As winter wakes up across the country, Vermont already feels alive - not just for the early laps, but for the premiere of Vermont Bound and Down, a new film by Jesse Gomez, Cali Carlson, Ryan Sihler, and Harley Ruffle, filmed by Henry Viz. It captures the raw energy of East Coast snowboarding, where riding is more than a pastime - it’s a way of life.
I made the trip to Vermont last Thursday. Resorts are opening up across the country - including Mammoth, which I typically hit first during the season. I’m feeling fortunate to have made the decision early to head east, especially with Mammoth’s opening date getting pushed back right as I was traveling.
I’m from Maine, and this was the first East Coast opening weekend I’ve hit in probably two decades. To be honest, they hit different. Once you’re on hill, it feels like they just let wild animals out of a cage.
The crew rode Friday and Saturday, and we were seriously impressed by the conditions. Hovering around 34 degrees, Friday had a mellow crowd and plenty of boarding to get in. It was a little scratchy in some spots, but nothing East Coast kids can’t handle. They definitely know how to use their edges - firm conditions are just part of the experience out here, especially before winter really sets in.
The main objective of the trip was to visit team riders Jesse Gomez, Cali Carlson, Harley Ruffle, and Ryan Sihler - all Signal riders - for the premiere of Vermont Bound and Down at Darkside Snowboards in Killington, VT. Henry Viz took the lead on filming. Darkside is the East Coast hub for a massive snowboard community: core to the bone and extremely passionate.
The crew filmed their project last winter, and it’s set to release as a web series very soon. One of the episodes features footage from around ten resorts across Vermont, plus a “Dark Park” section - Darkside’s own snowboard park right behind the shop - and a ton of street snowboarding. Eighty percent of it was filmed within an hour of Killington.
There’s a lot of snowboarding history rooted in that area - from the beginnings of Burton to some of the first snowboard contests, the Grenade crew, the GBP (Gremlinz) scene, and so much more. They don’t take snowboarding lightly. It’s 100% a lifestyle. I felt lucky to be there and experience that kind of passion firsthand.
Of course, I was there to represent Signal, but also to support Jesse and the crew. Jesse - a friend and team rider - spent all summer editing the video. It was his first time editing a full project, and he absolutely crushed it. From the snowboarding to the theme, graphics, and overall vibe, it truly represented the Vermont experience.
Sure, you can put out a cookie-cutter snowboard movie filmed all over the world - sometimes in unrelatable street spots - but Jesse had a different idea: keep it local, keep it relevant to the community, and inspire people to snowboard right outside their door in Vermont. This one won’t get swept under the rug like so many of the 100+ snowboard videos that drop every year.
The premiere took place Saturday at 6 PM, showing Vermont Bound and Down alongside the new ThirtyTwo movie, Tre Deuce. Phil Hansen, Scott Stevens, and other ThirtyTwo riders were in town. Scott has had a massive impact on East Coast snowboarders, and it was rad to have him there - especially since Jesse and Scott share a similar approach to snowboarding.
Snowboarding is more than just going straight into a kink rail and doing something gnarly. Vermont Bound and Down showcased all aspects of snowboarding - sure, some street - but also the kind of stuff you can do right outside your door.
The energy of the Vermont snowboard scene is hardcore. They don’t take this shit lightly. Once you make a friend in snowboarding out here, chances are you’ve got a homie for life.
Then came Vermont Bound and Down.
To be honest, Jesse was feeling pretty nervous leading up to it - and rightfully so. It was his first full video project - one he edited, produced, and even did the graphics for - all in the span of about six months. But I’d seen a rough cut a couple of months earlier and was super impressed. As someone who’s been editing for over 25 years, I can say he’s got a natural eye for storytelling. You can feel the authenticity and fun in his edits.
The video was received incredibly well - by friends, old heads, and the local community alike. It 100% inspired everyone there to get outside and ride. While I won’t get too deep into the video itself since it’s set to release soon, the goal was accomplished: stoke out the local community, inspire the youth, and authentically represent Vermont snowboarding. - Tom
