Review: Michael Lucas
(October 15, 1998)
Sponsors:
Riders: Kevin Jones, Johan, Tom Burt, Guillaume Chastagnol, Ami Voutilainen, Joni Makinen, Daniel Franck, Dave Downing, Nate Cole, Noah Salasnek, Andy Hetzel and a cameo by Terry Kidwell
Comments:
The record snowfalls in both Tahoe and AK translate into an abundance of powder in this film thatll get you jonesin so hard, youll drop the remote. TB7 North of Heaven is the essential freeriding movie of the year. High-quality filming plus high-quality riding has been the Standard Films equation for years, and if youre looking to watch 55 minutes of freeriding, look no further.
Kevin Jones all-mountain performance proves him to be an all-mountain rider, forward and fakie. Johans approach to AK is as aesthetic as it is aggressive, but Jeremy Jones is the speed king. Then theres Tom Burt, who makes the undoable line doable. Dave Hatchett goes the extra mile hanging over a sheer cliff to film Tom tackle what looks like the highest-degree slope ever. Tom puts the "TB" in TB7.
Standard Films newcomer and innovator of the 1080 in the pipe, Guillaume Chastagnol puts in a solid performance, as do Ami Voutilainen, Joni Makinen, and that slippery prankster Daniel Franck. As always Dave Downing, Nate Cole, Noah Salasnek, and Andy Hetzel dont disappoint.
North of Heavens soundtrack is what youve come to expect from Standard Filmsloud and fast, with songs (old and new) from Ozzy, Superunloader, Black Eyed Peas, Santana, Janes Addiction, Strung Out, Rush, and more.
TB7 North of Heaven is a departure from the traditional movie snowboarding solely displayed against music. Standard Films is consciously evolving with the TB series; the films adopt a loose documentary approach, with more narration by the riders, actual radio transmissions, and sometimes even the stoked howls of cameraman Rich Van Every.
And there are also the nice surprisesthe cameo from Father of Freestyle Terry Kidwell introducing eleven-year-old Shaun Whites part, Dave Downings surfing, snowmobiles, and moreyoull have to see this video and stop reading about it.
Length: 55 minutes
Film Type: 16 mm
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