Heli Ski: Mounting Your POV Video Camera
The beauty of the size and weight of the new range of POV video cameras is that they have endless possibilities for mounting options. Getting amazing heli skiing footage is easier than ever, and although the cameras themselves may be expensive, mounting them in creative ways is not. Various mounts will give a greater range of shots, and ultimately make your videos better.
The Pole Mount
Easily created, take an old ski pole and cut down to the desired length. Around a third is a good length to have to begin with, but you can experiment with longer ones for different shots. Attach a bar mount to the end and your ready to start filming. If the pole is too narrow for the bar mount a couple of wraps of duct tape should solve the problem.
The pole mount is great for getting a range of shots all from the same mount. Facing towards yourself you’ll be able to capture all those powder shots, and detailed body movements through the deeper snow. Simply face the camera the other way to get great perspective of the upcoming terrain. It is also easy to access for changing settings and starting or stopping the recording. Downsides include learning to ride whilst holding the pole. This can feel pretty awkward at first, especially for skiers, who are used to carrying their longer poles. Snowboarders may have less of an issue however. Also you risk losing everything if the mount breaks during a crash in deep snow.
The Helmet Mount
This is probably the most common shot perspective seen in the thousands of online videos. Attached on the front or side of a helmet it does however give a great simulation of the feel of riding through watching the playback. Used on it’s own the footage can appear boring or uninteresting, though combined with other shot angles will add depth to your movie.
It is also good for skiers because of the hands-free style, and because it’s high above the snow, it will take some extremely deep powder to block out the lens through a run. However, unless used wisely, as in for a gnarly line, perspective is often lost. Without a skier in the picture to give definition, the slope can often look flat, no matter how steep it really is.
The Chest Mount
A good alternative to the helmet mount, this is a good choice for skiers, especially those who choose not to wear helmets. Offering hands free skiing with easy access function buttons, this mode of mounting is also very secure. You can even angle the camera slightly down to get a great perspective of your skis cutting through the snow, or have it tight to your chest for the POV shots. Not the best option for snowboarders though because of the way they are facing.
Ski Mounts
Using the same mount as you would to attach the camera to your helmet, you can mount the camera to the tip of one of your skis. This will give great shots and an interesting and unique perspective of your riding, however has some major drawbacks. The camera is very vulnerable here to coming detached as the skis are in constant contact with the ground. Also any powder is likely to ruin shots from this mount. Good for carving down soft groomers, perhaps not much else.
The amount of mounts are only limited by your imagination – have a go at a few, and let us know if you come up with any new interesting ideas.
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