The title has the phrase A Higher Place in it. So initially, I think of a place where not everyone is going to, sort of a VIP. When I first started riding, because I met so many athletes, I often thought of how a lot of competitive skiers and riders stop competing so that they free ride in the backcountry. Many of us wonder why an athlete would give up competing, but there is a side to that equation that we do not see. We only see the effects of the hard work in something like the X Games. We do not see the injuries, the rehabilitations, the pain, the training that these athletes risk their lives doing so someone else can make billions of dollars.
The unfiltered saga of three Norwegian snowboarders: Terje Haakonsen, Torgeir Bergrem and Marcus Kleveland, pulling back the curtain and examining their purpose, potential, pitfalls and paychecks. Filmmaker and snowboarder Seth Huot exquisitely documents an intimate portrait of legendary purist Terje (44), holistic-minded Torgeir (26) and carefree wunderkind Marcus (18), who together realize a common higher place.
The backdrop is spectacular and the riding is enhanced because of that fact
The Word Cup ate up so much of your time that a lot of people, once you experience the joy and serenity of riding backcountry powder, not only does it change you, but it also improves the type of snow and the type of conditions that you want to ride. So it is only logical for great riders to get together with great filmmakers and crews live the lives that they truly want to live. I think that is what makes it easy to walk away from the competition money at a certain point. It is like the danger zone or eternal bliss.
The Word Cup ate up so much of your time that a lot of people, once you experience the joy and serenity of riding backcountry powder, not only does it change you, but it also improves the type of snow and the type of conditions that you want to ride. So it is only logical for great riders to get together with great filmmakers and crews live the lives that they truly want to live. I think that is what makes it easy to walk away from the competition money at a certain point. It is like the danger zone or eternal bliss.
The option of going out, doing what you feel like doing with the people you feel like doing it with. That is the trade-off to taking off from competition and riding and filming in the backcountry.
Maybe it looks like so much fun and its powder porn to us who have had similar experiences. Maybe not on the same sending it level, but just being out in the backcountry with friends doing what you want. That easily is more addicting than heroin.
If you are just out there having fun with your friends and enjoying snowboarding and nature and being outside, this is why I snowboard.
Torgeir Bergrem looking really comfortable in the air
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