EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Through The Lens | AussieSnowboard.com // The Home Of Australian Snowboarding

We are spoilt with high-level snowboard edits coming out now on a daily basis. Every resort, brand, production company and group of riders seem to be churning something out on the reg. No wonder its so easy to sit back and enjoy the riding and locations in these edits without a thought for the time and effort that has gone into bringing the images to our lounge rooms.

Meet two of these people. Mad-dogs Mitch Ayres and Kieth Webster are currently on location shooting for our highly-anticipated series Northern Heights. We threw some ammo at them to try and get a better understanding on what motivates them to do what they do.

Mitch Ayers

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Keith Webster

Aussiesnowboard.com (AS)- Coming from network background at ch 10, who is easier to work with, snowboarders or Tv personalities?

Keith Webster (Webby)- That’s a hard one…. TV personalities are usually d*ks, but most of what I deal with is live, so they only get one crack at it, if they screw up, to bad. Not my problem. So I’d say they’re easier.

Filming snowboarding is a lot harder, riders can nail it first go, or hit it till they’re in hospital, and you have to make sure you get that shot right every time, especially if the rider works for his trick…. but, it’s hanging out with mates and having a good time, so I don’t see it as work so much.

AS- Your’ve been on the road for a few months now, have you run out of socks yet?

Mitch Ayers- Multiple times, we just spent literally 2 months bouncing from spot to spot all over North America. We are super lucky its cheap in the US though…Instead of trying to find the time and place to wash my socks, ill just shoot down to the Walmart and splash out on new ones. You can get a 4 pack for like $3 bucks.

Mitch impressing the east coast kids with a 5-0 at Loon Mtn

Aussiesnowboard.com (AS)- What are the day to day challenges with filming an Ep in Japan?

Keith Webster (Webby)- To much snow! Basically. It snows so much here. The lighting levels are so low, even the biggest Kabuutz looses it’s impact when you can’t see the ground for the sky. Everything is totally buried, natural features change daily, and builds are really hard because the snow is so light and dry, and then they’ll get buried again within two days. Whaaah. Sounds terrible aye!

AS- We’ve seen shots of yourself riding as well (mainly upside down). Do you get much shred time in while filming for a project like Northern Heights?

Webby- Not as much as I need. In the last 6 weeks, I’ve had 4 days without the camera. And usually I ride with my camera in my hand, rapped in a plastic bag. Quicker access, and if I do stack, i can protect it better than having it on my back. You’ve seen me ride…I’m pretty loose. In saying that, I usually get first run every run, to get in position, but I’ll try stay off the filming line if possible. When I don’t have my camera out, I feel a bit guilty, like I could miss something really important at any moment. I always have the option of hitting used up booters with bombed out landings!

I was also filming for ‘The Camp’ & ‘Japan Powder Tours’ that run out of Moiwa Lodge for 6 weeks. So, I was filming three projects at once really. Keep’s me busy.

Webby laying one out in between takes in Moiwa- Japan

AS- What was your first camera you ever filmed with?

Mitch- I had this old JVC handycam , full soccer-mum style! I wish i still had it

AS- What are you Shooting with now?
Mitch -Sony EX1 is my main rig. I use a Canon 7d on a second angle or back up camera.

AS- How did you get into filming snowboarding? Webby- I was studying architecture when I went on a week long snowboarding trip, that turned into 3 months. I fell into Film and Video editing by accident waiting for the new term to start. Love of the sport, but more-so, due to the people that make it up. It became my life.

Webby going for a quick dip off the icy coastline of Hokkaido, Japan.

AS-What is the worst part about being a Snowboard filmer?
Mitch- Being out in the elements destroys all of your equipment, Also standing in the sub- zero temperatures and leaving spots without footage sucks!…

AS- How did you get into Action Sports filmography?

Mitch- Am i in it?

Front board from Mitch at Seven Springs’ “The Streets”

AS- Out of your two main jobs Shooting and editing, which is your favourite and why?

Webby- I find the filming more fun, simply for the fact i’m riding. I see editing more as a form of art, my own expression of snowboarding . I enjoy them both… that’s almost a chicken and egg question. they go hand in hand as far as i’m concerned.

They both have their pros n cons.

Dancing on my spot to keep warm while everyone else hits kickers…CON

Spending the day building a new computer (don’t ask!), only to find out that half the Video files (unwillingly imported thru iMovie) only read as audio files on my PC….CON

Pro’s far out way the Cons though!

AS- How long does a 5min Ep ruffly take to edit and shoot?

Mitch- It depends on how rushed i’m getting by who is employing me at the time, and what level they want out of the edit. I sometimes reluctantly submit a piece and wanna take it back and change it, but that all comes with practice. I guess each situation is so different i really couldn’t give you an estimate on time it takes.

Northern Heights airing on Fuel TV – May-July 2013