What happens when you mix snowboarding, techno beats, and a dash of pure chaos? You get The Ride — a wild, trippy snowboarding movie that takes you from Alaskan backcountry to Turkish street spots, all set to a killer soundtrack. In this exclusive interview, Ethan spills the beans on how an old acapella record sparked the idea, the insane adventures behind the scenes, and the sleepless nights it took to make his vision a reality. Ready to enjoy The Ride?
First things first, Ethan—what inspired you to create The Ride?
Oh, it all started with this old acapella record I found years ago. I heard it again out of the blue, and it immediately clicked—I had to do something with it. That led to the idea of combining my two favorite things: music and snowboarding. It just made sense.
Can you give us a little sneak peek into what The Ride is all about? What's the story or vibe you're bringing to the table?
Sure! The story kicks off with me waking up after a party and finding some… substances. That sets me off on this wild, trippy adventure. It’s really a trip after the trip, you know? (laughs)
How did you pick the locations for The Ride? Any place that stood out as especially gnarly or memorable?
We shot in some rad places—Alaska, Poland, Austria, Turkey. Turkey was definitely the highlight for me. We stayed in this hut at 2600 meters, where you could step right out the door into backcountry or street spots. It was such a unique experience.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while filming The Ride? Was it the conditions, the tricks, or something unexpected?
Honestly, the hardest part was planning. I chose the music first, which meant I had to make the footage fit the vibe of the tracks. It’s a reverse process from most projects and way trickier than I expected. But in the end, it came together.
Are there any standout moments or behind-the-scenes stories from filming that you can share with us? Something epic, hilarious, or totally unplanned?
Oh, definitely! One crazy session was at this castle where we did Castle Jam. The owners let us bring snow inside, and we hit spots there. Afterward, I ended up jumping into freezing water at 2 a.m. for a clip. Totally worth it, though!
How does your personal snowboarding style come through in The Ride? Did you push yourself to try new things?
I’m never completely satisfied with my riding—there’s always room to go bigger. But one day in the backcountry stands out. We built two jumps, and I landed a back 10, front 10, back 7, and front 9—all in one day. That was a good one.
Are there any specific tricks or lines in The Ride that you're particularly stoked about?
Those jumps in the backcountry are definitely highlights for me. And then there’s the variety in the movie—I made sure to mix in everything from street spots to slush and backcountry lines.
The snowboarding world loves a good crew—who were the key riders and homies who joined you on this project?
Oh, so many legends! Flo Corzelius, Simon Pircher, and Lorenzo "Lolo" Domingues are the main riders. We also had one-shots from Rene Rinnekangas and Roland Morley-Brown, to name a few. Everyone brought their own flavor.
What do you hope viewers take away after watching The Ride?
I’d say, enjoy the ride—whether that’s snowboarding, music, or just life. I hope it inspires people to try new things. Maybe snowboarders will start vibing with techno, and techno fans might pick up a board.
You’re not just riding in this film but also creating it. How did you balance being the rider and a key creative force?
Lots of sleepless nights, for sure. It was tough to juggle riding with making sure everything came together creatively. But I was so invested in the project that it just felt natural to keep pushing through.
What was the most surprising part of the filmmaking process for you? Did anything go differently than you expected?
How much trial and error went into matching the clips with the music. It’s not the usual way to make a snowboarding movie, and it was way more challenging than I thought.
Were there any influences—films or riders—that shaped the vibe of The Ride?
Definitely! The Karr brothers, who filmed some sections, showed me Enter the Void. It’s this trippy, drug-fueled movie that inspired some of the film’s vibe. Someone even told me The Ride reminded them of it.
Every great snowboarding movie has a killer soundtrack—what’s the vibe of The Ride? Any tracks you’re hyped on?
Two tracks stand out: What You Say by Young Marco and Keep on Pumpin’ It. The latter was the first song I chose, and it stuck with me through the years.
If you could sum up the experience of making The Ride in three words, what would they be?
Enjoy the ride.
Ethan, thanks for the interview, I can't wait to watch The Ride!
Check out what it looked like at the premiere in Prague
