Unleash the Lens rolled into London on Tuesday to present the special premiere event, ‘An Evening of Shred Films with JP Solberg’ at the Roxy Bar and Screen.  The night gathered up the city snow lovers that aren’t doing their last minute packing for the season or already in the mountains.  Free DVD’s of Back to Powder were given out on entry and JP Solberg was around all night and introduced both of the films that starred the man himself.

‘The Oxbow team’s 100% backcountry production’ Back to Powder is JP Solberg’s first film with his Oxbow team mates. Featuring JP, Kalle Ohlson, Adan Baserba, Thomas Delfino, David Livet, Thomas Gerin and Sophie Rodriguez, the riders explore 9 different countries in search of the ultimate fresh powder tracks.  JP comments ‘we really have filmed some incredible images this winter with deep snow and big pow pillows.’

Sophie Rodriguez is the only female snowboarder to appear in ‘Back to Powder.’ Sophie was born in Grenoble, France and started snowboarding as a kid, going on to win the Junior World Championship 4 times. While more recently in 2010 she came in 5^th at the Vancouver Olympics, 3^rd in the X-Games Europe and 4^th on the dew tour.

In the film we see Sophie’s steezy runs in the Superpipe finals at the X-Games Europe 2011. Going big with some massive air and stomping out 9’s she spent the year perfecting.  She came in 6^th (out of 12) with a score of 77 points for her best run.  At just 23 she has had an incredible career in snowboarding already. Look out for her on the podium in the next few years.

The headliner ‘YES. It’s a movie’ follows the Yes family on their year long travels around the world in search of powder and good times. The film features JP, DCP, Romain De Marchi, Tadashi Fuse, Benji Richie, Frank April, Helen Schettini, Mikey Pederson and Jake Koia.

Helen Schettini has the Whistler backcountry on her back doorstep so it’s no wonder she can rip up the fresh powder just like one of the boys. I love girl riders that you don’t instantly realise are female. Helen is the only women on the Yes Snowboard team and she gives the guys a run for their money with her serious shredding style. This is one of the heaviest female powder segments this year. Cutting out massive powder lines in the mountains, she tears up the backcountry like I can only dream about.

After the film screenings JP was back to close the night and TSA had a mountain of goodies to give away including a YES snowboard and an Oxbow jacket and pants set as seen in the film.

After the testosterone filled ‘The Art of Flight’ it was refreshing to watch Sophie and Helen holding it down for the girls in two big snowboard films. With the success of CAPiTA’s ‘Defenders of Awesome’ with two female riders-the awesome Jess Kimura and Laura Hadar, and with Lipstick Productions debut ‘5 more minutes… Please!?!’ that features an all female line up, starring our very own Aimee Fuller. I hope we will see more girly riders killing it on the big screen in 2012.

Massive thanks to The Snowboard Asylum, Oxbow, YES Snowboards, Skullcandy, Dragon and Whitelines for putting on the event. See you there again next year! Krystelle x