Featured Image: Xavier Mayrand | Skier: Mat Dufresne

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There are those who would call Quebec, Canada the mecca of street skiing. Specifically, Montreal. A vast network of concrete and steel combine with cold winters to form a playground unlike any other. Two decades of street skiing have cultivated a rich culture of French Canadians whose influence is evident today in the entirety of the freeski scene. Among those skiers is Mat Dufresne, affectionately known simply as Mat Duf. As one of the most profound riders in Montreal, we were sure to pay attention when he released his latest personal project, “Word To The Wise” this past fall.

I had the pleasure of crossing paths with Dufresne last April at Level 1’s SuperUnknown, and unlike many of the rowdy and energetic riders dominating the scene, his quiet personality was what set him apart. As loud calls and cries of joy could be heard echoing through the pink rails in Mammoth, California, Duf would slip silently through the crowd. Deconstructing any feature of his choosing, he would often land switch and ski away with a blissful smile on his face, leaving those of us watching with a mix of astonishment and contentment.

While he is a man of few words, his skiing certainly speaks for himself. Mat Duf is probably one of the most creative street skiers today, proudly carrying Montreal’s legacy into the future. This latest four-minute film was born out of a season with terrible conditions and heaps of challenges on and off the skis. Despite this, Duf and cinematographer (and Montreal great) Xavier Mayrand got to work in the streets they know and love.

Though it is neither easy nor immensely profitable to make a street skiing film in 2024, both Duf and Mayrand both have an intense pride in their work; a reminder of why projects like this exist in the first place. We pinged these two legends of the great white north in order to get some insight into “Word To The Wise.”

Click here to check out Mat Dufresne’s recent collaboration with J Skis

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 Thanks for taking the time to talk, guys. Pick one word to describe the 2024 ski season. Why? 

XM: Challenging – we both had a hard start to the 2024 season, personally. Mat and I had busy and often conflicting schedules with his job as a coach and my job as a freestyle judge. Having a child on my end brings a lot of schedule constraints. The poor snow situation made filming street that much harder, as bad conditions limit your options in terms of spot selection and how you approach a feature. We had such high expectations for this project, so I’m proud of how we adapted and of the product that came out of a tough season. 

MD: I would say spontaneous. As Xavier mentioned, last winter was quite short. We had busy schedules so when it was time to film, we had to find a spot no matter what and get the job done with minimal room for error. Time was not on our side, and it was stressful to work in crunch time like that so often, but I think the resulting [film] turned out great.

Did the personal challenges you mentioned motivate the project or make it harder? What did you learn from overcoming those challenges and still putting this project together? 

XM: Yes indeed, the year was difficult for both of us personally on different fronts. Plus the snow [in Quebec] was the worst I’ve ever seen in 15 years filming of street skiing. Most of the cut was filmed with minimal snow on the ground and we had to hustle like never before to capitalize on what we had.

I guess the lesson I learned is that sometimes, the things you’re most proud of come out of the hardest challenges. As I mentioned, I’m really proud of this project, maybe more so than any I’ve directed before, and that feeling probably has a lot to do with the fact that we made it happen despite all of the challenges. I’m stoked about Mat’s skiing and about my work behind the camera and on the computer. We got great results despite the challenges, which is the cherry on top.

Side lesson: when there isn’t any snow, look for spots or areas hidden from the sun and wind. We ended up getting a few shots at a tucked-away spot where the snow was decent even though everywhere else was grass. All those spots had one thing in common, which was being hidden from the sun and wind. 

MD: Last winter, I didn’t have access to a car, so it was really difficult for me to get around. Without Xavier and his motivation, nothing would have been possible. Most of the time, I had to take a 1-hour train to get to the city, and he would come pick me up. When I take a step back, I realize that anything is possible when you truly love what you do. 

Out of all that hard work, is there one moment that stands out from filming last season? 

XM: Mat’s ender is definitely a stand-out. It’s a [bridge] spot I had scoped for years, knowing there was something to be done there. In “MTL 2,” we went there and Mat did a 180 to switch wallride shot. During the session, we kept looking at the area and saw what could be done. This season, after getting kicked out from a different spot, we drove by the same bridge. It was cosmic.

Usually, we would have waited for more snow to be on the ground for such a big feature, but for whatever reason, we decided to give it a shot. Thank god we did, because very little snow fell after that. This spot was a high-consequence feature as it was not a baby bridge; it was the real deal. Mat and I put a lot of effort into making sure everything was good to go. When he went for it, the first two hits were rowdy bails. He barely saved himself from potential injuries. The third one was the best attempt and Mat got it as smooth as it could’ve been done. We both looked at each other in disbelief afterward. I still can’t believe how it all went down.

MD: There was a spot where I did a 2 on 1 out and a switch 4 on 1 out. That was a hectic day for sure, but memorable. When we arrived there, I was sick and super tired. We hadn’t even started shoveling yet and I was exhausted. Xavier had invited a friend to take photos, so I knew I had no choice but to try something hard. I thought the graffiti on the wall looked really cool, and immediately wanted to hit it.

Switch cork 5 is one of my favorite tricks, and I wanted to do it on that wall. If I wanted a clip like this to be in the project, it was now or never. We got some great photos but I couldn’t get the clip the way I wanted, so I got back in the zone and knew I had to land it well. After a few tries, I realized it was truly possible and that motivated me. I still remember that when I got home, I immediately asked Xavier for the clip. I must have watched it a thousand times until I fell asleep [laughs]. 

What do you hope the rest of the freeski world sees in the film? What do you hope viewers walk away with? 

XM: I hope they enjoy watching it. I mean, that’s what it’s all about. Whether it gets them fired up to watch other ski films, go hike some rails at their hills or try street skiing for the first time, that’s what these projects are all about.

On a personal note, I hope people take the time to analyze the details. Street skiing often has a lot of intricacies that can be missed without multiple viewings. The danger surrounding a feature, the technicality of a rail or trick, the height or distance involved in a feature, etc. Mat has had one hell of a run in the past three seasons with “MTL,” “MTL 2” and “Word To The Wise. I hope he gets credit for what he’s accomplished in the streets. 

MD: Often, people have high expectations but don’t realize all the work and effort put into video projects. I hope that those who watch our project will appreciate and recognize the passion we have for the sport and for street skiing culture. As Xavier mentioned, the goal is that people will take the time to watch it multiple times to notice the more technical details of the tricks and the videography.  

These projects are a testament to the dedicated freeski scene that exists in Quebec. How would you describe the ski culture of Quebec to someone who doesn’t know it? 

XM: [Quebec is] deeply passionate and in tune with the essence of freeskiing. Ever since the creation of our sport, there has been a flow of pros coming one generation after another to Quebec which has led to a natural ‘passing of the torch’ that is still ongoing today. This can be seen in skiers all across the province. Just like our fellow East Coasters from the USA, our winters are super harsh and unpredictable. I guess because of that, people naturally learn to enjoy skiing even in bad conditions and then cherish the time when conditions are great. 

MD: Yeah, I’ve got nothing to add. I completely agree with [Xavier] on that one.

Favorite ski you’re currently riding? 

XM: I haven’t ridden as much as I would like in the past couple of seasons between living the dad life, judging and filming. I skied Surface’s Upper last season and enjoyed it a lot. I’m looking forward to riding their Sniper ski this year. 

MD: I’ve been skiing the J Skis Vacation for now 4 years. I love it so much. I recently launched a collab with them in the Vacation model. We call it the Poutine ski. It’s a must for me when skiing street and park to have solid skis, J Skis knows how to deliver. 

Who is one skier you hope everyone is watching? Why them? What do you love about their style? 

XM: I really like what Jacob Bélanger has been up to the past few years, He’s a park skier from Québec city who was a superunknown finalist in 2018. He made a few dope street cuts before moving out west to Whistler. His transition into the backcountry has been awesome to see, his skiing is really impressive and his smooth park style translates super well to this type of skiing. 

MD: Agreed, Jacob Belanger is the GOAT. That’s my pick too. He’s just so technical and fluid in his skiing. It’s mesmerizing.

Where do you find inspiration outside of skiing? 

XM: As a filmmaker, I’d say it comes a lot from music videos. A lot of the approaches in storytelling, cinematography and editing can translate well into the action sports realm in my opinion. The format is often pretty similar with the short form that is pretty common nowadays within skiing. 

MD: I spent a lot of time coaching the next generation, which inspires me a lot and allows me to discover different trends and new cultural avenues that I might not otherwise be exposed to. I also spend a lot of time watching skateboarding, rollerblading, and mountain biking videos. These activities have always been present in my surroundings and had a real influence on my style and approach to different features and transitions. 

One song that gets you fired up to ski any day of the year. 

XM: My number one of all time has got to be ‘Cartoons & Cereal’ by Kendrick Lamar. That one makes me want to run through a brick wall even after a million listens. 

MD: ‘Outlawz’ by Rick Ross, that’s a hype song for sure.

With the coming season right around the corner, what are you hoping to accomplish? What will make this year a success?

XM: The plan is still to be determined as Mat and I both have different obligations and conflicting schedules. I’ll be traveling a lot through judging with comps and Mat will be traveling a lot through coaching. Success, to me, would be talking again next fall with another film project dropping. It’s always a big challenge to make it happen. 

MD: I plan to continue to focus on making another video part. I still have a lot of motivation and energy to invest, and it’s such a great creative process from start to finish. I’m already looking forward to it. Other than that, I’ll mix in some coaching and various rail jams depending on the opportunities. Both [coaching and competition] are such great ways to connect with the freeski community.