Spencer O’Brien has been busy ever since she left the slopestyle scene for the rest of the slope. Whether it was creating the award-winning project Precious Leader Woman, finding a new home with Korua and Arc’teryx on the brand side, or transitioning fully into the filming world for a few years, O’Brien has been everywhere the past few years. WIth a new edit out now (above), two more on the way, and a bid in the upcoming Natural Selection Tour… keep an eye out for plenty more from Spencer this winter. – Clavin
How has your jump from the contest scene to full-time film projects going?
The transition to backcountry as been amazing, I worried a bit about if it was the right choice but I have no regrets about leaving the contest world behind. It was time and it’s been so fun to have snowboarding feel new again. There is so much to learn and so many facets of backcountry to dive into so it’s a special feeling to have after doing something for 20+ years. I still have a lot to learn and am still pretty bad at sledding but it’s starting to come together.
And finding a home with Korua?
I’ve been with Korua since 2019 when I hopped on a trip to Japan with them. The boards are amazing and the crew is even better. I have been good friends with co-founder Stephan Maurer since our Burton days and became fast friends with Nico (Wolken) and the rest of the crew since that first trip. For years I had ridden only one board so Korua opened my eyes to what different shapes can do for your snowboarding and how they can lend to different conditions and types of riding. It’s been fun to inject that kind of playfulness into my snowboarding.
How do you guys ride SO SLOW in this edit? Haha the pacing and editing is awesome. Any insight on why the brand tends to stick to the black-and-white motif?
A big part of what makes these videos so good is the filming and editing style. Elle Hindert did such an amazing job, it was super fun to work with them. You’ll have to ask Elle and Aaron about the black and white, I actually don’t know why that’s a thing haha. As for the riding, we are just turning so it’s cool to see people so stoked on something so simple. Even though you realize quickly while filming that a good turn is actually so freaking hard to do well.
What’s harder, a turn or a 900?
My god, it’s been so long since I did any 900 haha so I’d have to say probably, but I think a pow turn is the trick you never stop learning, it’s always evolving and changing for me.
Any plans for this season? Another project?
Right now I am staring at the rain in Whistler… we haven’t had a great start out this way which has been a bummer. I’ll be doing an NST duel the end of January so hopefully go find a bit of powder before that. I did a solo project with Leo Hoorn called Aether 5 and am a part of Continuum with all the girls. Both coming out in the new year I believe.
How was working on those as well?
It was great, Aether is a really creative and different project for me. A lot of turning again, but it turned out beautiful. Leo is so talented, it was fun to help him bring his vision to life and cool for me to work on something so different. Continuum was special because it was an opportunity to work with not only Elena and Robin but also the skiers on Arc’teryx. Michelle, Lucy and Tatum are so rad, it was really fun to get out into the mountains with them.
How many projects have you been in since 2020?! Haha.
Haha the 20/21 season and this past one were definitely full on but I had a bit of a breather in the middle there. We’ll see what shakes out for this winter, I’m not committed to any big projects yet but still want to get out and film as much as I can.
From Korua:
Last winter we made our way back to Japan for the first time since Covid, with aims to dive into the bottomless pit of powder only Hokkaido can provide. And it did. Meanwhile back home in Switzerland we were met with the same conditions as when we left: the complete opposite to what we experienced overseas. This inspired us to search for further contrasts, but also similarities between these two places we hold so dearly – Switzerland, our home, with its towering Alps, deep valleys, tiny villages and old European architecture; versus the serene rolling hills of Hokkaido, and the dense, bustling and vibrant madness that is Tokyo.
Joined by a colourful cast and crew – Nicholas Wolken, James Niederberger, Spencer O’Brien, Runar Hjörleifsson, Daria Fuchs, Atsufumi Mizuno, Aaron Schwartz, Elle Hindert and Nathan McBride — we delved into a cinematic exploration of two cultures and terrains on opposite sides of the world – that are intimately connected to us through snowboarding, yet beautifully distinct in their own ways. This short film represents more than a mere visual treat; it’s a dialogue of moments and impressions, a narrative that dances in the light and shadows of Elle’s camera lens, capturing the essence of our shared experiences.
The heartbeat of Neon Noir lies in its ability to take everything we ingested in a few short weeks and package it into a cohesive visual experience that at times feels hectic and urgent, and sometimes calm, patient and peaceful. Snowboarding really is a wonderful thing that gives us the opportunity to see the world in a unique light. Join us in celebrating not only these places we were fortunate to spend time in, but also the connections that bind us after we left.
