and duffles right into a crimson & white mini bus freshly branded with a Stage 1 decal. Just lately bought from a Texas church group and pushed west from Denver, it was our chariot to the promised land.
The workforce settled into the Mammoth Mountain Inn after a 3 hour drive, climbing from the desert into the California peaks. This was to be the bottom of operations for everybody, together with the invited professionals, who tallied almost 45 in complete. With the faces that rolled in all through the night, you possibly can recreate half of the best segments from the final decade. Joss Christensen, Parker White, Keegan Kibride, Beau-James and Jackson Wells, Taylor Lunquist, Forester Meeks, Mac Forehand, Skye Clarke, Kuura Koivisto, and the listing goes on and on. (Click on right here for the total line up of professional riders.)
By morning, the forged for the week was almost assembled. Because the the snow started to thaw within the mid morning heat, Stage 1’s Conor Smith and Josh Berman gave just a few remarks on the opening assembly, setting the tone for the week to come back. Expressing gratitude to all who got here, they made it clear that SuperUnknown solely occurs due to the unbelievable group surrounding it. As all 60+ riders stood on the balcony, various in age and a few arriving from midway world wide, that message was completely illustrated. From close to and much, this group of skiers had assembled for one thing particular.
For many who don’t know, Mammoth Mountain’s terrain parks, generally known as Mammoth Unbound, are a number of the greatest on the planet. To experience a non-public park constructed by this group of shapers is nothing in need of an prodigious event. Mammoth graciously donated the whole thing of South Park to Stage 1 for the week and crafted a horde of distinctive options. On day one, we rolled via with jaws on the ground gazing on the grand creations the Unbound workforce had ready. A number of skiers famous that the options have been, total, a lot bigger than final 12 months. A full walkthrough of the park revealed a number of standout options, such because the intimidating S to C Rail, quad kink rail, 80 foot problem rail, the notorious wrecking ball, a “shark fin” soar, and an aesthetic hip function close to the underside which grew to become a straightforward favourite. See Parker White’s backflip mute seize off the hip, as captured by Eric Hoffman, within the Photograph Gallery beneath.
By the early afternoon riders have been dialing of their strains. Maybe essentially the most mesmerizing half about watching the most effective skiers on earth turn out to be intimidated was then watching them battle and over come their fears. It’s one thing that we glaze over too usually in snowboarding; the truth that even the most effective of the most effective get scared. And for those who’re doing it proper, you’re getting scared very often. In spite of everything, how else can one get higher?
Observing this progress up shut and private was a mesmerizing expertise. As Stage 1’s Conner Frank identified, standing on the soar knuckles right here by no means will get outdated. The crisp sound of the takeoff, the whirlwind of two skis spinning via the air, and the agency stomp on the touchdown. A cork 9 by no means appeared so good. Maybe the entire thing was made even higher by the great climate. Whereas Mammoth will be recognized to have harsh winds, we have been fortunate sufficient to take pleasure in six days of sunshine and blue skies.
Every day had its variations, from trick selection to the video games of SLVSH, (hold a watch out for these) however there have been actually loads of similarities. Riders would arrive round 11:30 AM after the nightly freeze had been thawed. Everybody was allowed to ski at their pleasure, and every Finalist was assigned a filmer on totally different days. This gave every one an opportunity to stack clips for the Finalist compilation video on the finish of the week, which all riders would watch earlier than voting on their decide for the SuperUnknown 21 champions. The devoted crew of videographers went above and past day in and day trip. Conveying the emotion and feeling that comes with the snowboarding is not any small process. Andrew Mildenberger, Ian Avery-Leaf, Gavin Rudy, Ty Urlich, Espen Thomassen, Freedle Coty, Josh Berman, Tristan Steen, Jake Strassman, Laura Obermeyer, and Jack Benziger put in numerous hours to assist convey SuperUnknown to the lots.
After all, no Stage 1 occasion could be full with out a sundown session. Sunday, April twenty first served as the perfect climate window. After a full day in South Park, the riders have been handled to a night shred in Mammoth Mountain’s Principal Park from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. With the distinctive shadow of the Minaret Mountains as our backdrop, the solar started to dip beneath the western horizon. Phrases hardly do that spectacle justice, so I encourage you to take a look on the full picture gallery from the night. Driving excessive off of the golden hour sends, the crew ready for the ultimate two days of using.
It grew to become evident that the vote was going to be as shut as ever for this years SuperUnknown champion. Along with the profitable riders, Keagan Supple, Mathias Høgås, Evelyn Mule and Liv Cull have been 4 finalists that repeatedly stood out. As everybody gathered on the balcony of the Mammoth Mountain Inn, the ultimate night award ceremony commenced. Parker White took residence the OG Award and Jed Water was dubbed Professional Rider of the Week by his friends. After the votes have been counted, it was Japan’s Shiori Takahashi and New Zealand’s Felix Klein who took residence the finalist titles from SuperUnknown 21. Klein was as composed as might be all through the week, snowboarding with a poise that’s arduous to come back by, even in seasoned professionals. For Takahashi, it was her consistency and tangible model that gained the day. Each of those riders discovered a option to carry their very own creativity into this large park, which is much from straightforward to do. There was maybe no higher scene from the week than Takahashi being dropped at tears because the award was introduced.
“I like snowboarding. There have been so many cool-style skiers, skiers I admired, and with the ability to experience with them had a big impact on my future snowboarding life. I had a lot enjoyable! Successful there made me need to ski much more! Thanks a lot, Stage 1.” – Shiori Takahashi
“Arriving at a park this massive was scary. Everybody was a bit of nervous the primary two or so days. Over the week it was so sick to observe everybody achieve confidence and provide you with new strains to swimsuit their model. Large thanks to Josh, Connor and the Stage 1 crew for giving myself and everybody this chance. Occasions like this present how sturdy everybody’s love for snowboarding and the ski group is. Shout out growth membership!” – Felix Klein
Click on right here for extra on the SuperUnknown 21 Awards.
Whereas competitions just like the World Cup circuit, the X Video games, and others serve a worthwhile objective throughout the world of snowboarding, it’s occasions like SuperUnknown that present a beating coronary heart. In bringing collectively the those who cherish and worth this tradition greater than something, Josh Berman and the Stage 1 workforce have discovered a option to proceed to mix freeskiing throughout age gaps, distances and even time. By doing so, they actively strengthen the tradition and permit it to develop. What started as a option to give younger riders a platform and an avenue to attach with others has culminated a novel group that you simply’d be arduous pressed to search out any substitute for world wide. Merely put, this many glad, passionate individuals in a single place is uncommon, and the extra methods we are able to discover to foster it, the higher.
The reality is, at SuperUnknown snowboarding is perhaps the main target, however it’s hardly the tip aim. Our fearless leaders at Stage 1, Conor Smith, Tom Crandall, Conner Frank, and naturally, Josh Berman, reminded everybody of this repeatedly. They usually couldn’t have been extra spot on. SuperUnknown is in regards to the individuals past the rest. The fervour and camaraderie stem from a deep love for all times that’s all however contagious in the very best method. Thanks to Mammoth Mountain for the unparalleled hospitality, thanks to all of the riders for coming collectively and snowboarding your hearts out, and thanks to Stage 1 for persevering with to not solely doc, but in addition progress freeskiing into the long run. In each sense, SuperUnknown is what’s proper with snowboarding.
Have a look beneath on the immersive SuperUnknown Photograph Gallery, made doable because of the unbelievable photographers.
Hold a watch out this Fall, as FREESKIER will probably be that includes SuperUnknown 21 in our November print situation.
Immense thanks to all of the gifted photographers that captured SuperUnknown 21
