Out Of Bounds Kicks Off Winter Season With Contests, Films

With winter just around the corner, it’s only a matter of time before the skis and snowboards are pulled out of the closet, and setting the pace for a non-stop winter season is the Whistler Arts Council (WAC)’s annual Out Of Bounds: Tales From The Backcountry event. From September 23 to October 25, 2013, Millennium Place will be flooded with ski and snowboard films, a taste of the iF3 ski festival, Prior Topsheet contest, Whistler Outdoor Photography Summit and a backcountry photo exhibition, signaling to everyone that winter is almost upon us.

“Out Of Bounds is the event that gets everyone excited for winter,” says event organizer Andrea Mueller. “This year we have ramped up the month-long exhibit with a wicked launch party that includes the Prior Topsheet contest where people get two chances to win Prior skis and snowboard as well as giveaways, a taste of the iF3 ski festival that will show the best ski movies out there, and Blake Jorgenson’s photography workshops and talks.”

Cabin Fever Launch Party

Kicking off the 33 days of celebration is the free cabin-fever themed Launch Party on Tuesday, September 24th at Millennium Place, from 7:30pm to 10:30pm. Scotia Creek Gallery will be transformed into a rustic ski cabin, complete with animal trophies, wooden walls, and old furniture. Attendees are encouraged to dig out their best plaid, grow full beards, and bring nostalgic ski equipment in honour of the throw-back evening. Amid upbeat DJ beats, food, and drink, they’ll mingle with photographers and artists, and have the chance to walk away with an array of incredible prizes. Best part is the event is free.

The launch party serves as a platform to introduce the 16 photographers who have been selected for the prestigious backcountry photo contest. Todd Easterbrook, Sean St. Denis, Vince Shuley, Russell Dalby, Trevor Hunt, Dan Cudlip, Nick Thomas, Zoya Lynch, Mark Gribbon, Geoffrey Holman, Bradley Slack, Steve Andrews, Stephen McVeigh, Marcus Richardson, Jeff Boyce, and Reuben Krabbe will have their work showcased along the wood-lined walls, allowing attendees to select their favourite. Expert photographers Blake Jorgenson, Todd Lawson, Les Anthony, and Jordan Manley will choose a winner, who will receive $1000. The public will be able to vote for their favourite until October 25, when the winner of a Backcountry Snowcats tour will be announced.

Prior Topsheet Contest

Joining the photo exhibition and launch party at Scotia Creek Gallery will be Prior’s ski and snowboard topsheet contest, where artists will have a chance to design a topsheet for Prior’s 2015 lineup. A selection of entrants will be displayed at the Launch Party, giving the public until October 25, 2013 to choose their favourite. Not only will the winner receive a pair of custom Prior skis or a snowboard, but so will one lucky public voter.

Fall Whistler Outdoor Photography Summit

For any aspiring photographer looking for insider tips on how to shoot anything in the outdoors, from action to landscape, sign up for Blake Jorgenson’s Outdoor Photography Summit workshops, held at Millennium Place from September 26th to 29th. Blake and his esteemed colleagues Jordan Manley, Scott Serfas, and Eric Berger will guide, mentor, and discuss the golden nuggets every outdoor photographer needs to know. For more information, visit whistlerphotosummit.com.

iF3

For the first time, the International Freeski Film Festival hits Whistler, landing at Millennium Place on Saturday, October 12th for one packed day of festivities, featuring premieres of the year’s best ski movies, including Sherpas Cinemas' Into The Mind. Full lineup and apres parties can be found at http://www.artswhistler.com/events/if3-whistler-blackcomb

Ski Films

On Tuesday, September 10th, a powerful lineup of ski films hits Millennium Place starting with Absinthe Films’ premiere of Dopamine. On Thursday, September 18th Patagonia Productions and Sweetgrass present Valhalla, and on October 19th, Doglotion presents TGR’s Way Of Life. Rounding out the series is Matchstick Productions’ McConkey on October 30th. Full details can be found at artswhistler.com.