A few lucky jerks on the west coast are already riding (Colorado and Oregon even have open resorts), but for most people the season is yet to really get underway. So how can you pass the time until the snow starts falling and the lifts turn, while simultaneously upping your stoke for the season? Why not dig through the hard drive and put together your own season edit. You know you’ve got enough footage because the constantly rolling GoPro’s of last season let very few stunts go undocumented, so open up iMovie and make it happen. However, if you want it to hype up anyone besides you and your mom, follow these few simple rules.
Pick a good song. It can be tempting to go with something on trend (ghetto rap) or something really obscure so that everyone knows how cool you are, but the music will set the tone for your entire edit. Pick something that is fun to listen to. (I love Rebecca Black, and now you have it stuck in your head. Joke’s on you, sucka.)
Don’t repeat tricks. We’re all SUPER EXCITED that you can 270 out of park boxes, but you don’t need do show us that you can, in fact, do it out of every box in every park in your entire state. Pick the best version and call it good. (I can only do 50-50’s, so suck it.)
Mix it up. No one wants to watch a whole edit of park boxes, so throw in a pow turn, some jumps, urban shit, skate clips, whatever you have. Not only will it make things way more interesting, but it will show how well rounded you are. (Yeah, I totally took a trip to Vermont in between Ski Bowl laps and I skate!)
Production value counts… It SUCKS watching videos when you can’t see what’s going on because it’s so interlaced, dark, or otherwise pixilated — so learn how to export correctly. If at all possible, leave the shots your 12-year-old brother with Tourette’s shot on the cutting room floor. (Whatever, my friends are awesome at GoPro follow filming.)
…But don’t over do it. A few funny clips is cool, but if you’re editing your WHOLE video to a movie, Internet memes or Pokemon, it’s gonna get real old. Same goes for effects. Just because they’re there, doesn’t mean you have to use them. (Who am I kidding, I don’t even know what the effects do or how to use them.)
Keep it short. Jed Anderson can put together a two-song part. You can’t. (Admittedly, I just wanted to get to the part where the dude starts rapping. Sorry.)
Now that you know the secrets to making a mildly entertaining video that may get up to and including 25 views from your friends and family, get to it! If you’re actually good at snowboarding, maybe it will get you some free gear flowing, and if not, well, at least you’ll have something to show your kids when they accuse you of being “uncool” someday.
PS. Mine is a joke. Here’s one that’s slightly more serious from Carson Wiser in case you feel violated.
