New Point Break Features Riding from Pros including Lucas Debari
From daily heli-drops during Italy’s record-breaking winter, to five-star accommodations in the Southern Alps, the crew definitely didn’t rough it, and had a heck of an experience during the month-long shoot. We reached out to Lucas Debari for the scoop on being a stuntman, and how this production differed from a normal snowboard shoot. Read on for his interview and check the behind the scenes edit above.
What was your involvement with the new Point Break?
I was one of the stuntmen for the Johnny Utah character.
What was the overall experience like?
Well, it was unlike any other snowboard trip I have ever been on. Our “help” budget was larger than most snowboard companies net incomes. I got to ride pow for one month with Ralph Backstrom, Mike Basich and Mitch Toelderer. Once we figured out how to manage dealing with the production crew, it was just like being on a five-star vacation with your good homies.
Where did you film?
I was filming out of the Aosta Valley in Northwestern Italy.
How did filming for this major motion picture differ from snowboard film shoots you’ve been on?
The largest difference in this project was what the overall goal of the shoot was. They weren’t looking for anything you would see in a Brain Farm flick. We rode almost every line as a party of four, with my character being in the front due to the plot (that was epic). They filmed most lines really tight framed with loose tripod sticks so that the footage would come out all shaky and “extreme” looking.
Were there any weird elements to filming?
We used the craziest POV setups that I have ever ridden with. Some of them were straight-up dangerous.
What are you most looking forward to seeing with this updated version of the film?
A great laugh at a unique experience in my life. Working on the Point Break movie was one of those “out there” experiences that I feel so lucky to have been able to enjoy. In that month of filming, Ralph and I gained a solid twenty pounds a piece from 5-Star dinners and only riding out of helis.