Street Gang: CASG

By: Pippin  Lee

Ski The East Contributor

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 photos: Jason Mousseau Photography

CASG Members:      Max Hill                        Leigh Powis

                                   Cole Drexler                  Anthony Boronowski

                                   Jessica Warll                  Andy Stock

                                   Matt Brindisi                 Cassandra Ironside

                                   Ralph Damman              Adam Coulter

                                  Robert Ironside              Taylor Hamill (Bones) 

So who was the original founder of CASG?

Matt Brindisi: I’d say it was the product of me and an old friend sitting around in the summer and we just came up with the name jokingly, and it turned into whatever it is today.

When did this happen?

Max Hill: 2007

Coal Drexler: Make that summer of 2007

How many people are part of this CASG crew?

Coal Drexler: There are about 11 of us, 10 have been fired, and zero hired.

Max Hill: On the east coast 5 skiers, 5 snowboarders, 1 photographer, everyone films. 

The west coast when I am back in Whistler, we recruited Anthony Boronowski and Leigh Powis.

You guys pretty much came into the skiing world this year- kids are really stoked on your style. Who came up with the concept behind the CASG Sunday edits? And what were you aiming for when you first decided you wanted to start making these edits?

Adam Coulter: Back in 2008 was our first season on the snow. CASG started making small park edits like all the other crews out there. But we started differently because the first video we put out only included myself snowboarding and Matt Brindisi skiing.

Max Hill: I bought Jeff Thomas's camera off him when Theory-3 ended this year. I came home right as I had bought it and tested it out on Matt and Coal, they had their shit on lock that day and produced some new style.

 

For those that don't know what does CASG mean- what is the meaning behind it?

Matt Brindisi: Craigleith Area Street Gang was the original acronym, but has since turned into a bunch of other names.

Let’s see some creativity here- can you give me a sentence to describe what CASG means to you?

Max Hill: A movement that we are moving, adopting knowledge not style. Proving hangovers might not exist.

Matt Brindisi: We are all about keeping up with the move on, trying to stay away from the countless trends on the market, but at the same time we try to stick to our roots.

Cassandra Ironside: CASG is the future. It’s a crew of kids pushing each other to progress technically as well as developing their own creative style.

 

Now I hear that CASG is trying out their rhymes in the music industry- what has been your motivation behind that?

Matt Brindisi: Well I wouldn’t say “trying” or “music industry”, it is mostly just jokes for the most part, messing around in the off season.

Don't you guys have a album coming out in the near future- might as well do some shameless self promotion?

Coal Drexler: What would happen if I dropped the promo to that …uh oh.

Max Hill: It’s called Crook Kids Alphabet, No release date.

Is there a price attached to it, or will you be throwing it out for free?

Max Hill: It’s free, just like the Voleurz video, more shameless promotion.

 

Speaking of Voleurz Max- what was that like trying to build up a segment but having to battle injury most of the season- and what kind of things are we likely to see the upcoming Voleurz flick Outdoor Graduation?

  Max Hill: If it was any other film company I would say stressful and confusing. The main filmer I shot with, Darren Rayner helped a lot by reminding me to move at my own pace and keep this in the general "Axe Kill" style. Voleurz kept a smile on my face as well as some nice threads on my back. Thank you for the welcome to the team and clearing my bar tab.

Are all you guys and gals born and raised in Craigleith area?

Ralph Dammam: I'm straight outta Belgium

Coal Drexler: We were all born and raised here except the gypsy(Jess) and the Belgian Snap Shot (Ralph)

Jess, what has the experience been like being around the “boys” all day- and being one of the only 2 female warriors of the group is it easy to keep up with the men on the hills?

Jess Warll: They’re basically like all my boys and I try and take care of them. I drive them places and shit like that and it’s really fun riding with them because they are never afraid to tell me when my shits weak and are just straight which is awesome. 

Ralph Damman: Watch out Shaun White! 

 

Alright but seriously, Max, you the old man of the crew- some might say the wise man of the group? What has it been like to watch the progression of freestyle skiing but in particular in your backyard of Ontario. Having been on the freestyle scene the longest have you taken it upon yourself to teach and spread the love of freestyle skiing in Ontario?

Max Hill: Not much has changed at all. These kids are working hard as I was, and remind me a lot of myself. So I reach back and try to keep things moving as a unit and as for Jess, if we can break her with our ways she’s definitely ready for the world.

Now that most of you just graduated from high school what is on the horizon for CASG Sunday edits in the future?

Coal Drexler: We got a big year next year.

Max Hill: We have more than just weekends to get things done, and a lot more options to travel outside of home court. As well a bigger budget, more commitment, and more affiliates.

The CASG crew can be seen as one of the first groups to bring the whole “shuv-it” landing to the freeskiing scene this past season. Where did it come from and how does it relate to the whole keeping things fresh- feel in your edits?

Coal Drexler: We got the idea for the "shuv-it" landing (the "deadlung" as we call it) through snowboarding, more specifically from Mark Edlund, who bangs them out pretty hard in a few of Technine's movies. We have been doing them for the past few years, just haven't really dropped any edits with a deadlung landing in it until this past season. And I'm assuming the same goes for Hornbeck; that guy kills and is super innovative. With a deadlung you never know if the skier is going to land one way, or revert back the other way. Keeps things fresh for now but that won't be the fact next year so don't hope to see too many deadlungs out of us. As for our naming of it, Deadlung is Edlund's nickname so it just seemed appropriate.

How do you guys feel about the prospect of creating a short film of your skiing and selling it to the masses- or would you rather make sure you keep it a relaxed environment and push out free edits continually?

Max Hill: It will turn into more short film than rough edits, I'm not ready to dedicate my whole season to the CASG edits, but it’s always there if we need to get back to our roots. It’s Free for now.