The Balance Interview with DCP

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Why make a movie with snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing? What was the driving force behind this project?

I wanted to make a different style of movie. Since I‘ve been filming video parts for 15 years or so using the same format: gather as much sick footage as you can, choose a song and add it to the roster to make one sick action-packed snowboard film. I wanted to do something different then that, a passion project. I’m very passionate about snowboarding, surfing and skateboarding and so I wanted to include those three sports. They shape my lifestyle. I also wanted to involve friends and people I look up to, as well as run an experiment. I wanted to know if snowboarders, skateboarders and surfers all feel what I feel when I snowboard. I wanted to know how they balance their life and need to be in the moment through those sports and what ultimately makes them happy. So the film touches on all this. It’s a movie about our life. Our, meaning “us” - all the passionate people making all the sacrifices necessary to stand sideways and have fun with nature’s force.

Let's discuss the title for a second for those who maybe did not see the teaser or video yet. Why Balance? Is there an underlying ideology involving balance?

Yeah. Basically we live in an age where people have more of everything - more technology, jobs, babies, day-to-day stress and so on. Then there are the people who’ve made sacrifices and changed their whole life in order to live at the mountain, or at the beach, to get one more slash, one more wave. We ran a study on how people balance their everyday stress and obligations with as much time standing sideways as possible.

How do you find balance in a world out of joint?

I feel lucky to have found activities like skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding that give me that “in the moment “ feeling, the act of flow. If I can do that as much as possible, or even for an hour every day, and work the rest of the day and spend time with my family, then I will have the perfect balance. It’s definitely not an easy task, but you have to keep working at it.

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Finding purpose in an increasingly cluttered world, DCP unfolds a method in Obersaxen.

What’s the worst or most humbling thing job you’ve had or sacrifice you’ve had to make to achieve this equilibrium?

I have been very fortunate to have the support of sponsors even at a younger age as I was coming up and competing. But I would say it was when I worked at KFC in Whistler during the summer so that I could ride the glacier. It was just gross, let’s just put it that way. I never ate at KFC ever again after that.

Ever question what you are doing?

This is actually the reason why this project came to life. There are unfortunate events that happen in life and two years ago, on April 20th, I lost one of my best friends, my brother-in-law, in an avalanche in Colorado. That threw me for a serious loop. And that’s not to mention that my wife and mother of our two children was going through chemotherapy so it took a while before I was interested in snowboarding again. I was done. I couldn’t expose myself to the risk, for my kids, my wife, and my family. But then, after a summer of surfing and thinking about it all, I was missing snowboarding and I realized how much I loved it. So I decided to make this film, and make it different, with a deeper purpose then the typical projects I have been involved in for years. (Although, I am honored to have been a part of those projects and I’m most grateful for the opportunity). The purpose was to find my way after all this; to express the roots of our connection and passion for these sports, to inspire people and validate why they have chosen the lifestyle they did. I do it because I truly love and enjoy doing it.

The first line in the teaser is, "What makes you happy?" Well sir, right back at ya. What makes you happy?

My family, their smiles, their shiny eyes and seeing them having fun and feeling the flow. My wife, her smile and her love. Surfing, snowboarding and skateboarding are on the top of the list of things I love doing with them and other friends. Adventuring and riding a new spot or a new wave gets me excited and that makes me happy as well.

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© Jussi Grznar

Are you happy now?

YES. I’m happy, but this project and especially the film tour have been quite stressful and ended up being a lot more then I anticipated. Although I‘m definitely grateful for the experience and all that I‘ve learned, I’m looking forward to a more mellow year coming up as far as planning and traveling.

Very glad to hear it. On a lighter note, did you score more centimeters of pow or drink more centiliters of beer?

I’d say pow for sure over any other substance. This fall however, with the 25 tour stops that I attended and hosted, I’ve had a few beers too many. I ‘ll take this opportunity to thank everyone who made this tour happen, especially my family who supported me through a lot of traveling.

How’d the ocean treat ya?

I love to surf, it s so much fun. It’s constantly new and the feedback you receive from the wave is so fast. You always learn and get better. But for me, it’s also very meditative. It’s time alone that helps me connect with nature and myself.

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© Jussi Grznar

Raph Bruhwiler lining up a heavy Noothka Island tube.

Where were the surf parts filmed?

We filmed one section in Costa Rica, mostly in Pavones, this long left wave right on the Panama borer. We also filmed as Playa Hermosa de Jaco. The other part, in the wet suits, was filmed on Vancouver Island with an adventure to Noothka Island, some nautical hours north of Tofino. We almost pulled the plug on the Noothka trip because the forecast said the winds were wrong. We went anyway and the wind switched for us and we ended up with all those sick barrels.

Who scored the most tubes out of all the snowboarders?

(Laughs) We didn’t get the chance to film a lot of surfing with the snowboarders, but Sepp Bruhwiler is a good snowboarder and came to Baldface Lodge and Whistler to ride. He got the most tubes.

How did you guys up end snowmobiling naked?

Well, we camped in Russia and there happened to be one building on the beach and it was a Bagna (Russian Sauna) so we cranked it up. The ocean was very close and we wanted to jump in the cold water so we jumped on the snowmobiles and drove to the ocean.

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© Jussi Grznar

Why are Americans, Brits and Aussies so weird about being naked? An English language connection?

I don’t know. Maybe it’s how they are raised, with self-conscious thoughts and the societal standards or guidelines. I don’t know.

The snow looked a little dicey in Russia? Was it better than it looked?

The snow in Russia was bad. We were there too late. It was either hot pow or super icy. But, we went with what we found. We had a good time and we tried to score waves. Like JP says in the film, you don t always get it and that part of the adventure and part of life. You can’t always get what you want, but when you do, it’s very rewarding!

Do you have any tips or pointers for the novice snow campers out there?

I would say pack light, but pack warm clothes and bring dry socks, two extra pairs if you can. Pack a headlamp and extra batteries, as well. It’s good to build a little wall of snow blocks to protect your tent from the incoming wind. Also, bring earplugs for sure. If your roommate is snoring or the wind is too loud, you want to be able to get your rest so you can hike and ride sick shit!

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© Paul Watt

Back 180 melon poke from one of many living legends in this film. Terje in Obersaxen.

Worst and best parts of snow camping?

Worst: Your boots are frozen in the morning.

Best: You wake up in the heart of the mountain and you feel so small and can ride so much quicker.

You linked up with some pretty legendary skateboarders. How did you connect with those guys?

I would have to say Globe really helped me with this one. Romain (De Marchi), JP (Solberg) and I all ride for Globe and we do a collab après boot with them. I met Louie (Barletta) at the Zumiez 100K event and briefly discussed the idea with him. Then Steve Black from Globe helped me line up Mark (Appleyard) and Paul (Hart) and align schedules. It was sweet! I was honored to skate with them and share Costa Rica with them. They are great humans!

Were the surfers and skaters pretty psyched on the video and concept?

They were, actually, and it kind of came naturally. We had great trips and adventures. They did their thing and then at the end of the trip they were each interviewed, so we had time to get to know each other, and they got to learn the idea behind the concept and feel part of it, as we are all part of the concept. BALANCE is for anyone.

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© Jussi Grznar

RDM ramping up the km/h.

 

Did surrounding yourself with other legendary rippers (snow and skate) change your approach to riding at all. This movie roster reads like a shredder’s Hall of Fame induction list.

I was just very happy that they accepted my invitation. We had great times together. Some of those guys were idols of mine growing up. Some I ended up meeting years ago and developed good friendships with them, and some became new friends. I feel like they are a perfect group of people to tell the story I was going for. A lot of us have families and have been doing this for a long time and the rest are up-and-comers, new-school rippers, so I feel like we add an amazing group of friends. I’d like to thank all of them very, very much, because this project wouldn’t have been possible without them all.

These lines you guys charged at Eagle Pass are some completely other shit. Have you been scoping them for a while? Bet a lot of kids were looking at it like, “Nah, you can't ride this.”

Those lines were fun and were sort of within sight. We didn’t scope those before the shoot, but came upon them and figured let’s take the doors off and film those lines. They look good and fun! And the snow was so good for that kind of stuff. The couloirs were picked and filmed because of the contrast of the walls on each side on a day that had a bit more flat light. The Eagle Pass guides are really knowledgeable and can take you to whatever terrain you are looking for. The Eagle Pass area is huge and very diverse.

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JP Solberg's a YES man. No keepin' this guy away from good time. 

How will the video be available to the public?

It will be in some shops through KidsKNOW distribution on DVD and Blu-ray. Also, it’s available on www.thebalancemovie.com and through iTunes or Vimeo On Demand, depending on which country you are in. Thank you all so much for the support.

Any parting words?

Enjoy winter and find your happiness. A lot of things are overrated in life. Love is where it’s at.