The following article was originally printed in the October 2024 Issue of Slush. To access the full article click here.
Intro by Norm Schoff
There’s a vibe shift, a transformation going on. We’re in this weird moment in life where we crave both the nostalgia of what once was and a freshness and curiosity about what can be. This isn’t just in snowboarding. Reboots and sequels plague Hollywood, Creed is back on tour for the first time in well over a decade and all of this is happening while the country desperately pleads for new faces—young faces—in politics. How do we make sense of this? It seems we want the safety—however shallow—of yesterday. But we need the hope—however uncertain—of tomorrow. Accessing both, tapping into desire and necessity all at once is a dangerous line to walk. There’s the risk of alienation or, perhaps worse, downright failure. Finding that middle ground requires an expertise that few wield as professionally as Justin Meyer. Cue Videograss.
Search Party is a return to form. It’s a full-length in an era of short videos. Search Party is also Videograss at its best. It’s a hodgepodge of legends and young bucks, riding together, blending the energies of their respective generations into something fully unique, yet comfortably familiar. It’s not just a blend of people but of places too. From Arizona to Stockholm, Helsinki to Japan, Search Party is just that, a search. It’s a journey to beloved cities and remote towns, a quest to find what every one of us is always looking for, that perfect spot. What you’re about to read is a snippet of that journey, a dispatch from stops along the way.
Stockholm, Sweden
Crew: Meyer, Colt, Reid, Jed, Jill, Rav
Population: 975,551
TRIP NOTES:
Fresh off the flight, at 3 a.m. in Stockholm, with temperatures around -10 degrees, I broke the door handle off our Airbnb. Not exactly the warmest welcome. Then, in true fashion, Rav decided to double down by trying to break in using a rusty nail, which promptly got stuck in the door jam. To top it off, the owners called us on the Ring cam, asking if everything was okay—they'd seen the whole thing. - Jill Perkins
Oslo, Norway
Crew: Meyer, Parrish, Gesme, Dan, Jill, Reid, Robby, Phipps
Population: 709,037
TRIP NOTES:
With the world in a drought, Norway became our go-to, far from a last resort, with plenty of spots to hit from the get-go. Our crew—Tommy Gesme, Parrish, Danimals, and I—settled into a cozy AirBnB, and after a few lessons in floor heating, we got rolling, fueled by pastries and iced coffees. As the trip progressed, a new crew joined us just as Danimals left for Belize, and with fresh faces, we tackled big challenges, from clearing snow-packed driveways to dismantling heavy obstacles. The city was buzzing with nearly 50 crews, making it feel like a home away from home, but as the snow dwindled and morale dipped, we decided to wrap things up and head back to the States. - Justin Phipps
Otaru, Japan
Crew: Colton, Oli, Jed, Louif, Stax, Parker
Population: 110,000
TRIP NOTES:
In Otaru, Japan, amidst the crew's usual antics, Katie Kennedy—our beloved SLUSH staff member—decided to sprinkle some magic on the trip. She orchestrated a surprise cover reveal for Parker for the Photo Annual, right at a local bowling alley. But it wasn't just a simple reveal; Katie went above and beyond, scouring the town for a printer and crafting covers in varying sizes. When Parker arrived, she pulled off the surprise flawlessly, with the rest of the crew in on the secret, making it a night to remember—or at least try to after a couple cold ones...