Could there be anything better than Selkirk Wilderness Skiing (SWS) and Sherpas Cinema teaming up to produce a cutting short promo film? Following on their massive success of the full length feature film “All I Can”, Sherpas Cinema has been retained by SWS, the original snowcat operation in the world, to create a short film to help promote SWS to the global ski and snowboard community.

“We are so excited to be working with Sherpas Cinema on this project,” said Irene Brinkman, General Manager of Selkirk Wilderness Skiing. “I could not believe it when they responded to our call for proposals and how excited they are to work with us! We can’t wait to see what they come up with especially after seeing what they have done with the film All I Can which is so amazing.”

The upcoming film, written and directed by Dave Mossop and Eric Crosland, will be shot this winter (2012) at SWS and will star surprise ski and snowboard athletes as well as the ever impressive SWS Guiding Team lead by Jason Remple. Without giving too much away, the film will focus on what makes SWS truly one of the best snowcat operations in the world including some awe inspiring powder footage and also finds the heart of why guests keep coming back year after year. The project is scheduled for a July 2012 release.

“The idyllic setting and rich history of SWS sets the perfect stage to tell a compelling story about the originators of Cat Skiing in Canada”, says Sherpas Producer Malcolm Sangster. “They started a movement, sub-culture, and on-going industry here and we want to tell that story and show why SWS is still at the top.”
 
Since 1975, Selkirk Wilderness Skiing has been known as the original snowcat operation. During the years since then, and with only 24 skiers per week, they have developed a loyal following as one of the finest experiences that a seasoned skier or snowboarder could hope to enjoy, and also the perfect place to try deep powder for the first time. Situated in the southeastern corner of British Columbia, about 90 minutes from Nelson, visitors to SWS can experience over 70,000 vertical feet of untracked bliss. The network of snowcat roads provides skiing within an area of 30 square miles (the size of Vail and Whistler combined) with runs up to 4000 vertical feet.

For more information please visit: www.selkirkwilderness.com

If you haven't checked out After Dark by Level 1 Productions yet, this little teaser should be just enough to get you to head on over to itunes and download it. Level 1 has been releasing webisodes lately to promote the film called Extra Dark. They go a bit 'deeper' into the footage that they caught from last season's epic La Nina spell.

In this Exrta Dark #8 BC native fxq7gh Bibby and crew head out to Monashee Powder Cats and Valhalla Powder Catskiing in search of some deep pillow lines. Judging by the above video, they found what they were looking for...in the words of fxq7gh, "this is some of the deepest snow I have skied."

Enjoy the video and definitely check out After Dark. It is a quality production with some obviously awesome footage.

For the full story from Level 1, Click here...

Circa Hiberna is a new webisode project from Matchstick Productions. They promise new videos on a 'Regular Basis'. Now we are going to be scouring the web weekly searching for our next ski flick fix. Thanks MSP...

Here is the cool thing: to kick off the new project and to show how incredible last season's La Nina was, MSP decided to lead with footage from two of BC's Catskiing Operators: Chatter Creek and Selkirk Wilderness Skiing. Now that's sayin' something!

Enjoy.

Kate Eidger is this year's lucky recipient of the 2012 Powder Highway Contest. As you can see by the video above, this girl eats, sleeps and breathes powder! We can only imagine that 3 months of shredding BC's best powder at some amazing resorts, Catskiing operations and Heli skiing operations will take her further down the rabbit hole of powder obsession. We approve...Congrats Kate!

To follow Kate's exploits on the Powder Highway, join the PH Facebook page...

Oh, by the way, Kate is also a photographer so we are expecting some killer shots this season. Have a look at her work here: http://velvetleafphoto.carbonmade.com/

True story: we have a good friend named Andrew who lives in Vancouver and entered the Ski Canada 40th Anniversary Sweepstakes Contest. When word went out on Facebook a few months back that a certain Andrew from Vancouver was the winner, we were convinced it was him. We couldn't confirm the last name so we naturally assumed it was our Andrew. I mean, how many Andrews can there be in Vancouver? We were going to research this to really show that we are hot journalists but were distracted by ski videos on Youtube...

As it turns out, it wasn't our Andrew, but another lucky guy. Here is what he had to say about his trip to Mustang Powder courtesy of Ski Canada Magazine:

"Subscribing to Ski Canada this year was one of the best decisions I've made in a long time - winning 2 days of cat skiing at Mustang Powder absolutely confirms that!

I'd never been cat skiing before - though it had been on my wish list for years - and I was a little skeptical about the snow conditions as I drove from Vancouver to Mustang's pick-up spot between Sicamous and Revelstoke.  Although the website said they had 6 feet of snow at the lodge, the roads and countryside were snow-free as I drove up, and I expected that the conditions had been exaggerated.  I was wrong.

Saying that my two days at Mustang were the best early season skiing I've ever had doesn't do them justice.  They were among the best powder days I've ever had.  Period.  Mustang runs a very smooth operation - staff are very personable and professional throughout, the food is terrific, the lodge is very comfortable, and most importantly, their guides are there to find you as much great skiing as possible.  No run farming.

I'm very impressed with Mustang's operation, and can't wait to try to come back with friends in the future."

It was great meeting you Andrew. Now we have two friends named Andrew!

Try out your luck in a Ski Canada Contest here >>>

Our first trip of the season is now over and we are back to the harsh realities of the real world. But the images from our past two days at Mustang Powder are still burned into our minds. It doesn't help that Geoff, our photographer, filled an entire memory card on his camera this trip. Everytime I take a break from work I find myself starring at shot, after shot, after shot...

The photos in question chronicle our two day trip from December 5th to December 6th. They tell a story of epic early season snow that blanketed the nothern Monashee range. Mustang is always the first operation open each season and this year guests were treated to a base that was just shy of 2 metres (over 6 feet!) at the lodge. Who knows how deep it was around the terrain we were skiing, but we can tell you this: there is a lot of snow up there.

These shots also tell the story of the terrain that can be found up at Mustang Powder. We were guided around to everything from open bowls, evenly spaced trees, pillow lines, rocks, drops, chutes... you name it, we skied it. 

We want to thank Nick, Ali and Jess for making this trip happen and to Bruno, Heidi, Zoe, Steve, Jack and Larry for guiding us to some incredible terrain and keeping us safe. Mustand Powder is a top notch operation and we will have many stories posting over the next few weeks about our experiences on this season's trip.In the meantime, enjoy the photos below:

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Today was day one for us at Mustang Powder and it was like an early Christmas present. 'Saint' Nick has his crew finely tuned and ready for the season. They have tonnes of cat roads already in serving an early abundance of untouched Monashee powder. Seriously, the snow here is deep considering it is only December 5th. 

The groups are stoked, the guides are fantastic and really know there terrain, and the beer at the lodge is excellent. Tonight, we are being treated to a wine presentation by Patrick Maloney from Snowwater which is sure to be a treat as well. 

Here are a few shots from today. If these don't tempt you to pick up the phone and call Mustang, check your pulse and see your doctor right away. More to come tomorrow...

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What do you do if the person on your Christmas list has all the gear they could possibly need? Get them catskiing of course! For the 2011/12 season Selkirk Wilderness Skiing has added a few new packages to its mix to provide guests with added flexibility. SWS was the legendary birthplace of catskiing in 1975, and they got it right with an amazing mix of terrain, lodge atmosphere, and friendly staff. You arrive a guest, and you leave as part of the Selkirk family. Check out the photos and video of our 2011 trip to Selkirk Wilderness Skiing.

Click here to view the new line?up of packages and theme weeks.

The winter tires are on the truck, the new OR Gear is stuffed in our bags, our skis are mounted and waxed...we are prep'd and ready for Catskiing season to start. Our first trip of the season begins today at Mustang Powder. They have been hit with some amazing early season Monashee powder and we are eager to get out and test it for ourselves.

Here is what Nick from Mustang sent us this morning just to get the stoke going a little more:

Conditions have really shaped up here at Mustang Powder.  We have recently completed our staff training and the ACMG mechanized skiing course is coming to an end.  We are looking forward to a great  early season of  powder skiing.  We are already at an average of 200cms at treeline which is above average and every skier has been coming back to the lodge with huge grins. This last storm has left us with 50cms of dry powder.  Temperatures have been hovering around -2 to -7, perfect for great snow conditions and comfortable skiing.    For early season powder skiing you  Gotta love the Monashees!!!

Oh yeah! Stay tuned for a full report later in the week. For now, enjoy these few pics from the crew at Mustang:

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