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Slo-mo: now it’s just getting silly

Two of the world’s best-loved pros have recently released footage of shreds in Tahoe, California. First up is the latest from serial edit-maker Torstein Horgmo, as he laps a snowy Northstar park:

Then we have another from Halldor Helgason, taking on trees and cliffs with Gulli Gudmundson:

As is the case with pretty much everything these guys have done, they’re worth a watch. By doing so, however, you run the risk of getting ‘slo-moed out’.

Slo-mo has always been a big part of shred movies, responsible for some iconic moments: think Peter Line beating seven shades out of the other Forum riders at the start of The Resistance, or the dropping board that kicks off the halfpipe section of 91 Words For Snow. What we get here, though, is the slo-mo treatment applied to mini-shred. What should be snappy edits with a sense of fun become, well, a bit of a drag.

Let’s be clear: the riding is flawless. Each shot viewed individually would be a banger, and to still look that steezy under the harsh judgment of super-slo-mo says volumes for the three riders. But these guys are puttering along in 2nd gear, just having a bit of a laugh, and the use of so much slo-mo (usually reserved for epic shots) isn’t a good fit. Essentially it sucks the life out of what would otherwise be the usual sharp, lively edits that Torstein and Halldor are famous for.

That’s not to say that slo-mo doesn’t still have its place. Look no further than the Art of Flight trailer to see seriously good examples, especially towards the end. For adding drama to a snowmobile dismount, or showing the strain on Travis Rice’s board as he launches a cab 9, it’s unbeatable. For everything else, maybe less is more….

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