Get On with Zeus
When you film in Snowdonia in September you are truly in the hands of Zeus and given the rain that joined us these five days, we wondered if Poseidon had thrown in a bucket or two for good measure. Our mission in the Snowdonia National park was to film advanced motorcycle skills at the highest level and to this end, we were joined by former police motorcycle rider and VideoBiker Advisory Panel member, Marcus McCormick. [watch video]
Marcus on his BMW S1000 RR teamed up with VideoBiker Managing Director Simon Hayes on his Kawasaki ZZR 1400. A good match in all respects and despite the weather gods doing their best to dampen our efforts, five days of advanced motorcycle riding was captured in all its glory.
Perfect motorcycle cornering skills
With a base for editing just on the Llyn Peninsula, our filming locations included the breath taking scenery along the A499 between Llanwnda and Pwllheli, along with rain drenched Caernarfon and then on up through Llanberis, Capel Curig and Betws-y-Coed. The A5 revealed several perfect corners – ideal for documenting advanced motorcycle cornering skills and the A4086 set the scene for some outstanding scenic promotional shots.
Whilst Snowdon spent much of our time shrouded in clouds, we found that rain on one side, was often counter balanced with sun on the other and at the midway point, a welcome coffee at Pen-y-Pass, where several poorly kitted Pyg Track walkers asked if we were with the ITV crew who we had apparently just missed – although we doubt that they were filming advanced motorcycle training in the rain!
Camera jib was a wind vane
On more than one occasion we were forced under cover of a borrowed patio umbrella and when all else failed, there was Tomato, mozzarella and mushrooms – Italian style at the Hangin Pizzeria (wonderful!) in Betws-y-Coed.
On the occasion we thought we could beat the mountain, Snowdon decided to use our camera jib as a wind vane and Calum’s hair as an Anemometer. Not a pretty moment for the film crew, but with Simon leaning near horizontal into a straining umbrella, they managed the shot and a new Advanced Academy module was introduced – advanced motorcycle riding skills in torrential rain (watch this space)!
