Blair Habenicht

Absinthe remains committed to documenting these amazing riders with the most timeless and stylish medium: Film. Following up to last year’s question ‘Optimistic?’, Absinthe answers with a crew of riders who overcome obstacles with spontaneity and skill in another full spectrum snowboard film that is down to have some more fun with snowboarding. Ready.

16 friends who snowboard and film; Stack Footy. Hundreds of good ideas, hundreds of bad ideas; Stack Footy. Thousands of tricks landed, one thousand more crashed; Stack Footy. Millions of magical moments captured by ones and zeros; Stack Footy. Billions of laughs, cries, smiles, smirks, jokes and moments of repose; Stack Footy.

Cool Story" is the story of Think Thanks best season yet, often times hilarious, some times poignant and always a little different. From Ben Bogart's ghetto fabulous economic reality to Mark Thompson's first double cork to Chris Beresford's culinary culture shock and everything in between; "Cool Story" weaves a tale familiar to all snowboarders yet, until now, left largely untold. With full video parts from 15 of the worlds most progressive riders "Cool Story" packs a punch as both a hard hitting freestyle tour de force and an in depth look at the culture surrounding us.

Dopamine is a naturally occurring chemical in the brain that influences movement and reward. At the core of progressive snowboarding, it is movement and reward that provide a natural motivation for riders like Bode Merrill, Victor De Le Rue, and Brandon Cocard to evolve and innovate. These explorers of mountain and mental landscapes led the charge this year, changing the definition of what can be done on a snowboard, and changing the guard. From the Yukon, Kootenays, Valhallas, Monashees, Dolomites, and Pyrenees, the Absinthe crew proves Dopamine is free, but you have to get out there to earn it.

The lack of snow in much of the world, and a lack of snowpack stability in most other places, made this winter exceptionally challenging. Mentally and otherwise. A bit like a riddle, a maze, and a game of chicken rolled into one. With heavy consequences for not playing at the very top of your game. Lucky for you, (and for Absinthe) we were at the right place at the right time. But that would be a long and weird name for a movie, so we decided to call this one HEAVY MENTAL. You will be rocked. Riders include Victor De Le Rue, Austen Sweetin, Bode Merrill, Jason Robinson, Mat Schaer, Wolfgang Nyvelt, Manuel Diaz, Victor Daviet, Johnnie Paxson, Romain De Marchi, Blair Habenicht, Scot Brown, Ozzy Henning, Rusty Ockenden, Nils Arvidsson, Mathieu Crepel, Sylvain Bourbousson, Helen Schettini, and Mike Basich

With free reign and bold vision director Sean Lucey takes Think Thank’s motto of "progression through creativity” to all new heights in “The Weather Outside is Weather." A small close knit crew of snowboarders go from peaks to sledding hills around the world, riding what they want, how they want with no expectations other than pure snowboarding. Rad-ness and hilarity ensues. Alpental powder missions, Midwest refuse receptacle sessions, Alaskan nooks and never seen SLC hideouts are all woven together into an audio visual tapestry unlike anything else.

Kamikazu documents some of the best backcountry riding in history, from snowboarders hand-selected by Kazu based on style and originality. Kazu Kokubo’s uncommon vision has carried him to an illustrious place few modern snowboarders have reached. Perspective and unwavering commitment to doing what he wants, how he wants, have cemented his place as one of snowboarding’s modern icons. These traits guide the direction for his well-deserved signature film project. Before gaining recognition as one of the best backcountry freestyle riders of all time, Kazu’s early years were spent in the competitive spotlight, standing on international podiums and competing in the Olympics twice. The anti-authoritarian attitude that catalyzed controversy around Kazu in the contest sphere also defines his approach to this film. Everything about Kamikazu was driven by its star. The film features its eclectic cast deep in the backcountry, where the only rules imposed are by the mountains themselves.

"WashDup" is a mockumentary based on a true story of a group of ex-snowboard filmmakers and riders who refuse to quit. After a 16-year hiatus, they make a pact to create one last movie, but lack a youthful presence to make it marketable. This unlikely alliance leads to self-discovery through an ageless lens, showcasing the evolution of snowboarding from a young sport to a mature industry. The film also touches on the struggles of old pros finding their way in life after the glory days are gone.