Winter Mission number 2! We paired up two guys that are both highly successful in their own right within the snow industry. Taking the lens off the pro snowboarders for a second and shining some light on individuals that have made a career around snowboarding, just through other really cool, creative and interesting outlets.
Meet Marcus Skin, a filmer extraordinaire from Canberra, who has quickly climbed the ladder to the top, cementing himself as one of the most sought after filmers for snowboard projects today. He started out, hucking his body off jumps at Front Valley in Perisher whilst cutting hot laps with his dad cam in hand filming his homies. One thing led to the next and he is now travelling the world, with a completely booked out schedule filming riders such as Craig McMorris and Travis Rice plus covering some of the biggest events in the world including X-Games and the US Open. Marcus actually boasts a bronze X-Games medal for his real street project in collaboration with Craig McMorris which they filmed in 2019. Pretty incredible for someone who is sitting at the ripe age of 25.
Our other guest for the mission was Jindabyne local and iconic terrain park builder Charles Beckinsale. Charles similarly to Marcus calls Perisher’s Font Valley his stomping ground of sorts. Charles started out as a pro snowboarder rising the ranks, however due to a handful of heavy injuries, he tweaked his snowboarding path slightly with a focus towards building the best parks to not only progress snowboarding to the next level but also put Australia on the global map as one of the best places to ride and progress in the terrain park.
Charles was the key park builder that turned Perisher’s park offering to the best in the Southern Hemisphere and is now back there this season, keeping it strong whilst all other resorts have put a pause on their terrain parks due to COVID. Charles also a few years ago launched the Stomping Grounds over in Switzerland, which is specifically designed to cater the best riders in the world to progress and dial in their tricks before the start of the Northern Hemisphere season. On top of all this he has built some insane bespoke park setups for projects involving films, photo shoots, Olympic team training and more.
Perisher is the place to be to ride park, without a doubt. On a non-COVID year, the best of the best from all around the globe travel to ride the world class top to bottom Terrain Park that is Front Valley. On a good day, with killer conditions and the best riders from Australia and the world, it is a sight you will never forget – progression like no other.
The adventure for the day – spend it riding at both Marcus and Charles’ backyard, Perisher Resort and linking up with some of the best riders in Australia who happen to be Marcus’ old crew to check out them both in their element – filming and park building.
It’s been really sick to come back to where I grew up snowboarding and learnt to film snowboarding. It’s not often I get to link with the old crew but it’s always a fun one. Huge day – Marcus Skin
The day kicked off with pickups and coffee in Jindabyne. Charles had actually re-built and groomed the park early that morning, with only a few hours sleep. We had the inside word it was going to be on, so we shot it straight up to Perisher to get the day underway.
Once up at Perisher, we all realised that it was about to be one of those days – primo weather, new park, heavy hitting crew and good vibes aplenty. Nerves and silence hit for a moment as we all suddenly realised that we were about to dive into the deep end of some serious park laps – time to dust off the cobwebs and ride rails, always a bit intimidating to get back into. Fun nonetheless.
Front Valley is the hub of Aussie snowboarding. It’s where you ride to not only progress but to also be noticed and seen. It’s humming with boarders of all ages both male and female and it’s incredible to see the talent up there. Pro’s lapping with the groms, groms lapping with their siblings. Perisher offers a park for every level of riding, so there’s no real intimidation factor.
It was hot laps ahead as we linked up with Marcus’ film crew for a big day of riding, riders included – Josh Anderson, Soph Austin, Georgia Austin, Andy James, Jye Kearney, Matty Cox and more. The best thing about Front Valley is that there’s a T-bar that runs directly alongside it, so for those who slide steel and take flight, they never have to worry about linking a turn! If you’re hungry you can score around thirty-five to forty laps a day…progression session.
After about lap twenty, we hit up the ideal spot for lunch at the base of the terrain park. Kebabs all round, the staple diet of every snowboarder who has ever called Perisher their local resort.
After Kebabs were scoffed, it was time to get after it for a few more laps. The afternoon is when the fire starts to turn up, riders wanting to nail clips before the sun disappears for the day – if you’re feeling it, you want to get it before the day ends. Marcus did his thing with some of the best park riders in OZ as Charles watched in awe, gaining some arvo inspiration to have another crack himself.
Such a fun day getting flexed in the old stomping grounds with Marcus…still feeling it! – Charles Beckinsale
Clips were stacked and riders were beyond exhausted. It was time to make the journey back to Jindabyne. Not for Charles however, as we headed to the car park for a celebratory beer and boots off session, he was heading to his grooming cat to start work for the night. That’s commitment right there! Full day of non-stop riding followed by a full night of grooming Australia’s best park…hot damn.
Huge shout-out to our partners for making these winter missions possible! It’s a pretty crazy time right now to be supporting a travel series and it’s rad to see brands we love, support what we love. Thanks to Ford Australia for the wheels, Go Pro for all the cameras, YETI for all the gear, Tourism Australia for the get around knowledge and Pirate Life for the frothies to end the day in style.
Host: Richie Carroll
Guests: Marcus Skin & Charles Beckinsale
Filmer & Editor: Adam Kronert
