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Red Bull Tribalquest 2008: The End |
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18 – 22 February, Nendaz (Switzerland)
Creative Angles
On Friday night, Red Bull Tribalquest 2008 ended with the presentation
and awarding of the pictures. Photographers and riders rated the images
of their colleagues and thereby elected the winners in the categories
portrait, scenery and action.
The last day belonged to the missing images. Snowbarder Jessica
Venables and photographer Myriam Lang-Willar finally found a good cliff
to shoot, and then worked on Jessica's portrait. Ruedi Flück
photographed a line by snowboarder Clemens Jezler and some more
backcountry freestyle by skier Nicolas Vuignier. Even the English
bothered to go to the mountain once again to complete their portfolio.
And then the moment of truth had finally come: The result of four days
of almost permanent shooting was projected to the big screen outside
the Bar Ocactus, which had served as the base camp of the Red Bull
Tribalquest in Nendaz. The photographers briefly explained how they had
made their pictures or what the reasoning behind them was. Then it was
time for the rating. All 24 participants gave points for the pictures
except for their own.
The image is the winner
For four days, the photographers had been complaining about the
difficult conditions and the little time they had to produce the
pictures. Now, they impressed not only the many visitors but also their
colleagues with their work. The professionals as well as the public
teams offered creative angles, finde compositions of light and shadow,
technical tricks, a good piece of humor and, of course, first-class
backcountry and freestyle snowboarding and skiing. The time for the
rating was short, which was a good thing. They could easily have
discussed the photos for another day without getting to agree, which
ones were the best.
The Winners
Who am I?
Nathan Gallagher (photographer, UK) Paddy Graham (skier, UK)
Marcel Lämmerhirt (photographer, D) Andy Lehmann (snowboarder, D)
Where am I
Ruedi Flück (photographer, CH) Nicolas Vuignier (skier, CH)
Klaus Polzer (photographer, D), André Kuhlmann (snowboarder, D)
What am I doing
Klaus Polzer (photographer, D), Nico Zacek (skier, D)
Greg von Doersten (photographer, USA), Eric Themel (snowboarder, A)
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Red Bull Tribalquest 2008: Day 4 |
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18 – 22 February, Nendaz (Switzerland)
24 Ways to Shoot
Eight teams are at the Red Bull Tribalquest. That's 24 individuals who
have their own perception of a good photo, which they project on the
mountains around Nendaz. Each picture that is shot, is preceded by
discussions. The rider has an idea, the photographer has got another
and all have the other teams in the back of their mind, which they want
to beat with their images. Discussion time in some groups is longer
than hiking time and that's not a bad sign.
Eight teams mean also eight different ways of working. Some work
themselves very systematically through the list of action shots,
portraits and scenery photos. Others leave the hotel in the morning
with a vage idea in their mind, see a spot underway, spend the next
three hours there and come back in the evening with pictures they
wouldn't have dreamed of.
Six pro teams have been invited by the organizers. Two public teams
qualified with their portfolio for the Red Bull Tribalquest. They are
especially easy going. This is also true for the pros – most of the
time. But it happens that the pressure leads to a little more volume in
the discussions. And then there are three English men, the UK-team,
which found their own interpretation of the job to be done. This
afternonn they spent in the hotel, working their laptops. The rumor
goes, that they are working on the redefinition of ski- and
snowboard-photography. The result will be projected on a big screen on
Friday night.
The presentation of the photos on a big screen and the awards ceremony
take place on Friday, 22 February at 8.30pm. At 10pm DJ Dylax from
Deelux Edition calls the spectators to the dancefloor. The entrance is
free to everyone.
Nicolas Vuignier hiking for the next shot.
Photo: Ruedi Flück
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Red Bull Tribalquest 2008: Day 3 |
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18 – 22 February, Nendaz (Switzerland)
The Right Spot at the Right Time
Photographer Marcel Lämmerhirt talks through the radio to snowboarder
Andi Lehmann: «You head straight down towards the tree further down and
before you reach it, you make a left turn with a massive powder spray.»
Lehmann: «Which tree do you mean? The small one slightly to the left or
the big one further down?» Lämmerhirt: «The big one. You pass the small
tree and above the big one you turn left.» Lehmann: «Left from your
perspective or from mine?» Lämmerhirt: «From your perspective. After
the turn you have to stop immediately, because there is a cliff.»
Lehmann: «Ok, tell me when you're ready and I'll come.» This
conversation has been considerably shortened. Usually, it takes much
longer until the rider and the photographer understand each other. The
communication between the two is crucial for a good picture.
The biggest part of the time is spent on the search for the right spot.
Skier Phil Meier narrates: «You look for a spot with good, untracked
snow and which is in the sunlight at the time you are there. I live in
the area and I know the mountains pretty well. Anyway, it takes us
hours to find the best places and to hike there.»
Awards and Party on Friday
Who am I, where am I and what am I doing here, are the three questions
which have to be photographically answered by the eight teams by coming
Friday. The presentation of the images and the awards ceremony take place on Friday at 8.30 pm in front of the Bar Ocactus in Haute Nendaz.
They will be followed by a party with DJ Dyla from Deelux Edition. The
entrance is free.
Good Prospect: Jessica Venables and Jonas Delogne.
Photo: Myriam Lang-Willar
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Red Bull Tribalquest 2008: Checking Day |
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18 – 22 February, Nendaz (Switzerland)
Where do we shoot our photos?
Alex Coudray, snowboard pro, Nendaz-local and organizer of the Red Bull
Tribalquest is standing on a summit und points to different areas:
«Underneath these windlips, the snow is still fresh and at noon, the
light is great there. At the slope over there, there are still some
untouched channels. And there, beside the dam, you will find plenty of
good runs.
What the resident covers with the move of his arm, means hours and
meters of altitude difference on foot – and then, it's trial and error.
This is exactly the purpose of the official checking day of the Red
Bull Tribalquest. Who am I, where am I and what am I doing is for
later. Now the question is: Where do we shoot our pictures?
«It was better than we had anticipated; close to being amazing, even»
photographer Nathan Gallagher describes in good british manner what he
encountered during the day. Skier David Ortlieb and his teammates found
a nice playground they are going back to, the next days. «And if we
don't get a good powder shot, we still can go for backcountry jibbing
pictures.» The mountains above Nendaz allow for almost anything. The
boundaries are in the minds or the legs.
 
Left: Do I look cool? No, that is not a Tribalquestion. Photo: Nathan Gallagher
Right: Swiss Team on the quest. Photo: Roman Eggenberger
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Red Bull Tribalquest 2008: Day 1 |
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18 – 22 February, Nendaz (Switzerland)
The Quest has begun
Red Bull Tribalquest is when eight freeride-tribes, consisting of a
skier, a snowboarder and a photographer go on the quest for the three
«ws»: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing? The answers will be given
next friday night with the teams' photographs.
The contest took off on Monday night, 18 February, when the eight teams
gathered in the event's base Nendaz in Switzerland. «The rules of the
event are tight», Xavier Delerue says, who has won virtually everything
that is there to be won in snowboardcross. «The snow conditions are the
same for everyone and there is not much time to shoot six pictures.
This forces us to get creative and try new things», he declares.
Time is short and snow is sparse. The conditions are defintely not
those in which freeriders and photographers usually get their prey. But
all participants agree that under these circumstances, the real
creatives have an advantage. And last but not least, all of them
believe that they will find a patch of untouched snow, which is just
enough for the one magic moment freeride photography is about.
On Friday night, the participating riders and photographers will judge
the pictures and decide who are the winners of this year's Red Bull
Tribalquest.
 
Friend or foe? Nico Zazek and Flo Wieser haven't decided yet.
Photos: Marcel Lämmerhirt
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