Through focus, talent and hard work, Mike Hatchett, a quiet man, has built his reputation as one of the leading snowboard filmmakers in the world. With the help of his brother Dave and Tom Day, he has spent the past few years recording the top riders doing what they do best is the best of locations. The Chugach is where Mike and his crew come to finish up their season. Here, they push the limit. One night he came to dinner.

Mike Hatchett, the man behind Standard Films

Keoki: Mike, you've been developing the scene here in Valdez as long as anybody; you make a pilgrimage up here every year as you make your movies, with crew like Tom Day as your second camera. Tell me how it all began.

Mike: The first time we produced movies was when we made Totally Board and that was in 1989. A guy named Pat Solomon did Totally Board with Dave and me. He was a good friend of Nick Perrada and Shawn Farmer. I was living in Breckenridge bussing tables. I was starting to shoot stills on the hill in the evenings, and that's where I met Nick and Shawn. I had an associate art degree in photography, so Pat Solomon said "lets make a movie,² so we did. That spring we started preparing, then in the fall we produced Totally Board which was the same year that Fall Line produced Snowboards in Exile.

Keoki: Which was their first movie.

Mike: It was their first official release, although Western Front was released before that on 3/4 inch video.

Keoki: Where was most of Totally Board filmed?

Mike: In Tahoe mainly and then in Mt. Baker and in Colorado. This was all we really had the budget for. Shawn and Nick climbed the Mooseıs Tooth over in the Alaska Range that May.

Keoki: What was the first year you came to Alaska?

Mike - just another day on the job Photo courtesy of Aaron Sedway

Mike: The second year I worked for Fall Line. After we made Totally Board ,I lost all of the money I had put into it and was basically out of the video business at that point. I figured that I wasn't going to make snowboard films ever again. Fall Line was making Critical Condition, and I got a job working for them. I worked for them for one year, the next year, 1991, they made Riders of the Storm and I was still working for them. That year that we came up here; it was the first year of the World Extreme Snowboard Contest.

Keoki: Now youıre one of the premier snowboard filmmakers. How did you get to this position from being financially busted and working for others in just five years?

TB6

Mike: A lot of important things happened along the way. I guess more than anything, I would attribute my current success to really focusing on my objectives. Throughout the past few years I have tried to keep a single goal on my mind - making the best possible movie I could, and not letting any of the setbacks or discouragements side track me from my objective. I also feel, that so much of what is happening now is a result of quality people helping me out. People like Tom Day really brought credentials to our program. That combined with the efforts of a few phenomenal riders.... What can I say the pieces have just come together.

Keoki: This year you have been at it since the beginning of the season ( going to wherever there is snow ( you are meeting up with some of the hottest riders in the world, and they are doing everything they can to be in the right place at the right time ... just to participate. From what I've heard from both you and Tom, you are really concentrating your efforts here in Valdez. Why is that?

Mike: Hands down, Valdez is the best skiing or snowboarding heli-ski operation I have been to in the world. This year, unfortunately, is one of the crappiest years that I have seen but I'm still having fun. I like it here a lot and know the area pretty well. Not as well as Coombs, but am starting to feel better where I am going. The Chugagh have a nice snowpack and I like the scene.

Keoki: This time of year, Valdez seems like a real Mecca ( there's a lot of film crews and athletes ( everyoneıs showing up. After having done this for several years, you've got your own program going. What is your focus here?

Mike: My main focus now is to open up some new terrain that hasn't been skied or snowboarded yet ( to film a lot of first descents ( going out with guys who have been around here a lot like Tom Burt, and Tex; Victoria, Noah, Doug Coombs, and my brother. Also I want go back to the stuff we've done before and have fun; you know, re-ride it, try to shoot it at a different angle, find a new jump, and just explore with my friends. That's one of my main things.

Keoki: Capturing it on film is probably a by-product of that same adventure. In a couple of sentences, can you describe what you are trying to accomplish in making a snowboard movie?

Mike: Basically to combine the best big mountain free-ride snowboarding with the most technical, up to date, freestyle tricks such as jumps, halfpipes or whatever ( to show off both these elements.

Keoki: You and your crew have not only been pushing the envelope in what is skiable terrain, but have been actually redefining what is possible and you've recorded these changes in your movies. Can you tell me what you see evolving for the riders and the type of things they are riding?

Mike: I think the sport is getting faster. The riders seem to be going down bigger mountains and making fewer turns. Guys like Tom Burt are riding more technically crazy stuff every year, within their ability of course, but they are going down steeper, more exposed, and on more intricate lines every year. People step it up even more by going further and further back into the mountains. The main thing I see is people mixing a big mountain ride with free style; like spinning off a cornice into a chute, then railing the chute and spinning off another cliff at the bottom.

Keoki: Is that an important criterion for what type of rider you invite up here to shoot with?

Mike: Yeah, I definitely want to film someone whose got steep mountain savvy behind them. A lot of the guys riding up here are from Baker, from Whistler, from Tahoe ( they have ridden on the steeps and have respect for the big mountains and can hopefully bale out if something goes wrong. I have to bring people up here who know what to do in a potentially dangerous situation. We've had instances where if someone was to sit down, he would probably not have survived; these people had the skills to turn out of an avalanche.

Keoki: I have heard you discuss how it is really a team effort when you are out there.

Mike: I need to bring people up here I know and trust; also people who are aware of the hazards of big mountain travel, and are willing to play it safe and play as a team ( not people who donıt have a respect for the mountain.

Keoki: You've got a great record. I've seen some of the footage from last year's TB5, and it is just mind boggling. You've shown athletes doing things that I can't even imagine, in places that I wouldn't even dream of. Can we expect more of the same for this upcoming movie.

Mike: Sure. There is similar stuff.

Keoki: Who are some of your featured people and locations this year?

Mike: There's a lot of good stuff from Tahoe this year, North Cascades ( heli-ski in Washington ( Whistler, Blackcomb, Baker, Italy, and stuff from Utah also. A lot of the guys from last year are in it; Nate Cole has a strong segment going this year; Andy has a lot of footage, everyone that we've filmed with before: Tom Burt, Victoria, Noah.

Keoki: ³Victoria? ³ So there are women involved in your program. Excellent.

Mike: Yeah, Victoria, and Morgan Lafonte, and we have some new guys this year.

Keoki: Who's on your team as far as making the movie?

Mike: It's Tom Day and myself mainly; also my brother Dave helped shoot and edit and Rich van Every the same thing, shoot and edit.

Keoki: Do you have a name for it?

Mike: Carpe Diem - TB6.

Keoki: Seize the day, huh? Excellent. When can we expect to see it out on the market?

Mike: The second week of September will be the world premier at Spreckels Theater in San Diego during the ASR trade show. That's the nights of Sept.7th and 8th. Itıll be out on the market after that.

> Keoki: How many movies have you done?

Mike: I've done the three climbing movies, five snowboard movies and this will be the sixth snowboard movie.

Keoki: If anyone wants to get hold of any of these snowboard movies where can they get them.

Mike: They can call my office number (916) 546-4808 to order directly. They can also get them at snowboard shops, and the info is usually advertised in Transworld Snowboarding magazine.

Keoki: I've felt the excitement when you guys come back from a great day of shooting and heard some of the stories. I can't wait to see it. Can you give us a hint about your dreams for the future ( what's down the road for Mike Hatchett?

Mike: I don't know yet. I keep wanting to do snowboard movies, but the last couple of winters have not been great for us in Tahoe, Valdez and in other areas. I would like to get in a really nice winter film, especially from up here. Since we did TB2 we haven't had a great winter in Valdez. We're are all still waiting to come back to the Chugach Range in epic conditions. What we filmed this year is going to look good on film, but we had to scrape for it.

Keoki: You still keep coming back, so this place must have something that no other place has to offer?

Mike: Yes, it does.