Maty (12 years old) and Dante (11 years old), our talented young guns team riders, joined forces and headed to the Austrian mountains to film a fully packed video edit together. These young riders, bursting with talent and determination, showed us that age is no barrier when it comes to a passion for snowboarding. What went on behind the camera, what tricks did they land, how did the filming go, and what surprised them along the way? Read their interview and get a behind-the-scenes look at this unique project, bringing a solid dose of inspiration!
How did the idea to go to Austria and shoot this video edit come about?
Maty: It all came together because Välley Rälley was happening in Austria, and we were both planning to go. We decided to take advantage of it, arrived a few days early, took photos, and shot this edit. Unfortunately, Dante didn’t participate in Välley Rälley in the end because he broke his arm during practice.
Did your parents go with you?
Maty: Dante had his parents there since he was flying in from Sweden. I was there alone – well, with Vašek from Horsefeathers.
Did you guys know each other before this trip, or was this your first meeting?
Dante: This was our first time meeting and riding together.
How was riding and filming together? Did you enjoy the same things, or is one of you more into jumps and other one into rails?
Maty: It was awesome riding with Dante. Even though I sometimes struggle with my English, we got along really well! And yeah, exactly, Dante's more into rails, and I’m more into jumps. We complemented each other perfectly.
Dante: It was a blast! Maty is super friendly and easy to ride with.
How was it working with Andreas (video) and Adrian (photo)?
Maty: Working with them was perfect. They’re both super chill, and the photos turned out amazing. I haven’t seen the video yet, but I’m sure it’ll be awesome too!
Dante: Andreas and Adrian were awesome! I was a bit nervous at first, but I had so much fun.
How was the filming organized? Did they ask for specific shots, or was it more freestyle?
Maty: It was mostly freestyle. We just rode, and if they had a specific idea for a shot, they told us. Otherwise, we just went with the flow.
Can you describe a typical day of filming?
Dante: We’d start the day with breakfast together, then take the gondola up to the mountains — after that, it was all about snowboarding.
How did you enjoy the vibe outside of snowboarding — evenings, traveling, the crew?
Maty: It was great! We’d get to the accommodation around 5 PM, play some games on our phones, go for a group dinner, and then crash early because we had to get up early. Riding all day was pretty demanding at times, but nothing unmanageable.
What was the biggest challenge during the filming? Anything that didn’t go as planned?
Maty: The biggest bummer was Dante breaking his arm. That happened after the filming, during practice for Välley Rälley. Otherwise, everything went smoothly, even the weather, except for one day when it was pretty awful. But even then, we hit the rails, so we still made the most of it.
Oh, that sucks! What happened, Dante? Is it fully healed now?
Dante: Yeah, I lost my balance mid-air during training and, unfortunately, landed on my arm. The cast came off last week, and now I’m back on my board!
Which trick did you enjoy the most while filming?
Maty: I managed to learn two new tricks. The first was switchback 5, which I landed almost every time, although I couldn’t stick it during Välley Rälley. The second was on a kinked rail, where I learned 180 in and cab 270 into the second section. I was stoked about that.
Dante: Riding powder was insane! I’ve never ridden that much pow before.
Do you have a favorite moment in the video?
Maty: Definitely the frontside rodeo 720! I recently got wrecked trying it in Vítkovice, Czech republic, when I caught an edge on the landing, but I love the airtime.
Dante: I haven’t seen it yet, so I can’t say for sure!
Any funny or unexpected moments during the shoot?
Maty: Oh yeah, plenty! One time, I got mad because I thought Andreas missed filming my trick — 180 in, cab 270 on the kinked rail. I was convinced he didn’t get it, but turns out he did! We had a good laugh about how I totally overreacted.
Dante: Definitely when Vašek snowboarded down the mountain with the Horsefeathers trash can!
Did you enjoy filming the video? Would you like to do more of it in the future?
Maty: I loved it and would definitely be up for more in the future. Right now, it’s all about riding, which I enjoy the most, so it’s just pure fun.
Dante: I love snowboarding and traveling, so I’d jump on another trip anytime!
What are your plans for this season?
Maty: I want to land a double backflip and frontside 9 again — those are my main goals for this winter.
Dante: Ride as much as possible, hit some competitions in Sweden, and hopefully return to Välley Rälley — without breaking my arm this time!
FOTO: Adrian Formella
VIDEO: Andreas Monsberger
Read what Andreas Monsberger, the video maker of the edit, thinks about this project.
How did the filming process go? What was it like working with young riders like Maty and Dante?
Andreas: Filming for the Horsefeathers Kids Shred Video was an absolute blast. After getting to know Maty and Dante, we headed straight up the mountain to get started. For the kids, it was a totally new experience — adjusting to a shoot like this, being in a new park with unfamiliar kickers and obstacles, and wanting to perform their best isn’t exactly easy.
At first, I gave them some space to settle in and get comfortable. But with only one sunny day to film, we had to jump into action pretty quickly. Once they got a few warm-up runs in, we started with the kickers, then moved on to the rails, and finally captured Maty’s one-foot lines on the smaller jumps.
On the second day, we headed to Penken in Mayrhofen. The morning kicked off with some lifestyle shots at the hotel, and the vibe was awesome. The kids were buzzing with excitement to ride, even though the weather was less than ideal. Surprisingly, when we got up the mountain, we found 20 cm of fresh snow! So, we started with some powder runs, and the kids were absolutely loving it. It was such a fun and carefree time, with no pressure to perform.
After a few powder runs, the kids were eager to hit the park and try some tricks. Maty and Dante nailed some amazing moves on the small boxes, and their stoke level was off the charts!
What was the most challenging part of the trip to film, and why? Was it the technical aspect, the lighting, or maybe the conditions?
Andreas: The biggest challenge was definitely the lack of time. With just two days to shoot, it was tough to fully showcase what Maty and Dante are capable of. I know they have incredible skills and can pull off some crazy tricks, but the combination of limited time, variable conditions, and their confidence levels on the day made it tricky to capture everything.
That said, the kids gave it their all. I could see they were taking it seriously and genuinely wanted to put their best foot forward. Despite the challenges, they absolutely crushed it.
How do you feel about the final video? Is there something you'd highlight as unique or exceptional?
Andreas: I’m really happy with how the video turned out. It’s got a great vibe, and the riding from Maty and Dante is super impressive. Their skills truly shine through, and there are even a few emotional moments that add a unique and personal touch to the edit.
Maty and Dante, you guys absolutely killed it! I’m sure we’ll have the chance to do this again in the future. With a bit more time, we’ll create something truly next-level, and you’ll have the chance to show off everything you’ve got without any rush.
And how do the parents perceive this trip?
How did you perceive this trip from a parent's perspective? Were you worried, or did you enjoy it just as much as Maty?
Maty's parents: We took it pretty calmly, we're quite used to Maty traveling the world on his own.
What does it mean for you to see your child progress and be part of projects like this video edit?
Maty's parents: We really appreciate it and see it as a great experience for Maty. We're glad he can do what he loves while also progressing further.
How do you manage the logistics and support necessary for this kind of lifestyle? Do you have a "recipe" for it as parents?
Maty's parents: Logistics are quite demanding both financially and time-wise. But since this is our lifestyle too, it feels natural to us. And the recipe? You make it how you want it to be ;-) Best, Lukáš and Zuzka.
