What can four mates with a Gopro and a dad cam do that nobody else can?
Everything.
The mommas boys debut snowboarding movie “Hey Mom” premiered at LJ’s on monday the 11th of august. After having to cancel a first premiere planned for the middle of july at beach burrito due to increasing covid restrictions the rescheduled night had all of Jindabyne frothing like a bad pour to see what this crew had put together. With some permission from the editor of this magazine, I put on my Tough Tits hat and took a little too many drugs and got about the pub doing my best Hunter S Thompson impersonation to see what lightning in a bottle tastes like.
The night started with a packed to capacity venue well before the movie was due to air. The vibe of the place transcended typical status quo’s where it didn't matter who you were or what you were about. On that night we were snowboarders celebrating snowboarding. Walking around between the seated tables someone commented.
“I don't know whats going on around here but it has to be big”
Out in the smokers once you pierced the vale of vapour mixed with tobacco and spilt beer asking the intoxicated youths how they felt, I was told of the passion for grassroots projects. Everyone talked of how keen they were for Ryan Cafferkey's park part. While others argued that Chris Busseti's part could very well be part of the year. Perhaps the key insight I got, was from some dude who simply said “Chicken Wings” when asked how he was feeling.
Before we were all ushered inside for the start of the movie I got one last insight to someones feeling before the movie. After screaming “up the blues” at me for a couple minutes being slightly muffled through a face mask in retrospect they must have been referring to another stand out of the crew, Dewy. If they weren't saying up the Dew and were indeed saying up the blues then I guess they are stoked with whatever happened in state of origin this year.
The audience of the night were treated to a couple of short films, the first being “medium” by Rueben Riegler. Another showcase of what can be achieved with good mates, great snowboarding and high vibes. Joel “budge” Rosella put on on what is perhaps the gnarliest street part ever filmed in Jindy with a stand out of local crew hitting and getting hit by a notorious DFD rail in the “Jindy Streetz".
The film is the quintessence of Australian snowboarding or what snowboarding means to all of us in general. Featuring hammers being thrown further than Chris Regan can throw a frisbee both in and out of the park. Cut between snippets of frolf games, house parties and a newly invented sport of Bailey Ryans staircase tobogganing. The crowd was reminded of what it is to be a snowboarder outside of big names and brand recognition. It's about having fun with your mates and telling those stories. Dewy gave Longo a run for his money in the side hit department and Busetti stomps a shirtless run down through the front valley park. While Cafferkey stomps clean drop after clean drop, showing the man can handle whatever you throw at him. Stand out guest appearances from the twin rails queens Georgia and Sophie Austin Nicholls, Josh Vagne, Tasman Forrest, Ben Swift, Ashlyn Coyne and Russel Fortune.
What's possible in snowboarding is not reliant on helicopters, private parks and halfpipes, big mountains in the Alps or Alaska, Red bull or any other energy drink sponsor willing to splash cash at huge projects. What's possible in snowboarding belongs to everyone on the ground day in day out who loves to shred with their mates and create something epic. Hey Mom does that with style and ease. As I walked home at 5 am after several kick ons I couldn't shake this feeling that I had been witness to a story of Australian snowboarding so beautifully told I could not be responsible to do it a scrap of justice in these words.
Huge shoutout to La familiglia Jindabyne for supporting the boys and Laced magazine for their support in letting me write this and supporting the film. When I asked that same dude how he felt after the movie he simply replied “Spicy Chicken Wings”.
Words by Ryan Backhouse
Photos by Jake Carthew
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