A precisely shaped pipe, perfectly manicured jumps, a Cineflex camera, and a helicoptor. It sounds like a freeskier's daydream. But it became a reality shortly after X Games last January when Aspen-based Vital Films teamed up with athletes Gus Kenworthy, Aidan Sheahan, Jacob Wester and Torin Yater-Wallace for a short film called "Days to Come," which is being released in November. So what's it like sessioning perfect park as rotor-wash from the heli blasts you in the face? ESPN Freeskiing recently chatted with Yater-Wallace to find out.
The trailer for "Days to Come" just dropped. Can you give us a little background to the short film?
Back in January after X Games, Vital Films and Level One decided to do a helicopter shoot because the pipe and the jumps were so perfect after the X Games. Matt Hobbs from Vital Films had worked with a helicopter company over the summer, so they hooked him up with a helicopter to use for a few days. We were able to get a lot of shots with that pretty sweet camera.
In addition to having a starring role, you also have a production credit, how involved were you in the project?
I was just back at home in Aspen to go to The Meeting 8, and I was told that we were working on this project so I went up to the Vital Films studio and Aiden (Sheahan), Matt Hobbs and I worked on it. I didn't do a ton of it; I just helped pick out some shots.
Filming from a heli, with a Cineflex -- it's a pretty pricey endeavor. Do you feel any added pressure, or is it just business as usual?
At first when you start filming with one it's pretty crazy. The heli being above you, the wind is making this big vortex that you hope you don't get sucked into. It's definitely a bit more pressure, you're like, 'Wow there's a helicopter above me, this thing's expensive, I've gotta land my tricks right now or this is a waste.'
Do you prefer filming or competing?
This is always a hard question for me. Just in general, as far as skiing goes, I'm just a competitive person, and I thrive off the pressure sometimes. But, having a movie segment compared to a really good result, people will remember a movie segment and go back and watch it for however long. If you ask somebody who won the X Games in this event in this year, they wouldn't automatically know, but usually they'd know about the movie segment you're talking about. In a sense of how memorable it is, I think filming is more valuable. But I don't know if I'd choose filming because I have a lot of fun competing.
What are you most pumped for this season?
I'm definitely looking forward to the upcoming season. I'm just coming back from injury, so I won't be able to ski until around the middle of January. So right now I'm just trying to keep my mind off skiing a little bit so I don't get too anxious. But, I'm super excited to ski when I come back from this injury. My right shoulder had been dislocating all the time so I'll be able to ski guilt free and know that it won't come out and just to film more in general and compete. I love being on the grind and traveling a lot. I can't wait for this season.
