I love skiing. Ultimately, that is why I do what I do. However, it is easy to become jaded and to forget. I watch skiing pretty much constantly, year-round. Skiing has become work and I've had a bunch of injury issues. When I'm sitting at home with free time, I'll watch snowboarding, skateboarding, or climbing, and not just because watching skiing has become my job, disgustingly privileged though that is. I find that more than other sports Instagram has had a traumatic effect on the quality and interest level of ski media. A lot is derivative and stale, and frankly, lacking effort and passion. There simply isn't that much content that excites me these days... and that is doubly true in summer.

However, and this is my actual point, I just sat and watched Bracket Creep three times. It might have a Monster Energy logo in the intro, but that aside, it has everything that lacks in so much ski content. It has style, artistry, and above all, it's different. Of course, it's demonstrably inspired by skateboard films, both in filming and editing, but the skiing itself is both high-level and unique without any need to resort to quirkiness.

Quality ski content possesses an uncanny ability to transport us to realms beyond our actual capabilities. It has the potential to inspire and rekindle our passion for activities we may have temporarily left behind, mentally at least. "Bracket Creep" flawlessly accomplishes this. The film captures the very essence of skiing as it is for me. Fun, creative, none too serious, and also, crucially, not defined by the gnarliness or consequence. I want to go skiing more right now than I have in a very long time. With the slushy slopes, and the subtly portrayed good vibes, this 11-minute film brought me back to being a ski rat. Of course, it won't bring back my knees but it made me want to get out there nonetheless.

I could probably end this right there and say go and watch the film, which you should. But I should mention the all-star cast. Jackson and Beau-James are right at the forefront themselves, but Edjoy & Joona Kangas deserve a solid nod with tasteful, unique tweaks on all they do. There's even a banger from Henrik in there, though Wacko is the undisputed 'star' of this film. And he's quietly become perhaps the most engaging skier of the newer gen of 'proper' pros... though the aforementioned names are up there too. I'm not going to bother with the trick-for-trick breakdown here, but if you want a seminal moment or two, the near-edge catch at 06:20 and the rail gap ender (before the encore seg) are up there. Most importantly, there are plenty of subtleties that you only catch on a second or third viewing, which is what makes this such a special cut.

I think, and to me this is always crucial, what is so exceptional about Bracket Creep is how relatable it is. Of course, the level of skiing is beyond my dreams and most likely yours too. But they are filming in a resort, in spring. It's not epic pow, it's not death-defying street skiing, it's just old-fashioned fun, as had by some of the most talented skiers on the planet. It proves many things. First is that you don't have to travel the world in search of the epic... and actually world would be a lot healthier place if we made the most of what we have rather than wanting to travel far and wide in search of the perfect Instagram moment.

But it also shows that the fantasy skiing portrayed by helicopters after endless travel days and long-haul flights and month-long waits for weather windows is less interesting to watch too. Skiing needs these kinds of films to inspire those who don't have the aspirations or the means to climb mountains and travel to far-flung destinations for the most pristine powder day. Or the will to send the biggest jump or get worked in the streets. And without a doubt, that is most skiers when they actually allow themselves a moment of retrospection.

I could easily go too deep with waxing lyrical about this one or go on more tangents than I already have. Put simply, I haven't been this excited by a ski clip in some time (perhaps Jake Carney's NS Original cut is up there). This is a banger, plain and simple. While this isn't their first film, to me, it deserves to be thought of like the Magma movies, Zootspace, and a select group of others in these post-social media days that will genuinely be treasured and remembered. It's a triumph and my proverbial hat (it's hot here) goes off to the boys behind this one. If you haven't watched it already, enjoy:

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