Vermont action sports video company wins national award

When it comes to winter action sports in New England, there is only one video company that brings it to life on a regional, national and worldwide level: Meat Head Films.

Started 12 years ago by a college student at the University of Vermont, this home-grown, East Coast gang has carved out a niche all their own and they are dedicated to highlighting the talent and terrain of the east coast.

Meat Head Films' newest release won a Powder Award for Best Powder Segment of the Year for their segment on Jay Peak, a massive accomplishment considering last year was not the snowiest and here in the East, we're not generally known for our deep powder turns.

The annual Powder Awards, sponsored by Powder Magazine and handed out in Park City, Utah the first night of the Sundance Film Festival, typically honors films made in the West and exotic locations around the world.

Meat Head Films has been nominated in recent years for the “Best Jib” category, but to be nominated (and win) the “Best Powder Segment” is a real landmark moment.

Chris James, co-owner and senior photographer at Meat Head, knows well the struggles of being a dedicated East Coast action sports video company and Edging the Xtreme caught up with him recently to talk about his many projects, including Ski the East, Meat Heads newest release, “No Matter What,” and the Ski the East Freeride Tour, which had its first event of the season at Mad River Glenn last weekend.

The Ski the East Freeride Tour filled a void in the East Coast for competitors who did not want to race or compete in moguls or half pipe events.

All the events on the tour were pre-existing and started by the host resorts to highlight their terrain and the spirit of the resorts. Competitors of all ages compete and the demand was so large at the junior level that the juniors had to pre-qualify through a separate series of events.

Last weekend, the first stop of the tour was held at Mad River Glen and with the resort's slogan, “Ski it if you can” as famous as the mountain itself, this event is a real test. The southern Vermont event is held at Magic Mountain , the resort I first ski bummed at back in 1983. Then the tour moves to Sugarbush and on the famed Castle Rock lift line, where you can find my brother John hiding out from his office job. His son, Johnny, is a regular competitor on the tour and finished 20th last weekend at Mad River.

The finals is a two day event at Jay Peak on the rugged terrain under the Tram at the summit.

Check out meatheadfilms.com for news and DVDs, and skitheeast.net for complete results and to follow the tour.

Listen to the entire Chris James interview here on Edging the Xtreme and RadioBDC.