By David G. Tran
In front of a sold out crowd at the Whistler Conference Centre, pro photographer Brian Nevins stole the show and the hearts of the audience with a 9-minute surf-focused slideshow. Brian won first place in the Pro Photographer Showdown, as he was placed against Showdown finalists Adam Moran, Camilla Stoddart, Jeff Patterson and Scott Serfas. Taking home $10,000 in prize money, the shy and humbled Nevins thanked supportive fans, “for keeping our job alive.” Brian had no idea that this event was one of the most popular art events at the Whistler Ski and Snowboard Festival, drawing a massive crowd who would clap and cheer as his slideshow played his top photos.
The “Godfather of Freeskiing” Mike Douglas hosted the awards in a suit and running shoes, whereby he made claim to the fact that he was not an avid suit wearer. The last time Douglas wore the suit was 2 years prior at the wedding ceremony for fellow freeskiers Rory Bushfield and the late Sarah Burke. In memory of Sarah, Mike had the audience participate in a “moment of noise” as she would have wanted, whereby the entire audience rose to their feet, shouted, clapped and cried in celebration of Burke.
