Published in Whitelines Magazine Issue 93, December 2010

The third instalment of Relentless Energy’s f lm making competition Short Stories is out, with the snowboard chapter Permanent Vocation, featuring triple X Games champion and Relentless team rider Jenny Jones and created by talented Finnish film maker Johannes Östergård.

Set in the peaks of Santiago, Chile and Mammoth, California, the short film is the latest answer to Relentless Energy’s challenge to recognised core sports and music film makers to explore, reveal and define ‘No Half Measures’ through the medium of film.

Permanent Vocation is a beautifully shot, personal portrait of Britain’s most successful snowboarder. From her first turns on dryslope near her hometown of Bristol, England, to making the seasonaires’ pilgrimage to the French Alps as a chalet girl in Tignes, Jones’ innate ability, focus, drive and passion is captured in the fi lm; that same determination and positivity saw her landing front flips on her first winter – and won the first British Champion ships she entered.

“I wanted something with a straight-forward storyline,” explains Östergård. “Jenny sent me a stream of consciousness text on her snowboard life so far – I liked it and that became the backbone of the film.”

Jones’ has won big air and slopestyle titles across the globe, making the podium at two Vans Triple Crowns, the Winter Dew Tour, the Roxy Chicken Jam and her biggest achievement to date – winning three X Games Golds back to back in 2009-10.

However, this 30-year-old is not just another park rat. Her passion for powder runs deep, fitting globetrotting backcountry filming trips around her busy competition schedule – from her debut with Chunky Knit, to the UK’s legendary Lockdown Productions, Miss Chief, Runway Films, Jmill’s Stance and many more.

It’s this that the film focuses on – the Jenny Jones behind the goggles and the Gore-Tex. It looks at the incredible experiences Jones has clocked up during her ten year career – but also the sacrifices she’s made to reach the pinnacle of her profession: physical (blown ACLs, numerous broken bones, torn ligaments, ripped muscles, scars and concussions) and personal.

“I want the viewer to feel what it feels like to be Jenny Jones,” explains Östergård. “She’s always gone for it 100%,followed her passion and never looked back.”

The way Jenny puts it: “Johannes wasn’t trying to make me out to be someone I’m not. He wasn’t trying to hype anything up, or play anything down. Just make a beautiful film. He was brilliant with direction, really open to working together and we communicated really well.”

“I want to portray people in a genuine way in front of the camera,” adds Östergård. “Inspire people to travel and keep doing what they love. If they feel something after watching, I’m happy.”

To see Jenny in Permanent Vocation and watch other Relentless’ Short Stories visit relentlessenergy.com