ESPN’S X Games might be the stoners’ Olympics, but — with all its crazy, spinning, constantly changing camera angles — it’s doing as much to change the art and technology of capturing sports as NFL Films.
Sure, you could just prop up a run-of-the-mill tripod cam on the side of a mountain to catch snowboarder Torstein Horgmo busting out a switchback 1080 double cork. But, even better, you could stick a tiny camera on his helmet and experience the big-air trick, from start to finish in stark HD, through the eyes — or scalp, more precisely — of the Norwegian as he barrels through the air.
GoPro, launched in 2002, was the first hands-free POV cam of its kind — a light, durable, mount-anywhere camera that was, not coincidentally, the brainchild of a Northern California surfer dude. The idea was to give a first-person perspective of the insane world of active/rugged/extreme sports to viewers who maybe weren’t so active/rugged/extreme (like this writer), by way of an eyeball attached to a helmet, snowboard, surfboard — wherever’s clever, basically.
While the resulting cinematics are an ESPN producer’s fantasy — conveying maximum realism with zero editing, save for the occasional expletive bleep — you hardly need to be a pro to use one: There’s been an explosion of consumer POV cams, likely coming to a vacation near you. And not surprisingly, GoPro is no longer alone; tech titans have come to play, too.
Sony’s foray into the club comes in the form of its Action Cam (HDR-AS15, $269.99), weighing in at a little over 3 ounces (with battery), and sporting Wi-Fi connectivity, a stereo mike, image stabilization, full 1080p HD and, unlike the GoPro, a 170-degree, Carl Zeiss wide-angle lens.
We shacked up at Park City, Utah’s iconic Canyons Resort (rates through April 14 from $132, summer rates from $103, canyonsresort.com) to put Action Cam to the test on the slopes and around town. Here are three ways to get your POV on:
ZIP ME UP
Zip-lining might have been popularized in Costa Rica (it’s practically their public transportation system), but here it’s been perfected. Shredding the Canyons by board or by ski is exhilarating enough, but sweeping the fluffy powder-scape from upwards of 300 feet above like some goggled, screaming, speeding drone takes your breath away. There are three lines: the baby Demo Zip, the minor-league Red Pine Zip (an 800-footer) and the mother of all lines (and the longest in Utah), Lookout Zip — as in, “Look out! I’m speeding along 2,000-plus feet of cable at 40 miles per hour!” Which, BTW, makes a hands-free cam a must since you’ll want to hang onto that zip handle. Just attach the Action Cam to a headband, wrap it around your helmet and go — instant YouTube stardom. $20 to $90 for zip packages. canyonsresort.com
WHAT ABOUT BOB
“Astronauts rocketing to space hit three G’s. You’re gonna hit five,” warned our mustachioed, crazy-eyed host at Park City Olympic Park. Welcome to the fast-paced, whiplash-y world of downhill bobsledding. You and two other victims — er, friends — can helmet up and board a bobsled, piloted by a pro who will comet down a snaking track at 80 miles per hour. The ride only lasts 50-some-odd seconds (pros keep it in the 40s), and the turns only number in the teens, but if the going gets rough, just close your eyes, rest your face in your crotch (that pummeling G-force doesn’t really give you a choice), let your inner Monica Seles scream out (turns out, your fellow passengers can’t hear you) and enjoy the head-banging chaos — however bruised and beaten it might leave you. The park’s staff frowns on attaching Action Cams on helmets or sleds, but one resourceful gal we saw wrapped one in her scarf. Rides are $200. utaholympiclegacy.com
REIN OR SHINE
The irony of Park City is that, when you’re here, you never really feel like you’re in a city. The place seems more like 95 percent park, 5 percent city — the overwhelming presence in this corner of the state is a panorama of crazy-huge mountains and sprawling land. It’s perfect for a place like Blue Sky — a horse ranch minutes north of Park City, operating as a full-on “recreational guide service” that’s also in cahoots with High West distillery, Utah’s first legal one since 1870. This means horsey rides around canyons, creeks, reservoirs and mountain passes — possibly intoxicated. You and your docile, four-legged chum can explore the 3,300-acre terrain and take in the bald eagle-laden sky at a comfortable trotting pace. But, being you’re city-slicked and all, you’re gonna want both hands on the reins. Your head-mounted Action Cam will handle the rest — just please refrain from sticking your Action Cam to the horse, as avant-garde as that might seem. Tours start at $70. bluesky-adventures.com
* Action Cam verdict: Audio quality is lacking, and sometimes you have no idea where the lens is aimed when it’s on the side of your dome (lots of unintentional video of blue sky, beautiful as it is, can get annoying), but there’s great visual definition, and it’s easy to start and stop. (Warning: Sometimes you can forget it’s on — be careful what you say, if you’re going to post it online!) The size and weight is just right. B+. sonystyle.com.