Below Zero: Days of My Youth

So the film Days of My Youth was recently released just in time to get us stoked for winter. And let me tell you, it's incredible!  The skiing, the story, the cinematography.  Everything I'd ever hope for in a winter adventure film.  Sponsored by Red Bull, this film delves into the core of our true purpose for adventure: pure fun.  Days of My Youth might focus on skiing, but its message really touches all types of adventure sports. We venture out to seek something simple: an experience so filled with joy that everything else seems inconsequential.  And that's just what this film delivers.  Just listening and watching these athletes have the time of their lives, only deepens the itch to get outside and live those experiences yourself. It's a fever!  And it's contagious.  But don't be scared; it's the only disease you want to catch!  The film is now available to purchase or rent through various media outlets and it's worth it!  If you need the push to rediscover the child-like wonder of pure adventure, then this film will speaks directly to you.

1. The Cinematography:  First off, the visuals (as seen by the screenshots in this post) are incredible.  The drone and helicopter flyovers are stunning and truly give scope to the expanse of the landscape that is awe inspiring.  It's hardly possible to contain the vocal gasps and ahhhs when a 6,000 meter peak sprouts up with a time lapse of clouds wisping around its craggy powdered tips.  When the athletes achieve great feats of ability, whether tricks or the lines skied, I want to grab my gear and run to the hills (literally). Just see for yourself.  You're in for a visually stunning treat, that never gets old (no matter how many times you watch it, trust me).  From Peru to Utah, British Columbia to Alaska, this film should have been in IMAX.

2. The Skiing:  It wouldn't be an appropriate review without mentioning the incredible talent of these wonderful athletes.  The cast and crew that put together this wonderful film are pure geniuses of their crafts.  And while most people are calling Cody Townsend the "MVP" of the film (probably for his crazy chute that's being called the "Sickest Line Ever"), I'm always partial to the female athletes.  I guess I can relate to them better, plus the more empowered women I see in these epic adventure films, the more I have faith that we are becoming more of a presence in this scene.  So my personal MVP?  Michelle Parker, aka the Black Panther.  She's spunky, quirky, and full of energy.  Everything you want in a backcountry idol.  Your daughter wants to be a snow bunny?  Show her clips of Parker and send her to the slopes (though hopefully with an adult and some lessons...).  Think you have to be like these athletes to experience this?  Wrong!  Get some avalanche safety training, go with a few friends who also know their stuff, and start skinning.  Whatever is holding you back is just an excuse and it's limiting you.  Be bold. Get inspired.

3.  The Story:  Alan Watts, a philosopher who passed away in 1973, is the "narrator" of this film.  An "Eastern philosopher in a Western world", Watts' many inspiring, deep, and meaningful lectures have become the backdrop of this wild film.  And each segment is just as powerful as the next.  He makes you question your life and life in general.  His words reach deep into your core and pull out the most wholesome version of yourself.  These mantras of living life with purpose and not wasting a single moment are the perfect words to fit the goals of Days of My Youth.  Here's just a sampling:

Now the child, as a child, doesn't know how to play the adults game, which is a power game.  And so has to be educated to learn the values of the power game, to learn what's what, and what is important.  But when he has mastered that game, he realizes it has no rewards.  But all the things the adults thought they were gaining by their power game, are after all, not worth having.  That's why you couldn't be rich and miserable.  So that having learned and having seen through the adult power game, you come back to the point of the child.  From the child's point of view, the things which the adult considers irrelevant to survival are perfectly important.  Now you see, that that situation is what's called life.  To be wise, you have to, you have to become again as a child.  To become as a child means you do things which adults consider unimportant.  Wisdom doesn’t come from above down, it comes from below up. 

 What do you desire? What makes you itch? How would you really enjoy spending your life?  What would you like to do with money with no object? If you say that getting money is the most important, you will spend your life completely wasting your time. You'll be doing things you don't like doing in order to go on living that is to go on doing things you don't like doing.  Which is stupid.  Better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing, than a long life spent in a miserable way.  It's so important to consider this question: What do I desire?

It doesn't have to be skiing.  If you're into rock climbing, or hiking, or just traveling, get out there and do it.  Life is too short to make excuses and impose ludicrous limitations on ourselves. If you want it bad enough, you will find a way to make it happen.  Period.  Now pick a dreary evening, get some cocoa and a blanket and settle down for an hour of pure joy.