Level 1 is set to release their 15th ski film this fall. Shot on location all over the world, the film showcases the best of the best of ski trickery including LINE athletes, LJ Strenio, Will Wesson & Sig Tveit. We spoke with 2/3rds of the aforementioned talent (Will & LJ) to ask some questions about what we might expect this Fall when Less hits theaters. Here’s what they had to say!
Tell us about last season: Where’d you go? When and with who?
Last season was hectic. I spent the better part of the first half of the season competing at World Cups and traveling for some early season rail jams; flying as far as London for the weekend for one. Around halfway through the season however, I completely switched focus and started putting a segment together and spent about a month between the East Coast and the Midwest during the coldest streak of the Winter with Level 1. I also got out into the backcountry for a few trips but got skunked on snow a couple times and didn’t yield much there. There were a lot of struggles but I’m excited about what we got. – LJ
New England with Khai Krepela in December. Wisconsin with LJ and Will Berman for 2 days in January and New York with LJ in February. – Will
Any particularly memorable moments?
Having an entire day alone to be a tourist in Londdon before flying home with a stack of 2000 English pounds in my pocket was fun. Two days earlier, I was eating thanksgiving dinner with my girlfriend and sister and then I all of a sudden I had a bunch of goofy money and a new European city to explore. More hilariously however was signing autographs in Wisconsin for the cop that was kicking us out. He had received a call and so was obligated to boot us but was super interested and once he heard who we were and what we did he was stoked so Berman gave him a free DVD and he demanded an autograph. Most smiles I’ve seen in a while getting booted from a feature, and we got the shot first. – LJ
Seeing people surfing with snow on the ground in Boston was cool. Also meeting random people who have no idea what you are up to is always entertaining. – Will
How much involvement did you have in the creative process?
Level 1 allows us input but I don’t physically edit my segment so very little. – LJ
I rough cut my entire segment and the level 1 guys change it up to make it better. – Will
Which tour stops do you plan on being at?
I’ll be at the Salt Lake City stop as always! Sounds like I’ll probably be heading to Spokane as well for a stop there. Got a bunch of new friends up there so I love making the trip up. -LJ
I’ll miss most of them while I’m down under filming for TC, but I’m hoping to get to the the High Five Festival and maybe IF3 Innsbruck. – Will
What can those watching expect from Less?
From my experiences last winter with Level 1, I can tell you that this year’s movie really shows that skiing is finally starting to get more creative in the things we find and do and not solely focused on just bigger and better. Many of the features and tricks aren’t just stacked upon from last year but new original ideas. – LJ
No idea, I haven’t seen it. I’m sure there will be no shortage of creativity. – Will
Where are you now? What are you doing?
I’m currently in Vermont visiting between friends’ weddings and family weddings. However I’m headed back to Utah next week which I’m excited for because I haven’t been home in the last 4 months. – LJ
I’m sitting inside an apartment complex (free Internet!) outside El Colorado ski resort in Chile. – Will
What are five things people should know about filming?
Five? haha uh… 1) It’s long, tedious and yields a few seconds of footage for a few days of work. 2) It allows you to ski how you want and portrait yourself how you want. 3) If you’re doing something new or cool it doesn’t have to be in a huge segment, you can throw it online and you boom you’re influencing skiing. 4) Filming an entire segment is more expensive than anyone except the riders spending all their money realizes. 5)There’s no right way to do it, though some people may think there is, just different styles. – LJ
It’s never as easy as it seems. The weather can make or break you. Scheduling is never perfect and some segments are made in one week. Sometimes you can do a lot with a little. The right attitude goes a long way. – Will
What are your plans for next season?
A little less competing and a lot more filming. – LJ
Ski a lot with cool people in cool places! – Will