Questions that we sometimes get asked…

So what is downhill skateboarding?

Speeding down steep tarmac roads on a special kind of skateboard - longer than the ones you might use in a skatepark with wheels and trucks specially designed for high speeds (50ish m.p.h.).

So it's different from streetluge?

Streetluge grew out of skateboarding: riders found they could go faster by lying down on their boards, rather than standing up. The luges are essentially modified skateboards, and due to better aerodynamics they can go faster (70 m.p.h.).

How did Saft and Boneless get into documenting downhill?

Boneless has ridden skateboards since the eighties. After a thirteen year hiatus he got into riding longboard skateboards, and then as a natural progression he got into downhill. Boneless is in charge of sound and some camerawork. Saft is an artist and started filming downhill skateboarding because it is such an amazing visual spectacle. She does the editing and most of the camerawork.

Who watches these films?

Initially we were making short films of events for the people who were there, and for our artist/ designer friends who were interested. We had no idea when we started making films for skateboarders that people outside that small community would become so fascinated by the subject.

So now you're making a longer film?

Road Buzz is a feature length documentary about the downhill scene. It takes a broad look at downhill from all over the UK and Europe. It features interviews with participants and event organizers, alongside riding. We have aimed to make something that sums up what it's all about for us, as artists and riders, and also hopefully something that can be watched by people who don't skate, but can empathize with the motivation.

OK, so downhill looks good, but what else?

Downhill gets lumped in with a lot of other 'extreme sports'. Generally it is portrayed in the media as an 'extreme activity' practiced by adrenaline junkies. We think there is more to it than that.

How did you get funding for the project?

All the films are made on a shoe-string and fuelled by the same of passion that drives the downhillers to ride hills! We were able to be more ambitious for this project because we were awarded a grant by Arts Council England. This meant we could use much better equipment to film with, and we had some help with production costs. There is no budget for promotion and nothing in place for exhibition/ distribution, so we hope that downhillers will want to watch it and will spread the word if they like it!

Fave film spots?

The French Alps, the Swiss Alps – big mountains with car free roads are beautiful places to be. Wide smooth hairpins punctuated only by the sound of urethane on asphalt…

We love it when the locals come out to watch and are really supportive, like they were in Switzerland. Sheid was an amazing hill to film on as was the mighty Chamrousse.

Where else would you have liked to film?

Canada, the US, South America, other races in Europe… but there are limits on our aging Fiat Panda’s capabilities!

When can we expect to see the film then? Will there be a film night, and who gets to see it first?

We're hoping to have a rough cut of Road Buzz ready for a preview screening in 2007. The people who are most interested in seeing it are the people featured in it – but everyone is welcome. Email us to register interest! We like running film nights, and getting feedback. The encouragement we've received is what really made us stick with it past the first couple of films we did.

What next?

Who knows… but we've got a helluva camera and sound set up to use, the Panda is still on the road and

“once you're infected and addicted, there's no way out…” (Samy Cantieni)

www.saftandboneless.co.uk

saftandboneless@saftandboneless.co.uk