Profile... Warren Smith
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Introduction...
Warren Smith is one of Britain's leading professional freeskiers riding on the Volkl International Freeski team and also as a rider and brnad ambassador for Scott USA. To add to this he is also an internationally qualified performance ski coach and trains many athletes, insturctors and recreational skiers who aspire to be all mountain skiers. He is one of the co-founders of Freeski Britain, the association responsible for British freeskiers and is the creator of the British Freeski Camps(www.britishfreeskicamps.com).
Warren is the founder and director or Snowsport Synergy Ltd, a company that holds under its assets Ride Freesport (www.ridefreesport.com), Warren Smith Ski Academy (www.warrensmith-skiacademy.com), Snow's In The House films (www.snowsinthehouse.com), the British Snowsports Tour (www.snowsports-tour.co.uk)and movies Coefficient Drag (www.coefficientdrag.com) and Winter Requiem (www.winter-requiem.com).
Warren lives in the Swiss resort of Verbier and has spent 15 seasons there getting to ride some of the world's most incredible big mountain terrain. In Verbier you will find Warren either skiing for Photographers anf Film makers, riding with friends, coaching for his Academy, filming for his movies or organising the Ride events.
Warren went to Hokkaido, Japan in Feb 08 to film and get some photos for his Japan Powder Camp concept. They were also there to set up the Academy running Powder Ski Camps in Feb 09. The trip was a huge success and you can check out video action of Warren skiing powder in the trees of Niseko and Furano by following this link, http://www.warrensmith-skiacademy.com/news/japan-action.html
Warren also teamed up with former England rugby captain, Lawrence Dallaglio, to take on the challenge of his life in September 08 by cycling 950km's over the French Pyrenees with 20,000m of climbing. He's about to start training this winter to cycle once again with Lawrence on the Dallaglio Cycle Slam with Sport Relief where they aim to raise over £1,000,000 for Cancer Research UK. If you want to get involved and help Warren with his fund raising for the details will be online to view here in December.
By Steve Jervier
Filmmaker Questionnaire
What camera and kit do you use?
Sony HDV Z1 16mm film when we can afford it!
When and why did you start filming?
In 1996 originally. The reason then was making ski coaching videos for the UK market. They all sold really well and then I managed to put the cash towards making the first action movie I did with Guido Perrini in 1999, Snow Odyssey (www.snowodyssey.tv)
What is most satisfying type of footage for you to capture on tape?
Big Mountain, Huge cliff hucking, huge kickers. Am planning on going in a cage with a Great White shark in November and filming that. Will let you know how satisfying that is when I get back!
Do you have a favourite line/ trick that you have filmed?
No, there are so many that are so good, especially in areas like Verbier and Chamonix.
Are you happy to hand over footage to be edited by other people or do you like to play a hand in the post production as well?
Like a hand in the post production unless they are paying huge wonga!
What are the pros and cons of filming the sports you do?
Pro: Adrenaline, Incedible Visuals Cons: People getting injuried or worse in the process
Do you prefer filming for sport videos or television?
Both
What are your plans for the future with filming?
At present we are filming and editing our new movie 'Title to be announced', check out our last movie Winter Requiem at the following link (www.winter-requiem.com).
What advice would you give to people that wanted to start filming?
Do anything you can for anybody. Whatever experience you can grab, grab it.
Skier Questionnaire
How old where you when you first began skiing?
13
What/Who got you into it?
My mum lived in Hemel Hempstead and I was brought up there. About 50 metres from my mum's house there was this area where I used to always spend my time. From 5 to 8 years old there was a cool woodland to explore, from 8 to 10 there was a skate park and from 10 years old they built the Hemel Ski Centre there.
What type of ski's do you use?
Volkl: for Big Mountain - Katana 197cm / Kuro 195cm / Gotama 190cm for Ski Touring - Mantra 191cm with Marker Duke for general crusing and park - Bridge 185cm
Warren + Kaylum Smith © www.melodysky.com
From Warren's Lifestyle & Portrait Gallery.
What length ski's do you use?
from 185cm to 197cm depending on the skis
Favourite Resort:
Verbier
How many seasons have you done?
18
Where have you done your seasons (including the year)?
Seefeld 90 - 93 Verbier 94 - 08
Where was you favourite trip and why?
Narvik, Norway - Was filming and skiing with my mate Guido Perrini from Verbier. We were making our first film together, Snow Odyssey (www.snowodyssey.tv) and heading north Sweden the Norway in May 1999. After a week in Riksgransen skiing and filming with riders such as Candide Tovex, Francine Moreillon, Richard Gay, Jonas Soderquist and Robert Olson we headed across across the border to Narvik in Norway. Hooked up with Ketil form the Tourist Board and then went for a ski at about 9pm. We ski till about 3am and experience the most amazing sun set for about 2 minutes until it started rising again. Having the sun at such a low angle for so long was super cool. We where with Francine Moreillon, Bruno Campagnet and Jonas Soderquist and captured some of the most amazing footage we ever shot, not the best snow but just incedible visuls. We ended up hiking to a mud hut. Ketil made a fire and we drunk beer and cooked sausages till the morning. Will always remember this day
What do you love about Skiing?
Everything, All sensations, many of them are to difficult for me to describe in words.
What's your goal within Skiing?
To be doing it for as long as possible and riding with my mates. Also to heli-ski with my son Kaylum. It's was his 8th birthday on the 19th Sept 2009 and it wont be long before he's over taking me. He skied his first deep powder snow in Val d'Isere in May 08.
What aspect of Skiing gives you the most satisfaction (powder, kickers, Halfpipe, Competitions, Big Air, Cliff drops etc
Powder, General all mountain freeride, skiing steep couloirs and exploring on film trips.
What style of Skiing best descibes your riding (include a couple if you want)?
Speed, agressive
Favourite Trick:
Getting served in the Pub Mont Fort on a busy night at New Year, Half Term or Easter when it 3 rows deep at the bar and I'm in the 3rd row back!
What's you scariest Skiing moment?
Setting up to film a Rider in the Snow Odyssey 3 shoot. I was getting my camera kit out and a guy comes down this area all outa control, kicks of shit loads of sluff and turns it into an avalanche. Just misses me a I frantically move back with camera shit all over the place. Mother…… skied off at high speed and I never saw him again. Also completely ruined what would have been an awsome shot. My pulse was racing.
What's your top safety tips when Skiing?
NEVER ski alone, Learn how to use a Transceiver and practice with it. If you're gonna put a transceiver in your bag make sure there is a shovel and a probe to go with it. Control your ego.
Warren Smith - Skiing Niseko's tree's © www.melodysky.com
From Warren's Action Gallery.
Give someone some advice:
Follow your dreams, work your nuts off trying to achieve them. As soon as you get knocked back steam forwards even harder.
General Questionnaire
What are your other interests?
My interests are my son Kaylum, sport, skiing, filming, mountain biking, diving, basketball, road cycling and watching epic movies. Right now I've just started watching 'Breaking Bad', a new series in the US which is amazing and different. I also read the bible every night before going to bed and make time on a Saturday to spot trains.
Where would you like to see yourself in the future?
Where I am now, happy with a good circle of mates and a great son.
Realistically, what will you be doing in the future?
I really don't know. Developing the things I am working on at the moment. The events, the films and the Academy.
Who are your idols?
Too many to mention. I got so much respect for so many people doing cool things in this Snowsports industry it would take 500 words.
What music are you into?
Absolutely everything!
What's your favourite book?
Never get time to read. When I do try all the words swap places and I fall asleep within 2 minutes. Think my school teachers should have spotted this but they were crap!
What's your favourite film?
Mean Steets
What's your favourite quote?
Hi Warren, what can I get ya? (Le Pub Mont Fort + Farinet, Verbier)
Best cocktail, shot or drink?
Absinth + Expresso Martini
What's your most prized possession?
Scott Ransom 10 Mountain Bike. It a sick all round freeride bike. Go get one!
Thanks to:
Mum + Dad for that night of passion that created me. Also to my Academy team who are like a family to me as well. Rod for huge amounts of support. Everybody that's helped and advised along the way.
Warren Smith © www.melodysky.com
From Warren's Lifestyle & Portrait Gallery.
Anything else you want to say?
No
