How to film snowboard follow-cam shots: three ways for trees, powder and carving

Follow cam means filming a partner while you ride, and whoever holds the camera has to mind their own riding at the same time. Here are 西西’s methods, split across three kinds of terrain.

This post is for you if you:

• want to film a friend’s riding but don’t know which angle and distance to start from
• plan to take an action camera into the trees or into powder
• want to know how to shoot carving footage that feels close

What follows is how 西西 films, compiled from 西西’s Threads posts. It is personal experience, not standard instruction. This post also does not mean SnowWind offers a filming service.

Safety first. Filming while you ride splits your attention. The risks of tree and powder terrain are not the same as on groomed runs. Before entering terrain outside the managed area, check your own level, the snow conditions and your companions, and go with a qualified guide.

Start with your stance setup

The combination 西西 recommends most: a left-hander who rides left foot forward (regular), or a right-hander who rides right foot forward (goofy).

As 西西 puts it, when beginners try follow cam with any other setup, things are more likely to get dangerous at high speed. 西西 did not explain why, and we won’t guess.

Key point: if you want to film follow cam, check your stance setup first. If it isn’t this combination, don’t try it at high speed.

Three kinds of terrain, three ways to film

Trees. 西西 fixes the action camera straight to the hand with a head-strap mount. The reason: tree terrain keeps changing and you turn often, so whatever way you film, it can easily upset the stability of your riding. What 西西 wants to capture is the rider’s full line: however bumpy the terrain, stay on their track.

Powder in open terrain. In powder, a rider’s body visibly rises and falls. The angle 西西 finds has the most visual impact is riding parallel to your friend from the side, dropping down the fall line together.

Carving. 西西 especially recommends having a riding partner from the same technique system help with the filming. 西西 usually stays very close, with the camera mounted on the head, and follows the other rider’s track down the slope, rather than “side-slipping down from above to take a shortcut”.

Key point: in the trees, go for the full line; in powder, ride parallel from the side; for carving, stay close and follow the track down.

Editing: slow, then fast

西西 points out that rhythm matters too. If the whole video runs at one pace, viewers find it monotonous.

The method: put in some slow-motion clips shot at a high frame rate first, then cut to shots of fast riding. Slow, then fast — that contrast shows the speed of riding better.

Why it’s worth filming

In another post (tagging KAKU), 西西 wrote: “I hope you can understand the joy of filming someone who keeps improving without limit. Being serious is the ultimate kind of cool.”

Who this post is not for

• Anyone who can’t yet control speed and turns reliably: get your riding solid first, then think about filming while you ride.
• Anyone looking for camera models, mounting-position specs or shooting settings: the sources don’t give them, and this post won’t make them up.

For 西西’s qualifications, see 西西’s profile.

This post is compiled from 西西's Threads posts. It is 西西's personal filming experience, not standard instruction and not a safety guarantee. Trees and powder carry the risks of terrain outside the managed area; go with a qualified guide.