Oh and if you happened to have enjoy thoroughly this early snow season, you recently got a promotion, are planning an amazing surfing trip or just bought yourself a love nest, by any mean refrain to spill your joy on this blog. This is the blog of misery until further notice.

Ok it’s not that bad… seriously I was joking! Please don’t delete my blog from your Google reader!

But anyhoo, this morning I came across Flipside which stands as a making off for Neverland. You might remember that ‘Neverland’ didn’t really do it for me… well as it turns out Flipside is way way WAY better!
Check this episode out! “Stairs massages on the arse don’t feel that good…” Cale Zima definitely knows how to put it.

Flipside IV (the making of Neverland) – episode 4 from Absinthe Films on Vimeo.

In case you have been in a coma lately (or haven’t been reading surf blogs and magazines which is a little bit like being in a coma, right?), Rudy Jacques, a French photographer from the Oleron Island created quite a stir with his exhibition at the Wallako Surf Shop, in Bidart on the South West Coast of France. Since everyone was raving about his photography, I thought I’d better take a look at his website.

I got totally sucked in by the aesthetic of the website, his photos and his videos. His creative world translates a very cool and relaxed image of what the surf and skate scene in France can be like, and that makes me so very proud to be from France… though a little nostalgic too.

So I decided to contact Rudy via email to say, well, that I really liked his work and that I would like to find out more about him. He got back to me and he kindly accepted to answer this interview for me…

When and how did you start taking photos?
I began taking photos more seriously about 2 years ago, when I left Oleron Island. I only go back to the island during the school holidays, and photos allow me to keep in touch with surfing.

What is your story with surfing and skateboarding?
I’m not quite sure when I started surfing. I used to bodyboard when I was a kid, and then my parents got me a surfboard, I was 11, maybe 12 years old. I guess I started skateboarding around the same time.

I find your style very unique, I really like the retro look of your photographs. If I’m right, you only use analog material… What are your favorite cameras and why?
I am glad to hear that you find my style “unique”, because that’s probably the most challenging thing when you start getting involved in art. I work a lot at developing my own perception, I  try to use my influences in a good way but I also try to escape from them, I don’t want to copy what other people do. I feel I still need to work on this.
My photo quiver mainly consists of cheap cameras. The one I use most of the time is a Canon AE1 Program, which my father lends me. That has changed the way I take photos. I find in analog cameras the atmosphere I want for my photos. I don’t need to touch up any of them with a computer. 
I also use a Polaroïd Kodak Supercolor. I used to have a disposable camera with me all the time, but I recently bought an analog compact Canon AF 35ML.

Do you develop your photos yourself? Some of them look alterated…
Unfortunately, I don’t develop my photographs. I don’t have the equipment for it. I saw someone doing it when I was in High School, and for sure I’d like to develop photos in the future. That’s probably another step in photography, and an aspect I haven’t been lucky enough to explore so far.  At the same time, that’s why I alter my photos. For instance, when I was younger, I used to be impressed by photos that were highlighted by some awesome border. I knew that was what I wanted to do so I used whatever I had available : paint, cheap scotch-tape, fire. All these techniques allow me to give a personal touch to my photos, and put forward what I want to express.

Working with analog material costs time and money, I guess this is why few people still use it. What do you enjoy about analog photography?
Analog cameras are mechanical. It’s the same as surfing with no leash. With a digital camera, you can photograph with no limit, you leave your finger on the button, and there will always be a good shot in your memory card. With an analog camera, you have to concentrate, and shoot at the right moment so you don’t waste frames. I like the fact that you are constrained, and that you are forced to improve your behavior. I’m not saying that digital is bad,  just that it has changed the way we take photos. 
It’s true that analog can be expensive, but if you are crafty and hardworking, you can use it without losing (too much) money. You get a different satisfaction from an analog camera.

Huck Magazine said about your work that it’s a “romantic way of telling the surfing story”, do you agree with the term ‘romantic’? I read on your blog that your inspiration mostly comes from the ‘punk’ and ‘hardcore’ scene which seems quite far from ‘romantic’…
When I say that I have been inspired by hardcore and punk, I mainly think about values. When I was younger, maybe 13, I used to listen to punk music when I was alone at home, because I didn’t want my parents to know that I listened to this kind of music. Punk is different. But from 18 to 20, I turned straight edge and found quite a rebellion in it. I saw so many people getting drunk every night, and pretending they were rebels. I was not into that. 
No matter what you look like, what clothes you wear, your haircut or any of these damned things, what happens in your head is what’s most relevant. I’m not a punk and I’m no longer straight edge. I just try to be a good man, be straight without being walled in by principles. 
I like the sentence “romantic way of telling the surfing story”. I’m a romantic.

Like your photos, your videos are very retro, where does your inspiration come from? What video camera(s) did you use? What movies inspire you? Where does the music come from?
My inspiration firstly comes from my friends. The way they surf obviously has an influence on my photos. I’ve also watched all kind of videos, and that’s how I’ve learned to use a camera. Dale Davis, Bruce Brown and Thomas Campbell’s movies have influenced me, for sure. With regards to music and editing, I feel I still need to improve and bring my own ideas. So far, I feel too close to my influences, so I don’t feel I can take full credit. For my latest short movie “El amigo Cloclo”, I used a song Clovis played himself. That’s a better approach than to use a song from someone you don’t even know. Or so I hope. 
These days, I use a Sony camera. A digital one, with tape, that cost less than 200$.

I get from your work that you must like being by yourself. Am I right?
I think you’re right. I like being with people, but I like being alone too. When you are alone you can think about things that you can’t think about in society.

Who are your favorite surfers?
Hmm… Phil Edwards, Tyler Hatzikian, Joel Tudor, Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds… But I haven’t met them personally, so I’ve probably been more influenced by the people I know such as Cyril, Yves, Cloclo. Just regular people.

Who are your favorite photographers?
I have no idea ! I like all kind of stuff. There are so many people who have done incredible work ! Just one ? Kyle Lightner, look at his blog (www.kylelightner.com).

How did your photographs end up at the Wallako Surf Shop?
They heard about me via my blog, and they offered to hold a little exhibition of my stuffs supported by the brand RVCA. They’ve been very nice to me and let me do whatever I wanted, even paint their walls. I’d like to do more exhibitions like this, it allows you to meet people and share ideas. I find it difficult to approach people, due to my shyness whereas through exhibitions, conversations are unbridled.

On your site you say that you’ve never left France, have you got any traveling plans? If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
I have to go abroad to graduate next year. I would like to go to the US or to Australia, but it’ll depend on the cost. If I could go anywhere, I would choose… I’d probably need 6 more months to come up with an answer !

You say you are not trying to make a living out of your photographs but if the opportunity came up what would you do?
Never say never… so I am just going to say “No”. I think that if I had to take photos for a living, they would be different. I don’t want to compete with other photographers, or with myself. I like the idea of being spontaneous, doing things that have no link to money. You can act without thinking “money-money-money”. That’s what I meant by “straight” before.

What do you do for a living?
I am a student and I’m actually doing a one-year internship at the moment. I earn a little bit of money and my parents help me too. They’ve sacrificed a lot for my sister and I in order for us to get a good education, I don’t want to waste their effort.

How different is it living in Paris from living in Oleron Island?

In Paris, you can have everything. If you want to see an exhibition, you can see it, if you need something specific, you can have it. The Oleron Island is the countryside. You’ll find all the things that you can’t find in cities… I’m thinking about liberty.

When I get to talk with people about my work, I like to add that I’m not looking for money, or craving for a place as an artist. All I want is to do what I like every day, and get to meet people with rad stories to tell.

I’d like to thank you Alejandra for this interview. We don’t know each other, but I hope we can meet in person one day. Canada must be an incredible country, especially with its forests and entertaining mountains. There must be tones of adventures to write about.
I hope my English is not too bad. I like the English language, even if I find it difficult sometimes to express feelings in a language that is not mine. Thanks for reading.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks Rudy, I too hope to meet you in person someday!

Now check out this videos…

All his videos are worth watching, so check them out here, because quite frankly it was difficult to chose which ones to put on here…

The movie had all the right ingredients: great riders doing great riding and tricks,  beautiful cinematography and editing, good music, which was not all electro music by the way, but really good nonetheless (the soundtrack list is at the end of this post).

I thought a snowboard movie premiere in a pub was kind of odd at first, but then I realized that the only sports that pubs ever showcase on their screens are  generally sports I am really not into (soccer, hockey, etc.) so I am not going to complain and hopefully this might start a trend.

Craig Beaulieu (featured in the movie) was there with Push.ca interviewing some people that I didn’t know/recognize so I apologize in advance if these people are really famous and rad!

Photo credit to my friend Sam D’Cruz

At the end of the movie there were some giveaways. Craig Beaulieu and the DJs were throwing jackets, snowboard pants, DVDs, Whistler passes, T shirts… Sam and I tried our luck but we got a little intimidated by all the pushing and screaming. I am especially looking at you, yes you evil little guy who we saw snatching stuff away from people, I really hope you have a mean hangover today!

The movie soundtrack:

Intro: Ya Mama, Fatboy Slim,  (album: Halfway between the gutter and the stars)
Matt Beardmore: My other self, Northern Life (album: Super Black)
Eero Niemela/ Gaetan Chanut: 2112: Overture/The Temples of Syrinx, Rush (album: 2112 Oerture)
Matt Belzile: Oh Mandy, Spinto Band (album: Nice & Nicely Done)
Tadej Valentan: Her Favourite Hymn, Ampersand (album: Fake Mother Fuckerz)
Slovenia: Up & Down I Go, Pretty Light (album: Filling Up the City Skies, Vol. 2)
Chris Rasman: Everybody know me, Chin Injeti
JF Fortin: Thank me with your hands(Panthers Remix), Mstrkrft (album: The Looks)
Matt Belzile: Oh Mandy, Spinto Band (album: Nice & Nicely Done)
Craig Beaulieu / Vera Janssen: Little Bit (CSS Remix), Lykke Li (album: Youth Novels)
Benji Ritchie /Mikey Rencz: City Lights ft. New Royales, Bishop Lamont (album: The Confessional)
Credits: The Reeling, Passion Pit (album: Manners)

It goes without saying that the shredding is sick: massive jumps filmed from every angle you could imagine. The soundtrack matches the images to perfection, even when the songs were not really my cup of tea.

The only bad thing is that it only lasts 30 minutes. No doubt I’ll be watching this movie again!

The movie features Gretchen Bleiler, Hana Beaman, Jamie Anderson, Kimmy Fasani, Lisa Filzmoser, Jenny Jones, Torah Bright, Raewyn Reid, Molly Aguirre, and Gabi Viteri

Seriously watch it, it’s right there, ready for you to click on the play button. Believe me it will blow your mind! And please feel free to let me know what you think…

PS: As you might have noticed there is a link to the pumpkin chocolate brownie recipe (oh what? Here it is again!). I don’t intend to turn this blog into a cooking blog (but, in the other hand, who knows…), but I highly recommend you give it a try. It was goo-ood!

All the details on this Facebook event page.
Do you think it’ll be ok to wear my new snowboard pants for the occasion? Sorry but I need to go and take a chill pill now…

I read this beautiful article in Huck this week. If you have a hard time understanding why some people loved and still love ‘Point Break’, Tors Arnold explains it rather well.

As for me, I’ll always keep fond memories of this movie. We were lucky enough to have a VCR recorder back in the days and I managed to catch the movie when it was finally broadcast on TV. I was still in my early teens, there was no school on Wednesday afternoon and our parents were at work/university. As nuts as it may sound my little brother and I watched Point Break every single Wednesday for most of that school year and we didn’t get tired of it.
I remember I had my mind set on becoming Tyler when I’d grow up. Sadly, somewhere along the line I forgot my goals…

On a side note, I would like to add that my bro and I used to follow up with ‘Boyz in the Hood’. Nothing to do with surfing, skateboarding or any boarding for that matter but if you haven’t seen this movie yet, then you should put it on top of your list of films to watch. Please bear in mind this was the 90s and don’t make fun. My brother and I used to sob watching it…

On this nostalgic note I would like to dedicate this post to my little brother Antonio with whom I look forward to a little some movie catch up (promise I won’t try to pedicure you anymore!)

Todd Richards‘ life has been documented in the upcoming “Me, Myself and I” by award winning movie director Josh Landan. Ok I’ll admit it I don’t know much about either of them, but I am determined to do something about it!

“Me, Myself and I” is the life story of Todd Richards, a guy who started snowboarding in infancy and has now 19 years of professional snowboarding under his belt, as well as numerous trophies, features in movies and video games (Coolboarder 2001, ESPN’s Winter X Games Snowboarding and Transworld Snowboarding).

Nixonnow.com says about the movie “This feature length documentary will surely entertain, educate and captivate its audience. Todd created success with his wit, competitive drive, and positive outlook on life- inspiring the hero in all of us.”

It hardly gets any better: an inspiring character with a good sense of humor, a good story line, good music and gnarly tricks.