The Art of Flight World tour came to town Thursday night for London’s premiere of the most anticipated snowboarding film ever, shown on Britain’s largest screen at the BFI IMAX.

Red Bull once again teamed up with Quiksilver and Brian Farm Digital Cinema to make this 2 year project the most innovative extreme snow sports movie in history. The Dolby collaboration is a first for action sports, combined with next level tech and the most advanced film cameras around; Curt Morgan has created a snowboarding film made to be blasted out on the big screen.

Watching the trailer for the first time earlier this year gave me goose bumps in places I didn’t think was possible so when I heard London would be getting a premiere at the IMAX there was only one option, to hold out for that unique experience.  Fortunately I was one of the lucky 500 that grabbed a ticket to the sold out VIP screening.

The red carpet was laid out at the IMAX for the AOF tour. Amongst the crowd trying to get to the bar to cash in on their free drinks vouchers, there were goody bags on arrival and EA was on the scene demonstrating the new SSX game.  Travis Rice made his grand entrance in style kitted out in full 1940s fighter pilot attire.

With the tour came exclusive art work from Asymbol Gallery, including the Travis Rice Collection by Mike Parillo with pieces featured on TRice’s Libtech Pro model. After a quick dress up and a souvenir picture in the photo booth it was time to head up to the theatre to grab a spot.

The room was packed full of recognisable faces from the UK snow scene including Battle of Britain winner from Freeze Festival Billy Morgan. In matching costume Tim Warwood introduced snowboarder of the moment TRice and the film. After Warwood asked for a show of hands to who has seen the film I was surprised to find out nearly half of the audience had held out for this screening too.

So after spending the summer drooling over the trailers and waiting two months after its official release date I finally got to watch the film. Did AOF live up to the hype? Was it worth the wait? Is TRice really that amazing? Yes, yes and YES. The producers of ‘That’s It, That’s All’ step up their game to a new platform that showcases the most incredible progressive snowboarding.

AOF follows Travis Rice, Scotty Lago, Jake Blauvelt, Nicolas Muller, Gigi Ruf, DCP, Pat Moore, Mark McMorris and more on their journey into the wilderness.  TRice opens the film at the start of his adventure with the thought ‘If we want authenticity, we have to initiate it,’ just as TRice, John Jackson and Mark Landvik drop through a vast panorama of Alaska. The team take us to places in the world that many of us can only dream about, and they tear it up hard. Breathtaking photography, jaw dropping landscapes, big air, serious pow and an equally epic soundtrack. AOF is so much more than just a snowboard film and I am stoked at the thought of where they can possibly take the next film.

After some more smoozing in the bar the attendees of the second screening headed into the auditorium while a sea of happy faces and beanies from the first screening proceeded down the road to Pulse for the after party.

London based New Zealand rock band I Am Giant supplied the live music, followed by DJ sets from Scott Nixon and Christian Stevenson.  The night ended with TRice making an appearance with a surprise guest, fellow Pro Iouri ‘I-Pod’ Podlatchikov, and I managed to bag a photo with the pair.

What a banging night. Hope everyone enjoyed Art of Flight has much as I did. Krystelle x