(SKI.BG) -- Изключително потайно в края на месец март тази година на секретна мисия в България бяха няколко от най-големите световни имена във фрийстайл сноубординга. Плеядата се състоеще от про-тата: словенеца Марко Грилч, американците Марк Франк Монтоя (известен като MFM), Аарон Битнер и първия и единствен професионален сноубордист афро-американец Стиви Бел.

На Стрижишките (Къркъмските) езера в Пирин, фотография: OXO

От 23-ти до 30-ти март про-райдерите бяха в Пирин планина, за да заснемат кадри за специалния материал на SNOWBOARDER MAGAZINE, посветен на сноубординга в България, който ще бъде публикуван в предстоящия 25-ти брой на култовото американско сноуборд списание. За създаването на материала заедно с райдерите бяха авторът и фотографът на SNOWBOARDER mag - съответно T. Bird и E-Stone, а към тях се присъедини и личният фотограф на Марко Грилч - Mitja. Разбира се, в такива случаи нищо не може да се получи без участието на местен гид. За целта американците разчитаха на вещото съдействие от страна на едни от най-запознатите с фрийрайд и беккънтри условията в Пирин планина - Андрей Балевски и Мая Стоилова от екипа на "ОХО".

Преди няколко дни авторът на материала T. Bird сподели в кратко комюнике на официалния уебсайт на SNOWBOARDER Mag впечатленията си от пътешествието до България "в търсене на снега", гарнирано със серия behind-the-scenes фотографии. Представяме ви част от тях, заедно с текста от съобщението на T. Bird в оригинал на английски език >

DISPATCH: SNOWBOARDING IN BULGARIA
May 7, 2012, SNOWBOARDER Magazine
Words: T. Bird
Photos: T. Bird, E-Stone

A few weeks ago, my good friend and photographer E-Stone and I got to accompany an eclectic group of riders to Bansko, Bulgaria. I’d gotten the tip from a buddy of mine that works for Method Magazine while I was over in Barcelona on vacation. I had mentioned that Bulgaria was on my to-do list and he perked up and immediately started searching his computer for a contact that could make it happen. Needless to say, it did. With MFM, Aaron Biittner, Stevie Bell, Marko Grilc, and Marko’s filmer Mitja, we set off for the Eastern Bloc in search of snow. The resulting images will be a print feature in SNOWBOARDER Magazine’s 25th volume, and these behind-the-scenes shots will hopefully give you a taste of what went on off the hill. The snow was good and the trip was all-time, mainly because the crew was incredible, and if you’re on an international trip with a good group of dudes, nothing else really matters…and to me, that’s what traveling is all about. Finding new zones, exploring new areas, and having a damn good time with your friends. I’d like to thank White Lavina Hotel for giving us a nice, clean bed, Andi, Maja, and Martina for showing us around the mountains, and all the locals in Bansko for making us feel right at home when in actuality we were so far away from it.

One of my favorite things about international travel is the billboards. They walk the fine line between kind of making sense while making absolutely no sense at all. Note the dude's hat that says "S.S. Uranus." And I don't even wanna know what a "Race Party" is. Photo: T. Bird

This is the apres scene in Bulgaria. A small yurt with smoke billowing from the chimney sits on the side of the trail on the way down the mountain. You stop, have a beer, and eat some mystery meat. One of these is horse. We all tried the horse, and though it tasted a bit funny, it was necessary to get some sustenance after "hoofing" it around the backcountry all day long. Photo: T. Bird

Downtown Bansko, looking up at the mountain. Photo: E-Stone

The view from our hotel of Todorka Peak, the spine-like ridge that accesses all the goods. From the top of the gondola you hike up the ridge and around the back and it opens up into some world-class terrain. At 7am every morning, it's tough to look out of your window and justify hiking it again, but it was well worth it. Photo: T. Bird

This is the aftermath of a massive wetslide that had overtaken the cat track that we were utilizing to traverse out of the zone we were riding all day long. It went from the top and to the ground. Holy shit. Photo: T. Bird

Marko Grilc and our guide, Andi. Andi runs a backcountry guiding program and off-piste education school called Oxo. Go to oxo.bg to check out some of the terrain that Bansko has to offer. Thanks, Andi. You're the man. Photo: T. Bird

The crew, posing with the cross atop the mountain peak before the hike up Todorka Peak. Photo: E-Stone

Marko Grilc is no snow angel, but this photo sure is heavenly. Photo: E-Stone

This is the view from the top of Todorka Peak, and it's pretty cool, if you're into breathtaking and majestic vistas. Photo: E-Stone

During a down day, we traveled through the countryside and stopped in a gypsy village. The kids were more than intrigues to find out what we were all about since they never really get to see foreigners, let alone Westerners. Much like everyone who meets the guy, these kids loved MFM. Photo: T. Bird

MFM is for the children! Photo: E-Stone

Очаквайте още подробности, впечатленията на българските участници в тайната мисия и, разбира се, повече екшън фотографии скоро на SKI.BG !!!

SKI.BG
30 май 2012 г.