Andi Lehmann
Michael Albin
Shaun White
Terje Hakonsen
Anne Flore Marxer
Anne Flore Marxer
Alex Schmaltz
Andy Finsch
Christel Thoresen
Andrew Crawford
Martin Rutz
Thomas Beckna Eberharter
Chris Bachmann
Christoph Thoresen
Christopn Thoresen
Danny Larsen
David Benedek
David Nye
DCP
Dimitri Fesenko
Drew Stevenson
Ed Leigh
Eero Ettala
Eero Ettala
Eric Themel
Fadri Jecklin
Filippo Kratter
Filippo Kratter
Silli Mittermueller
Erik Haugo
Stefan Gimpl
Steve Gruber
Tina Birbaum
Giacomo Kratter
Gian Simmen
Hansi Herbig
Ingmar Backmann
Jakob Soederquist
Quentin Robbins
Jamie Lynn
Jan Michaelis
Martin Haselwarter
Johan Olofson
Jonte Edwardson
Joni Malmi
Mark Frank Montoya
Patrick Armbruster
Marko Grilic
Mini Karpf
Nicolas Mueller
Fredrick Sarvell
Jussi Oksanen
Nicola Thost
Lukas Goller
Marku Koski
Markus Keller
Xave Hoffmann
Marco Lutz
Wolle Nyvelt
Pelle Janson
Book Nature of Snowboarding
NATURE OF SNOWBOARDING
Eye to eye
Used to be, knowledge was passed on from one savvy to another. Whether it be kings or shamans, hunters or farmers, priestesses or wise guys, the constellation was the same. The art and the eye for things handed down from one master to his chosen disciple. The disciple, zealous, rebellious and chosen as he was, would not only learn what was to be learned, but would also twist the art, spin it and move it forward. Ideally, after some «patience, young Skywalker» lines, the disciple would take his art further than even master had thought possible. Unfortunately, then writing was invented.
Writing is said to make great thoughts immortal. And most people think that’s good. But with the introduction of writing and media, two nasty things happened: For one, master and disciples no longer know each other. The master, originator of thought, replaced by the teacher: Gnostic used-car salesmen, underpaid, pitching thoughts far greater than their own. The chosen disciple, formerly a harbor of raw talent, replaced by flocks of either smart bored or motivated dull students. Writing killed faith, the kind you get listening to someone who really knows. Because he invented it. Or because he was there. Or because he was chosen to learn from someone who was there. Instead we read impersonal words. We interpret masks, not faces. Religious wars are fought on different understanding of the same old books – between adversaries who both weren’t there.
And with writing making thoughts immortal, the real masters in life started losing to masters of the letter. Used to be, a master spent his days creating and achieving. His last achievement was the education of a chosen disciple before he died. Modern masters must either choose to achieve or choose to write. Because one lifetime rarely allows both. Immortal thoughts we read are usually just that: Thoughts written down by people with no other achievements than having thought and written something. The reason why our world is split in theory and practice.
Why am I telling you this? Many things have been written about snowboarding. And that’s one of this sport’s biggest problems: Too much said. Too many used-car salesmen telling too many unchosen, unmotivated or untalented disciples about what might have been the true faith of snowboarding. Too many people using our masters‘ words expression, individuality and independence all wrong. Except for these introductory words, what you hold in your hands is the anti-textbook of snowboarding. Nothing to read and misinterpret. No moves or rituals to copy ‘till they fade. Just portraits of original riders and makers, masters of the sport. And while they don’t want to teach you anything, looking at these faces might tell you more about the nature of snowboarding than anything you’ve ever read.
Johannes Eisenhut
Book NATURE OF SNOWBOARDING (2007)
84 pages (23 x 28.5cm)
duotone & hard cover
Design: Raffinerie
ISBN: 3-9809430-2-x
Rupa Publishing, Germany
Order it here