Red Bull Skiing: January 2008 Archives
Just seconds after winning X Games gold in superpipe last January, in his post-win interview, Tanner Hall threw up his arms and shouted to the crowd. “Everybody check out the new movie dropping next summer called ‘Believe.’ It’s off the hook: we got so much filming going on.” Propelled by the monumental win, and taking the gold at the US Open just days later, Tanner quietly collected his competitive drive and disappeared into the wilderness in search of something altogether different.
The backcountry chronicle set forth in Tanner’s latest ski film, “Believe,” began well before the X Games. Hell, it began well before most people were even thinking about winter at all. While the rest of the country was sleeping off Thanksgiving gluttonies, Tanner and close friend C.R. Johnson set off for Mt. Baker, Washington where over 100 inches would fall in a period of five days. The storm culminated on November 28, 2006 and the two—along with “Believe” director/filmer Constantine Papanicolaou and skier Ian Provo—set to slaying the deepest snow of the year. Almost too deep, the powder at Baker leveled the playing field amongst the few skiers there that day, but the Baker segment in “Believe” is a clear illustration of why Tanner and the athletes he films with are at the top of the sport.
Fast-forward to early January 2007 and we find Tanner “training” for the X Games at Retallack Lodge in British Columbia. Taking the term “owning a line” to a whole new level, Tanner along with Seth Morrisson and some friends bought the Retallack cat-skiing operation, and for good reason. The terrain is epic and traps storms that dump snow day after day, all winter. Tanner, Kye Peterson, and Dan “Big Air” Treadway hone in the best of what the region has to offer: deep powder and buttery pillow lines. Tanner’s versatility on the mountain is evidenced in his ability to spin big in tight trees and open up to scary speeds on faces above the treeline.
The drive to find the best snow on the planet pulls Tanner and crew from a fickle Pacific Northwest Feburary to Niseko, Japan where the snow phone seems to always be off the hook. Armada teammates Anthony Boronowski and Ian Provo help Tanner pillage all the powder lines the locals seem content to let go un-skied. Especially noteworthy in the Japan segment is a roadside sessioning of weeks worth of pow built up on manmade terraces. A perfect waist-deep terrain park just feet above a roadway thousands travel on a daily basis.
Enough with the mini-golf, from Japan Tanner goes straight to the heart of big mountain sking: Haines, Alaska. It’s unclear who is more privileged to be skiing with who, but Tanner teams up with Oakley teammate and seasoned AK veteran Seth Morrisson on this mission. The way Tanner slays lines could make one believe he’d been going there as many years as Seth. Regardless, both athletes put in thoroughly jaw-dropping performances on peaks so steep it seems in defiance of the laws of physics snow can even stick to them.
“Believe” is rounded out at the end by one kicker session to rule them all. In fitting style for Tanner, a massive hip is sessioned with friends Kye Peterson, Callum Pettit, and Red Bull teammate Sean Pettit. With a chopper for aerial shots, the crew boost into Canadian airspace with the setting sun ablaze in the background. It’s a telling scene for Tanner, who’s matured greatly in the last couple years and is passing along his wisdom and influence to the next generation. The young guys will have to enjoy soaking it all in as “Believe” makes it clear Tanner won’t be coming down off the top of the freeskiing world anytime soon.
Get down to your local shop to get your hands on "Believe" or get your copy online here.
