If you’re looking for inspiration to lighten your wallet of $109 (the price of a lift ticket at Perisher; Thredbo is two bucks cheaper) than a high performance snowboarding film could be the ticket. Nowhere looks to be the pick of the bunch this year. It’s put together by Absinthe Films who have a reputation as the best in the game. Imagine Taylor Steele in a beanie and a puffy parka and you’ll get the idea: big riders, big budgets, big action, catchy tunes, classy production.

There’s a good mix of riders, styles and terrain throughout this film. Snowboard parks and resort riding are noticeable by their absence – a good thing. The focus falls on backcountry shredding and “urban” snowboarding – a discipline I’ve never really gelled with but appreciate when its delivered in small, potent doses as it is here.

Early in the film we meet Wolfgang Nyvelt who rides a la natural, without straps. He tears up the backcountry powder, launches off rocks and lands shuv-its and kick flips. The strapless thing – dubbed “noboarding” by its followers – reminds me of the finless surfing phenomenon. Not all that practical but impressive and heaps of fun if you’ve the skills.

Nowehere’s Alaska footage is a reliable head-spinner. Sure you’ve seen plenty of similar stuff before but every season these guys push it that little bit harder. The big country riders barely turn anymore. Just point and run down near vertical, cliff-strewn Everests. Avalanches aren’t so much of a problem because often the rider is already down the bottom, eyes spinning with adrenalin before the mountain awakes.

The soundtrack is strong and eclectic with a reggae version of Willie Nelson’s “Still is Still Moving To Me” my surprise favorite. Like with Taylor Steele’s progressive surf films prestige goes to the rider who scores the final section. Nowhere’s honors go to urban wild man Dan Brisse who nails a bunch of gnarly inner city gear. If he’d undershot his final car park gapper this film would be dedicated to his memory.

Happy shredding this winter. Don’t eat the yellow snow.