Thanks, Brain! Premiere Review

Words by Ben Fee, Associate Editor - Snowboarder Mag:

“The brain is nothing short of the single most complex and variable structure imaginable. We’re talking 200 billion neurons, with up to 10,000 synapses per neuron, a quadrillion nerve cell connections…” Animation animates, and the latest of Think Thank’s creations unravels.

This was the universal premiere. Earliest I’ve ever seen. And it took place in the acoustically friendly skate bowls at High Cascade Snowboard Camp—hundreds of campers, staff members, locals, visitors, and feral dogs had been eagerly awaiting this treat.

Jesse Burtner and Sean Genovese have further proved themselves as the most cerebral and soulful filmmaker duo in snowboarding. With Thanks Brain, their latest installation to the Think Thank collection, they pull together a cohesive mind-blaster that requires viewing many times with a rewind button. Their brand of filmmaking is a brand unlike any other. They don’t need helicopters or 16mm cable cams to blow minds. It’s pure, brainful resourcefulness on a stick.

Each rider has a solid comprehension of what the Thinker Thankers are looking for, and executes their interpretations insanely. Scott Stevens takes the one-shot opener into his 2-song part, which is a 500% improvement over his one from last year. He is arguably the Crazy Legs or Sammy Davis Jr. of snowboarding, but with better vision. If last year was first grade for Scott, this year’s he’s Doogie Howser. His double flips continue, but his jumping and playfulness has grown exponentially. He does a stump bunk 7 out, a fastplant 3 off a tree and a front flip down a set of concrete steps… it was a constant barrage of cheers and yelps from the crowd.

Everyone’s favorite tattered transient, Gus Engle, was present for the viewing of his characteristically colorful take on snowboarding. He did a log ride over and back across a rushing rapid, jibbed an entire line of cones and dropped onto his board from atop a cliff to ghostride his whip. He makes people smile when he rides, and that’s like the switch double backside rodeo to lipslide the hardway, but of life.

Johnny Miller, the captain of happy-emission can do shovits and body varials. He can also marathon hippie hop over 11 bleachers to ride away. These are things most people wouldn’t even consider thinking about thinking of. But he can also do backside 9s with a glowing belt buckle.

Austin Hironaka spins and lands onto rocks. Pat Milbery does killer half kickflip 50-50s. They have no name that I know of. Maybe they should be called the Berry Picker. Each rider has amazing footage, but to put it onto paper, or computer screens, is to take away from it.

What got me the most, what really blew my mind, was watching the creators of this film get in front of the camera and prove they are just as adept with their sticks as they are with their Final Cut and Panosonics. Sean Genovese has one of the most stand out parts of the film, and breaks through more chains than the Junkyard Dog. Jesse Burtner closed the film. He shut it down. He raised the crowd, sat them down, and raised them again. He completed most of his section with only one foot strapped in, and a cab 5 into powder was one such instance. INSANE. His sensibilities with editing are as sharp as ever. He knows how to construct a part—how to build momentum. His part peaks and cuts just like that. Towards the last minute or so, every trick has you cheering louder and louder. And that’s it. It’s over. You will be scratching your head as you realize Jesse Burtner just might be one of the most gifted people riding a snowboard, he and Sean have built an amazing film factory, and yet, they are not heralded as kings in the kingdom of shredderdom. And rumor floats that Jesse has a whole part in the bonus; same song, completely different tricks. And that’s Thanks Brain! I think I can say on behalf of all viewers we would like to thank the brains of all those involved, and are anxiously awaiting whatever synaptic firing will fruit next year.