We’re loving seeing riders getting out and making the most of their backyards over the past two winters due to global pandemics and what not. It’s fresh, it’s attainable and if there’s one things Austen’s new film Quiksilver makes us want to do is book a one way trip to the Pacific Northwest and setup camp for the entire winter.
For Austen Sweetin, the harsh and unpredictable environment of winter in Washington has been formative to his riding. Fluctuating temperatures. Dense and heavy snow. Socked-in days and nights with rainy forecasts that turn into sneaky mornings with two feet of fresh. For over a decade, he has spent his winters on the road, snowboarding in incredible locales, but missing out on opportunities back in the Cascade Range.
“The Northwest corner of the United States is a unique place to say the least,” says Austen. “But no matter where I travel, I find myself craving the harsh climates of the place I call home. There is something special about something that isn’t easy, maybe it’s the consistent fight to score all-time conditions because they are far and few between or maybe it’s the challenge of navigating through our weather patterns and absurd temperature fluctuations all winter long.”
This past year, Austen Sweetin found the upside to lockdown: a full season at home riding in Washington. Persistence, patience, and a willingness to ride out the atmospheric river weather patterns provided Sweetin with the opportunity to finally step to iconic PNW terrain that he has been eyeing up for his entire life.
Austen shared some words on the latest film:
In the 12 years that I have been fortunate enough to spend my winters traveling the world to chase winter storms this was the first year I was able to stay home and ride a full winter of storm cycles at my home in Washington. The Northwest corner of the United States is a unique place to say the least but no matter where I travel I find my self craving the harsh climates of the place I call home.
There is something special about something that isn’t easy, maybe it’s the consistent fight to score all time conditions because they are far and few between or maybe its the challenge of navigating through our weather patterns and absurd temperature fluctuations all winter long. It’s the days that it is 36 degrees and snowing that you are patiently waiting for the temps to drop and the snow to lighten and the the sneaky mornings where it was forecasted to rain but its 2 feet of fresh. It’s the challenge of managing these weather patterns and the reward of when it pays off.
This 20/21 season with travel being shut down I took the time to stay home and ride out the atmospheric river weather patterns. Wind Slab is the result of my season at home. This short film is filled with our best shots that were filmed over the course of a few days while filming for the Boardslide Worldwide series. Being home allowed me to hit many of the iconic features that I have looked at and wanted to hit my whole life but haven’t been around in the right conditions to do so. I hope this film gets you fired up for winter and to go boarding but that it also inspires you to explore the areas you live as there are always sneaky little gems to be found. Until next time, Stay fast.
We caught up with Austen back in May just after he finished filming for this latest piece – we talked all things Boardslide Worldwide, filming with Sean Lucey, his season and more. Check it out below.
