Benny Urban talks about Oasen

You directed this movie for Vans, how did it all start?
I wouldn’t necessarily use the term “directed”, we actually decided to call it “driven by”! Bruno Rivoire (who’s the team manager for Vans Europe) and me have been talking about doing a project like that for a while but the timing never seemed right until last winter. I guess me taking a bit of a lead on the planning and direction side simply came through sharing ideas and specific visions for this film. I’m really thankful for the trust Vans has in me and for supporting what we think makes a good snowboarding video.

Can you tell me about a difficult moment and a particularly exciting one?
Music is always a difficult and long process. Making the decisions on what to use and then getting the rights for it can give you a big headache. Every trip and every single day we went out shooting was exciting to us. You never really know what you’ll end up doing. Staying flexible and adaptable helps for sure.

How was the selection of the riders of the movie made? Have any of them been a great friend of yours for a long time?
Everyone involved knows each other and gets along with each other really well, which is super important, I think. The vibes have to be good! Otherwise what’s the point? The crew has to speak the same language (metaphorically speaking) in terms of spots, locations, trick choices, how to shoot things and so on. Otherwise it becomes a nightmare to agree on every aspect about snowboarding. Most of the riders involved have been friends for quite some time. If not that they are new friends now! 

At a time when everything is shared live on social media, why the decision to work on a movie and on an art project like Oasen?
Because social media and instant content kill a lot of creativity. Our goal was to make a snowboard film which people would remember and ideally want to re-watch. Not something which you forget until the next Instagram post is out. We need to keep this cultural aspect of snowboard movies alive. It’s a platform where riders and companies can showcase so much more than just how good they are for a short moment.

How did you decide the spots and places where to shoot?
The fundamental factor was to find snow in interesting zones. I personally love to go to places that are hilly and to towns that have a lot of natural speed spots. It makes everything so much nicer and it shows in the riding I think.

What are your favorite tricks and spots in the movie?
I really like Sebi Springeth’s Boardslide around the corner to redirect into the Bank. Also Kas Lemmen’s 50-50 on the big Kink Rail and Dominik Wagner’s switch creeper in Sweden are some of my favorite clips.

How is snowboarding changing? What direction is it taking according to your point of view?
The progression is crazy. Kids are getting absurdly good that I can’t even keep track anymore. For real, I have no idea about so many up and comers which is a shame. And it’s not like I don’t study the snowboarding world every single day. So I think it’s really hard for a lot of them to find the right platform (besides Instagram) to stand out. I think there is so much more to a rider than just being good. It’s how you do things, you know? Kids should remember that. Be yourself and stand out through individuality and originality.

Can you tell me about the photographers and filmmakers who followed you? What is your relationship with them?
With Vans we are really privileged to work with the best in the game. Matt Georges is Vans Europe’s Staff Photographer and I’m happy to call him my friend and being able to work with him quite often already. He is the best. It doesn’t matter what you end up shooting with Matt, the photos always turn out sick! Alex Pfeffer was the main filmer and editor of Oasen which was a blessing because he’s been on every trip and works his ass off out in the field just like we riders do. So he’s just as involved in every aspect of it. On top of that, he’s an amazing filmer and never misses a shot. I personally really enjoy filming follow cam stuff with him because I think we can claim that he’s one of the best in the game when it comes to that. Also a great friend. So overall I’m really happy, we were able to have this dream cast of people coming together. A dream coming true!

Are you planning any other movies or art projects in the near future?
I hope so! I just need to find the time for it. I’m going to try for sure!