June 7, 2009: Teva Mountain Games
More daily dispatches...
June 4, 2009: Homestake Creek
June 5, 2009: Prelims
June 6, 2009: Bigger Crowds
June 7, 2009: Final Celebration
June 8, 2009: Film Festival

Serac Adventure Film School is back at the Teva Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado for another exciting year of adventure film. On day four, students collected adventure film footage during the culmination of the world's largest celebration of mountain sports.



The day began with the Native Eyewear 10k Spring Runoff where hundreds of runners braved one of the toughest races in the nation, featuring 1800 ft of elevation gain across backcountry terrain. Later, the Teva Raft Cross pitted teams of two rafters against each other through a slalom race course on Gore Creek. The Bud Light Lime 8 Ball Kayak was the fan favorite for the day. Competing kayakers must outwit and out paddle 8 Ball Kayakers whose goal is to obstruct, collide, and create general mayhem on the river (Learn about 8 Ball Kayaking in Serac Adventure Film School alumni Sam Lowe-Anker's "Total Carnage"). Participants start at the Covered Bridge in Vail Village and sprint the Gore Creek Course, all while trying to evade the 8 balls paddlers waiting to flip, block, and push the competing kayakers. Winning kayakers Sam Sutton (Men) of Rotorua, New Zealand and Ruth Gordon (Women) of Ontario, Canada outsmarted other paddlers to take home the win.


Serac Adventure Film School students stayed busy throughout the day as they captured their final footage for their films. Our youngest student Trevor Halperin's film explores the lifestyles of professional outdoor athletes, including determining why these individuals find so much passion in the sports they pursue. Trevor interviewed both climbers and kayakers throughout the Teva Mountain Games to find the answers to his questions.


Sue Feddema-Leonard and Chehala Leonard are a mother/daughter team coming all the way from Canada to the Serac Adventure Film School. Their film looks at the defining moment behind how filmmakers chose their profession. In fact, they believe some students may find their future calling at the Serac Adventure FIlm School.





Eileen Kiza is documenting the dynamics behind what drives extreme athletes to gamble with their lives. She is focusing on professional kayakers competing in The Steep Creek Championships, The Eight Ball Kayak Sprint, and The Kayak Pro Freestyle, all presented by Bud Light Lime and Jackson Kayak.





Gretchen Powers is exploring the intense mental game outdoor athletes face when competing at a professional level. Gretchen is following bouldering athlete Alex Puccio (IFSC Bouldering World Cup Champion) and world class kayakers Dustin Urban and Tanya Faux.






Aileen Torres is filming an athlete profile of Alex Johnson, the young American climber who won the Bouldering World Cup Title last year at the Teva Mountain Games. In this year's event, Alex took second, finishing just short of Alex Puccio of Boulder, Colorado. Nevertheless, Alex was happy with the way she climbed, and is looking forward to the next sanctioned bouldering event.



Article by: Tyler Jones
Photos by: C.J. Carter
Film by: Kate Mason and Tyler Jones

More daily dispatches...
June 4, 2009: Homestake Creek
June 5, 2009: Prelims
June 6, 2009: Bigger Crowds
June 7, 2009: Final Celebration
June 8, 2009: Film Festival