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CAPiTA and Union present FLOAT, a snowboard film featuring Brandon Cocard, Arthur Longo, Miles Fallon, and more.

Here in our corner of the universe, we exist for a feeling. We patiently wait for the exact moment when all of the necessary elements align, all of us on board together chasing the same dream- to break free from the laws of gravity for that one unforgettable split second of freedom. The pursuit of this feeling is our white whale, drawing us far from home on a never-ending journey to fulfill the purpose that the universe had laid out in front of us. This feeling keeps us going day after day, year after year, through this lifetime and what lies beyond. A noble quest for the feeling that defines us- the feeling of FLOAT.

WORDS: Kevin Nolan PHOTOS: Tyler Ravelle

Filming a snowboard video is a huge undertaking. To the casual viewer watching the finished film it seems straightforward enough- we just show up to a zone with perfect snow and perfect light, strap into our boards and let the magic happen. The reality is pretty much the exact opposite of that. Countless days are spent waiting for the weather to break, traveling across the world to chase storms, or putting our bodies on the line battling a trick that never comes to fruition. Sometimes it seems like everything is about to line up, only for a wrench to get thrown into the system at the last second and dash our hopes for the day. Broken trucks, broken snowmobiles, sketchy avalanche conditions, a stubborn layer of clouds that just won’t go away- the list of things that can get in the way of filming a usable snowboard clip is endless. Being an exceptionally talented snowboarder- as Brandon Cocard, Arthur Longo, and Miles Fallon each are shining examples of- is only part of what it takes to film a video part. Besides a level of god given talent that the rest of us can only dream of having, riders such as them also need to possess an unrelenting sense of determination and dedication to their craft in order to bring their talents to your TV screen. But these challenges are, in my mind, what makes doing what we do so worth it. We certainly paid our dues last season filming this project, but in my mind the bumps in the road were a small price to pay for living the dream. 

We had to start somewhere, and there’s no better place to kick off the season than Japan. We crossed the mighty Pacific to the fabled snow factory of Hokkaido, where we feasted on the finest cuisine Japanese convenience stores can offer and rode powder deeper and lighter than any of us could have ever dreamt of. We even found Kevin Backstrom there, searching far and wide for new landscapes to imprint his iconic style of riding upon. 

Miles, frontside 360 through the tree.

From there, we ventured through the damp green rainforests of Washington to pay our tributes to the legendary Mount Baker. There’s a special energy in the air there. Amongst the snowbanks taller than schoolbuses and the diesel fumes pouring from the ancient chairlifts, you can feel the powerful pull of a place that has long drawn the most dedicated snowboarders from across the world to its pillowly steeps and willowly chutes, each of them on an almost religious pilgrimage to leave their own mark on the mountain.

Our own pilgrimage completed, we headed south to the domain of longtime CAPiTA rider Matt Wainhouse- Stevens Pass. With Matt leading the way, the crew put a beat down on every zone in sight, stacking clips with surgical precision and a frenzied pace that only the finest bluebird powder conditions can provide. But the dream couldn’t last forever, and it was time to move on. 

Rising temperatures forced us inland, and a long day’s drive landed us smack dab in the middle of Idaho. The excitement of a new zone gave us renewed hope, and we continued our quest for clips with a little help from our two-stroke engine powered steeds. With a little patience, and some possible sacrifices to the weather gods, a modest reset of snow and a couple sunny days gave us the window of opportunity that we had hoped for. But almost as soon as the window had opened, it abruptly slammed shut. 

So just like that we were back on the road, this time headed due north to another place that has long cemented its place in the snowboarding’s lore- Whistler. The casual nature of our program in Idaho seemed like a vacation compared to Whistler. I’ve never been to war, but filming in Whistler might be the closest I’ll ever come to that experience. And I mean that in the best way possible. Waking up at 4:00 AM to drive our trucks up a sketchy logging road and unload our snowmobiles long before dawn has started to break- I love that shit. Nothing gets my adrenaline going like the smell of two stroke in the morning, especially when I know what lies in store. Again, the weather seemed to be determined to dash our hopes, but we battled through it and came out the other side with some quality clips added to the timeline, albeit with lots of unfinished business that will have to wait for another year with more inviting conditions. And just like that, another door slammed shut.

PNW Pillows.

But when one door closes, and another door opens, and the weather models showed a major storm heading to the Wasatch. With limited options in front of us, we hit the road once again and set our course for Utah.  A late season storm provided us with exactly what we were hoping for- three feet of fresh and bluebird skies, and the crew went to work. We had three days before the temperatures were set to spike and ruin what we had came for, but three days was all we needed. We knew this was going to be our last push for the winter, and we gave it everything that we had. With each landed trick a wave of relief washed over me- we finally had a snowboard film. 

Winter gave way to Spring, but we were hungry to keep going until the snow melted. One last strike mission was in order, and I headed back north to meet Jess Kimura at another classic Canadian locale- Mount Seymour. A good old fashioned sunset hip session ensued, and another few clips were tacked on to the end of the timeline. 

When the dust settled I sat for a moment high above the city of Vancouver, watching the sun dip beneath the horizon into the Pacific. I imagined for a second that I could see all the way across that vast ocean to where it all started this season, the island of Hokkaido, and I felt a sense of calm that I hadn’t experienced all winter. The road was long, and the journey was treacherous, but we had completed our quest. The film was complete.

Brandon Cocard and Miles Fallon in Japan.