XYZ
Coming in 2027
XYZ is a retrospective documentary film on the 'air-volution' of “glisse” sports from the late 1970s to 2001 to present day. Featuring three generations of the worlds best athletes, gen X, Y & Z, demonstrating their prowess in the three spacial dimensions we exist and play in, the X, Y and now Z axes.
Featuring action footage from award winning films
Three Generations - Three Dimensions
(c) Mark Shapiro
XYZ is an historical film that highlights the convergence of like-minded seekers of adrenaline-fueled recreational alternative sports and the cultural and social impacts these new activities brought with them to alpine life. Avedissian's films documented
(c) Mark Shapiro
the golden years of ski bum life alongside the emergence of new sports: snowboarding, paragliding, mountain biking and flow-riding. XYZ is not intended to be a comprehensive history of these emergent sports but a rich slice of their beginnings from an Australian/European perspective. His seminal snowboarding film Aotearoa and para-gliding films Super Max were instrumental in bringing these sports to a global audience.
What is la glisse?
(c) Mark Shapiro
'Glisser' in French means 'to slide'. But "la glisse" refers to a feeling, an esprit, derived specifically from sports where sliding is an exploit of the forces of gravity and nature. Dropping down a snow covered mountain or across a wave is a sensation of physical freedom, weightlessness. You're flying through space in a controlled fall, by means of skis, boards, wings or wheels, riding the contours of terrain, ocean surfaces and airflow, the ultimate free ride.
(c) Mark Shapiro
Cultural Insights
XYZ delves into the cultural significance of glisse sports, exploring how these pursuits have influenced societal norms, community engagement and lifestyle choices across different regions and demographics. It documents the significant milestones of glisse sports with interviews of the pioneers and professionals who shaped its journey over those decades. It aims to educate and inspire viewers about the rich history of these exhilarating activities and what motivates humans to launch themselves into the void.