All I Can : JP Auclair, Urban Skiing and the Beauty of Old Snow

Gritty. Grimy. Rough. Unpolished.

The JP Auclair segment from the highly acclaimed All.I.Can ski flick has "urban" sewn into its very foundation. From the water dripping off the eaves of a soot-caked roof to the sparks that fly up as metal ski edges catch hold of coarse concrete, this five minute motion exploration of urban skiing encapsulates the untold bits of a sport that trends towards glitz and glamour.

A JP Auclair example: It's hard to deny the charm of a French-Canadian

Auclair, who tops the charts as one of my favorite skiers (along with Seth Morrison), not only has the dashingly good looks of the French Canadian tribe (yes, being one, I am biased) but also the skills that take his skis to the air, initiative that makes him a leader in ski manufacturing, and a heart that takes on more than self-interest. These traits combine to make a well-rounded ski celebrity who is worth keeping tabs on.

In this clip, Auclair guides us through the "behind the scenes" of urban rail slides and jibbing. There's no glossy magazine spreads here, no brightly clad masses of teen boys trying to impress themselves. Auclair, the singular star of the moment, almost becomes second to the sport itself- rare in the world of urban skiing- as he traverses the demands of a frozen cityscape.

For many, it is difficult to find beauty in the mundane aspects of winter life. However, when brought together by masterful film artists, perspectives open and we begin to almost welcome what was previously abhorred. It is in the world of these artists that we discover the beauty of old snow, crystalized into grains, as its movement is caught in slow motion. We see the aesthetic contribution that wiry, barren, winter trees make against the cold sky as birds are flushed out of its tangled branches. Most importantly though, as Auclair navigates the bleak surroundings of a city cloaked in snow, we find an exuberance in simply skiing.

Enjoy.