Photos by Brian Hockenstein
If the 2014 iteration of the Arc'Teryx Deep Winter Photo Challenge had a theme, it would probably be something along the lines of "Ladies Who Kill It".
Allow me to rewind: for the uninitiated, Deep Winter is a ski and snowboard photo competition based out of Whistler, B.C. Each photographer assembles a team, establishes a storyline, and is given 72 hours to shoot (entirely in-bounds on Whistler and Blackcomb) and edit a three to five minute slideshow.
The fruits of their labour is then presented to a sold-out crowd at the Chateau Fairmont Whistler-- desperate pleas on Facebook for last minute tickets are to be expected.
Host Feet Banks was on top of his game as always
Deep Winter is now in its 8th year, and more often than not, it seems that photographers grapple with somewhat uncooperative weather. Nonetheless, all six photographers face the same challenges over the same days, and if the photos from last night are any indication, then it seems that there is just about always a patch of pow hidden somewhere on the mountain. That, or the photographers are just really, really good at creating magic.
The night started out with host Feet Banks walking us through six pages of rules, sponsor details, and generally getting the crowd ready and rowdy for the event.
Erin Hogue took the stage first. A Whistlerite-by-way-of-Ontario (aren't we all), Erin shadowed a crew during the 2013 competition before deciding that she was ready to tackle the competition on her own. Her show, "Tracks of Time", threaded together different generations, all of whom share a common passion for the mountains. Her shots were unmistakably Whistler Blackcomb, and the presentation had a fun, chill vibe.
Up next was bona fide local Chris Brown. I've always thought that the kids who grow up in this town are just about the gnarliest people out there, and Chris cemented this by featuring a couple of badass groms in his show. His show featured some sophisticated editing that made it seem multidimensional-- I can't help but wonder if that hurt him, given the whisperings I heard that the rules prohibited too much movement (the rules state that the show must be made up of still photos only; no video. Blurred lines.).
The photographer that had generated the most rumblings, at least amongst my circle of friends, was Cameron Hunter. I'd heard that his athletes were giving 'er and that he'd come across some pretty spectacular spots. His show, "#WishYouWereHere", perfectly captured a killer day on the mountain, complete with our obsession with phones, selfies, and documenting every moment of our day-- you know, just so that everyone else knows how much fun we're having.
Jason Hummel had the added challenge of being the only out-of-provincer in the competition. Hailing from White Pass, Washington, he assembled an all-female crew of four athletes who are well-known around town for their incredible athleticism and all around awesomeness. His show, titled "Side by Side", oozed of that magical bond that can only be formed when you share an awesome day on the slopes with friends. He showcased each athlete and her individual strengths, and the whole show had that feel-good vibe.
When Zoya Lynch was brought up on stage, she seemed a little overwhelmed at the questions Feet was throwing her way-- but her show, "Winter Canvas", told an eloquent story. She featured local visual artists in our sweet mountain town, and juxtaposed their passion for the arts with their passion for skiing and snowboarding. Her photos showed the depth of life in the Sea-to-Sky-- we live for the mountains, but there's so much more to the people who call this place home.
Finally, Nicolas Teichrob took the stage. This was not Nic's first rodeo-- he had partaken in Deep Winter once before, and was fresh off winning Deep Summer just a few months back. He took a moment to explain the story behind his show, "Self", which followed the journey of self-discovery that so many of us have experience in our pilgrimage to the mountains. His show was stormy, trippy, and certainly impactful, with an abstract touch that made it memorable. You need to see it to understand.
So how did it all pan out?
I told you it was all about the "Ladies Who Killed It"-- not only did we have two female photographers, plus an all-female athlete crew, but first place was awarded to Zoya Lynch, the second ever Queen of Storms. Nicolas Teichrob took second as well as the prize for the single best photograph in the show, and Jason Hummel accepted a hard-earned third place.
Zoya Lynch and team after the big winDo yourself a favour: scout out each of these six shows and watch them again and again to really appreciate the outrageous talents of all the people involved in these events. When you've finished doing that, head over to vote for the People's Choice Awards, where you can pick your favourite shot from the evening.
