BEST OF THE DECADE | TOP 10 CANADIAN VIDEO PARTS

Well, here we are on the last day of 2019– Happy New Year’s, everybody. In the last ten years, we’ve seen snowboarding bloom into a culture with sophisticated style, with an aesthetic that combines our roots with our best influences. Through video, it’s the riders that push our collective sense of what’s good snowboarding, and in the 2010s Canada’s top boarders held us to a very high standard. We revisited some incredible parts as we assembled this list. Narrowing it down took ruthless cuts, and we’re sure there will be some debate. Let's try not to take this list too seriously.

With some of the most influential riders, filmers, and photographers in the industry, we’re putting it out there: in no particular order, our picks for the 10 most important Canadian video parts of the decade. – David MacKinnon

There were no easy choices getting this list together, but Mark’s breakout part in Transworld’s In Color was a no-brainer. Though he was established in the Canadian scene through his Sandbox and Defective Films parts, this was Sollors’ first opportunity to film for a major international production. He stepped up, taking inspiration from guys like Jeremy Jones and JP Walker as he filmed one of the most well-rounded parts snowboarding has ever seen. The segment earned him Transworld’s Rookie of the Year and let the world know that Mark had arrived. “I see this part as a rider’s dream come true,” says Jody Wachniak. “If it dropped right now I’d still say video part of the year.”

By 2014, Jed Anderson had raised the bar. From Sunday in the Park to Nike’s Never Not (with some incredible Videograss and Transworld segments in between), the pipe-kid turned urban phenom had become one of the most influential snowboarders in the world. Expectations were high for his signature project, and Crazy Loco lived up to the hype. Spot selection was all time, Jed’s riding was on point, and Tanner Pendleton’s filming provided a unique window into the world of urban snowboarding. Crazy Loco’s influence went beyond riding– the short film structure foreshadowed the 12-minute format that would take over the latter half of the decade, and set the stage for projects like Blender and Hourglass.

Jake came up again and again as we poured over contenders for this list. His style, board control, and spot selection make all his video parts distinctive, and it almost feels like a snub to look past his formative segments with Sandbox and Videograss. But Landline was something special, and Jake’s ender was lightning in a bottle. His riding was precise and insanely technical, making him stand out among the world’s best. The part earned him Transworld’s Video Part of the Year, and a pro model with K2 followed promptly.

When we remember Dillon, we don’t just think of a snowboarder. We remember a personality, a larger-than-life character, a beam of energy and positivity. When Dillon stepped onto the world stage with his part in Snowboarder’s Foreword, he showed us all of that at once. Dillon’s riding was explosive, and his charisma came through on the screen. The part was the sleeper favourite of the video, got him on Ride and Vans, and launched a career that will always be remembered despite being tragically short-lived. Rest in Peace Dillon– Ojo forever.

When Travis Rice saw Rasman’s 2017 part, he made two phone calls. One was to Lib Tech, asking why Chris didn’t have a pro model of his own. The other was to Ras, inviting him to co-star in his next signature project. This part marked the culmination of a decade on the grind. Chris had refined his aggressive riding and brought new confidence to his signature sends. What started as raw power in the Alterna Action films was now a polished style, and Rasman’s career kicked into overdrive with a string of new sponsorships, magazine covers, and international acclaim.

With his ender in Videograss’ Half Off, Layne Treeter finds the gnarliest way to hit every spot he touches. Sniper transitions, janky fencing, concrete kickers; everything is in play, and Layne’s sleeper style consistently downplays the consequences. Unfortunately, reminiscing on this part highlights the precarious nature of professional snowboarding– Half Off marked the end of Layne’s brief rise from the underground. “I feel like we forget about this part,” says King Snow Senior Photographer Joseph Roby, “because Layne stopped snowboarding afterwards, probably because of lack of sponsorship?” We’re not sure exactly why Layne didn’t follow up this segment, but for a low-key guy who never relied on self-promotion that isn’t a bad guess. Maybe it’s time we ask Layne ‘Where You At’?

Kennedi’s opener in The Uninvited put her on the map, and for good reason. She stacked for the two-year project, crushing Calgary kinks and Quebec classics with proper style. Her presses are locked, her landings are bolts, and she puts in work to push her technicality. Since The Uninvited, Kennedi’s been on the road with the K2 and Vans teams, continuing to make a name for herself both in the streets and at events all over North America. She’s a driving influence for girls getting into snowboarding, and on track to continue making waves in the 20’s. (Starts @ 4:15)

Let’s talk about Déjà Vu. You could make a case for several parts in the video to be on this list, and the project marked an important shift towards Quebecois riders taking control of their own snowboarding. The crew had already made magic in the previous decade– they filmed together for Sugarshack’s Bandwagon, which was widely regarded for capturing the vibes at the forefront of French Canadian progression. But because of sponsor obligations and other filming opportunities, they drifted apart, and as a result, began to find their riding wasn’t always represented properly. With Déjà Vu, the crew took back control, producing the video themselves. The result was a masterpiece, and a Transworld Video of the Year. Louif’s footage pushed transfers to a new level, won him an X Games Real Snow, and established him as one of the best riders of the generation. (Starts @ 30:10)

There’s just something about E-man. His style is somehow both completely raw and completely flawless, and there isn’t a trick in his bag that he hasn’t made his own. His nollies, presses, blunt slides and 270s are on full display in his Dope III part, and filmer David Brocklebank captured his personality exactly in a no-bullshit blast from the Canadian underground. Unfortunately, due to injuries this was E-man’s last part, but it struck a chord with boarders all over the world. Along with the rest of Dope III, it set a new standard for high speed, high tech DIY.

Mikey’s two-song ender in Burton’s Thirteen brought Canadian style to the backcountry double cork revolution. The veteran jumper was at the top of his game and proved he could do any ‘modern’ trick, he looked as relaxed as he did spinning the ones, threes, and fives that keep this part grounded. “Mikey’s always been a favourite of mine,” says Chris Rasman, “and the amount of footage, heavy tricks, and first tries in this part was inspirational.” The original part from Thirteen isn’t online, but check out the Real Snow remix for highlights. Oh, speaking of Real Snow, did we mention this footage won Mikey X Games gold?