Date: 03/10/04
By: Jon
Jon: So Ben, new movie...tell us more
Ben: If your gonna talk about the new movie, you've gotta talk to every skiboarder who's in it, and everyone who helped put it together. The biggest thing I want to emphasize about the dwarf is that its such a collective effort and everyone put it down in the clutch situations to make it happen. Editing is done, authoring has begun, and the orders are comin in quick... I’m stoked (note- pro model shit as well)
Jon: Nice, So who are we expecting to see tearing it up in the new movie?
Ben: Usual suspects dude, Lyons, Lynam, Stewart. I’m so proud of the flurry of youngsters who are taking this sport to the next level. Except standout parts from Ethan Mitchell, Bailey Mitchell and the whole East Coast Canada contingent
Jon: Does this film focus more on one type of riding more than the others or is it pretty even?
Ben: Oh dude, there's no question... it’s all about jibbing. Just wait till you see the stuff people are putting down... its just foreshadowing what's to come
Jon: very nice, how about lifestyle sort of stuff? Keeping up with all the goofiness riders are doing out and about?
Ben: hahahhah Kevin?!?!?! Kevin? uhhhh Kevin...? Oh sorry I can’t get a hold of him, he's to busy focusing
Jon: Haha, so how about you, how has your summer and your skating been?
Ben: Dude skating. I'm working at Concretewavemagazine.com and it's put me in such a skate mood. I’m working at a skate shop just gripping boards all day and getting kids stoked... it's a great lifestyle. Just the whole focus on style in skating is exactly what I’m looking for; guys like tom penny, Alex Chalmers, Karl Watson and Rick marking. Skiboarding hasn’t quite seen the diversity of styles that skating has yet, but it's on it's way. I can’t wait to see how many kids come out of the woodwork this season. As for the rest of the summer though, I spent a bunch of time in the states working with Paul Recalde on the dwarf, surfing with Lynam and just staying stoked and creative.
Jon: Nice, I am actually a skateboarder myself But a lot of people are inliners, does skateboarding help you skiboard in anyway? How do you think it helps you out in the winter sports arena?
Ben: It's all about flow and style, in every alternative sport, the main focus, to me, is flow and style, and skating is 100% style. Keeping a low center of balance and doing stuff that isn’t necessarily the most technical but is innovative, progressive and fun to look at will get the same response as something that is super technical. Like for example, I’d give the same amount of respect who did a stylish lipslide or a lofty 180 over a handrail as I would someone who did a cork 7 tail in a park, you know? As skiboarders I think we need to re-evaluate where were supposed to be. Look at the urban landscape and turn it into a canvas. Skateboarders are the masters of that, you know making something out of nothing, and that’s the connection I want to make between the 2 sports
Jon: I agree, so what’s up with college these days, and you said something about a magazine to me?
Ben: Yea dude, I left college with a journalism degree under my belt this march. The college I go to has an 'alumni' magazine. It's a quarterly magazine that tracks graduates of the college and university to show what they’re doing with their time now that they’re done. Well they approached me to do a profile on what I’m up to now, you know the whole story about the bentfilms/skiboarding thing. Of course I agreed and it turns out there giving me the cover! Even though it’s just a southern Ontario based magazine, I think it's a nice step for skiboarding in general. People are looking at what I'm doing and the struggle that skiboardings going through and they are giving it some recognition. I'm stoked on it.
That’s a nice little kick that the sport really needs on any scale, I can personally say that we all appreciate it.
Jon: So it's off to Mt. Hood shortly, what’s to expect from that whole trip? Are we gonna see some new footage from the trip in the seasons to come?
Ben: I don't know if it's quite my place to say. But there will be a video next season. There's some real wheels turning in the skiboard industry, and it's not from me, but there will be a compilation next year. This trip is basically a Mix Industries trip. As a lot of you know, me and Lynam are fortunate enough to be involved with Mix, and this trip is to make sure that every board is EXACTLY how we want them. We don't want to con people into picking up our product, we want to make sure that the setup of our respective boards are suited 100% to our riding style, and so far, Mix has went over the top to cater to our needs. HUGE shout out to Seth and the crew at Mix Industries. It's gonna be dope to finally get to hood as well, can't wait to see that mountain in person.
Jon: That sounds great. Now about those boards, How did you come about the graphics you have on your pro model?
Ben: Just remember the name Jay Hutton. This guy makes dreams come true. He has a bunch of designs around the net and whenever I saw them I just got so stoked you know? His style is like: Dr. Seuss meets Group of Seven, you know? We gave him an idea and the first thing that came out of the trial and error period of the graphic setup was it. The boards were perfect. The mountains are my home and that’s what I wanted on my decks. It’s perfect. Huge respects to Jay Hutton.
Jon: So how do you feel about Adam's pro model and the controversial 110cm length?
Ben: Controversy? Doesn't the term, controversial mean that someone has to oppose it? Hahaha Lynam's decks are progression. There built for taking you places you've never been before. With Mix the 2 pro models are so perfect for the consumer. Where my board is set for the urban riders who want to throw themselves onto handrails and ledges, ride into stuff switch and explore the world of butters and presses, Lynam's board is the Ying to my Yang, featuring a sidecut built more specifically for powder and less chatter when your getting up to higher speeds on the groomers and the big tables. I can't explain how stoked I am to see skiboarding achieving this kind of a setup without the help of Line or Salomon. A grassroots company is doing exactly what skiboarding needs; providing people with options for every kind of terrain.
Jon: Truly, so where do you see the next level of skiboarding evolution as far as riding goes?
Ben: The urban scene dude. It's where we belong. Let's just take the style we have in the park to the city.
Jon: So what are your plans for this season?
Ben: I'm heading out to whistler to ride some backcountry stuff, hopefully get my share of pillows and good lines. I’m trying to check out Mountain Creek and Jay peak as well. But other then that, I have so many ideas for the urban side of skiboarding dude. I feel like now’s the time to prove to everyone what were here for, and how far we've come. I will be filming a lot for the upcoming compilation, and I don't plan on shooting in any parks or at any resorts.
Jon: That sounds incredible, and I agree we are currently on the rebound right now, make it happen man. You have any words of inspiration or any final words for the readers of Skiboard Magazine?
Ben: Nah dude, it's not my place to inspire. Inspiration should come from getting out there yourself and making it happen. Creating that stoke for yourself and just do something positive and worthwhile. Aside from that I'd just like to thank everyone for there continual support of the whole bentfilms movement, it's been an incredible ride, and I can't wait to see how people react to the Dwarf. Big thanks to Paul Recalde, Alex B. and all the riders and bands who helped create and mold this film into what it is. HUGE thanks go to Seth from Mix and Tibor from Canon Skiboards, G-Wreck-WOAH! from SBOL, Lynam for being the strongest mauch chunk I know, and all the boys from Tip-2-Tip and Anubis. Keep it slow and low boys.
sbm
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