Ski Movie Review of WEIGHT

There is always high anticipation for what Stept Productions will put out each Fall for a new ski/board movie.  Nick Martini and the Stept crew have a long reputation of creating awesome, urban-focused ski films and this year’s new release WEIGHT is definitely one of their best. 

I like what one of the kids from the projects says about the urban trickery he is watching, “I’m not much of a freeskier type of guy but it’s not bad.  I dig it.”  He and a lot of other city kids are obviously stoked on what they’re seeing get thrown down in their hood.  Urban skiing is an aspect of the sport that possesses a passion right up there with the biggest of big mountain rippers, both having the same all-or-nothing attitude.  WEIGHT displays that urban passion in a very cool way, in a very cool ski film.    

Some ski purists may argue if this should even be called a ski movie considering more time is spent sliding on un-skier friendly surfaces like dumpsters, walls, metal railings, and cement ledges.  There might be a little too much ‘thug’ style for some to accept but I think it looks wicked ill and really fits the feel of the city environment. 

Not to worry…aside from the hardcore urban skiing (and boarding) WEIGHT also features skiing in more typical ski settings with pretty good sized hucking going off in the side/backountry and a few cool shots of multistage pillows drops.  You will also see a good amount of hefty park jumping along with some technical jump/jib-type features.  Tons of new school steeze. 

This movie showcases some heavyWEIGHT hitters like Clayton Vila, Sean Jordon, Cam Rily, Shea Flynn, and of course Nick Martini.  Nick knows how to get it done on either side of the camera.  His passion totally comes through in the editing process AND when he’s killing it in front of the camera during his segment.

Cam Riley has a funny meltdown after one-too-many failed attempts and proceeds to punish himself as much as his skis in order to put him in the right frame of mind to finally nail his massive segment-opening down-flat-down rail.  Cam’s 15’ drop to cement ledge is stupid, sick.  

Shea Flynn has been known to have minor meltdowns as well, and violently whack his pole into his helmet when things don’t result in success. (also quite funny)  Those head-whacking days are a thing of the past and Shea’s success rate is obviously on a good streak right now with him taking honorary First Segment in the movie, which he is more than deserved of.  Shea is becoming a legend as an East Coast urban destroyer and his segment justifies that even more.

Clayton Vila and Sean Jordon both have amazing segments and I feel either one of them could’ve gotten that coveted Final Segment slot (always a prestigious claim in a major ski film), but the nod went to the guy on the cover of the DVD, Clayton with that tail tap OVER the light pole.  Must be seen.  Uber style coming out of this guy in the city and in the air.  Clayton’s got a great hair flip in the beginning, too.  (Good Paul Mitchell candidate.) 

That uber style also oozes out of Sean Jordan.  He has some of the smoothest jumping style with fully tweaked out grabs, big effortless spins, and signature Jordan stomps.  Sean’s urban game is full of that same fluid steeze sliding down technical, big rails with lots of speed… especially his last rail.  And not to forget, that green jacket / red pant combo is pretty rad.

There is a crash segment in WEIGHT that shows the painful reality of commitment gone wrong when tricks don’t go exactly as planned.  Pretty intense crashes that are very cringe-worthy.  Even though this a low point (stoke-level wise) in the movie, it is still a solid segment which transitions into a triumphant montage of tricks going exactly as planned, making all of those cringe-worthy slams feel like they never happened…until the next day…and when they age into their 30s.

I’m totally leaving out a few other skiers (and boarders) but the bottom line is the movie is so well-edited and produced.  The soundtrack continues to grow on me as each song strongly compliments the action taking place.  The music really adds feeling to what you are watching, even when a song is on the slow side.  (I’m looking forward to cruising down the hill to a few of those slower songs this winter!) 

I like WEIGHT a lot and can easily say it gets better every time I watch it, likely staying in heavy viewing rotation throughout this winter and in the future.