Big Mountain Filming with a Camcorder

Filming in the mountains will be made easier if you choose equipment best suited to this changeable and rugged environment. We recommend the Mini DV with its lossless compression scheme, longer recording time , and its endless editing capabilities without degradation. And of course, you’ll want the smallest camcorder when you are both skier/snowboarder and cameraman.

In addition to small and lightweight, look for a camera with a rubberized body designed to withstand harsh conditions, water and jolting. Some camcorders will come with a sports camera module for hands-free shooting. The camera is mounted to your helmet. There are many brands of these devices, and they’re worth a look for footage from the perspective of the skier. You’ll also want an instant power on feature, so you don’t have to wait to shoot … the moment will be gone.

Here’s advice from the mountain, courtesy of FirstTracksonline forum contributors:

• “20x optical is more than enough.”
• “Small, dependable and sturdy are very important.”
• “Most folks just use the LCD screen, preferably one that doesn't glare too badly in direct sun light.”
• “10x optical zoom and seems to work well in cold weather (-20 at Tremblant) which can drain batteries quickly.”
• “Buy an external camera. You can mount it on your helmet and be the next Warren Miller.”

And on the mountain, consider:

• Use a UV filter to reduce the inherent blue light on the mountain. The filter will also protect the lens of your camcorder.
• Film when the sun is low, that means early in the morning (first tracks potential) or late in the afternoon. You will get better contrast in your footage.
• Purchase a protective, waterproof case for your camcorder and put it in your backpack. Add extra batteries because batteries tend to lose charge in extreme cold and you don’t want to be caught with a dead camcorder.

Need some inspiration? Check out "Steep," the documentary film released by Sony Pictures last fall. Chronicling the rise of extreme skiing from its start in Chamonix, France in the 1970’s to the world of big mountain skiing featuring Seth Morrison, Shane McConkey and Ingrid Backstrom, the film is dedicated to the late David Coombs considered the greatest big mountain skier of all.