ORNADA Files Pt. 1: The Great Wallz of Steez

Welcome to the ORNADA Files. In Part 1, the Great Wall of Steez, we go behind the scenes to the opening shoot for ORNADA. Filmed at Absolut Park in Austria under the direction of longtime Armada collaborator MADSTEEZ — artist Mark Paul Deren — the crew created a surreal backdrop for the skiing on film, seemingly existing outside of time and place.

“To me, skiing is an art form,” says MADSTEEZ. The idea was to meld the two, make it look like one continuous painting, like a skier is actually flying through it. I wanted it to look almost fake, like CGI, so you have no idea what you’re looking at.”

“Mark has an extraordinary way of making audacious ideas real,” says ORNADA Director Corey Stanton. “When we got his time for ORNADA, we went all in following the WEENiverse wherever it led. His imagination defined the film.”

“In the history of art projects, let alone ski projects, that’s one of the most incredible feats I’ve ever been part of,” MADSTEEZ says. “Watching it come together in real life, I couldn’t believe it. It gives me goosebumps. I was like holy cow, we did it.”