Photography by Sam Moody & Perly | Words by Josh Barrow
DIYX Magic Castle – A diary entry from departure day
November 19th, 2023
3pm, Sunday
Das Den Spa, Seefeld
I find myself overlooking Seefeld’s snow capped mountains in the same robe, on the same sun lounger at the same time for the third day in a row. We’re healing in the Das Den Hotel Spa where 50+ snowboarders, plus that number again if you include media, managers & non-essentials like ourselves for the Castle Jam edition of DIYX’s snowboard event.
We’ll always be the first to admit we’re somewhat new to this world, which is why we always make sure we’re in the company of those who are not. Blackmailed over a handful of beers just a couple of weeks prior, we somehow managed to convince veteran French snowboard photographer Perly to room with us, take photos and then hand some over. A true gentleman. (Cc Club Sandwich)
I’ll keep this brief as the old addage goes; a picture paints a thousand words, and thankfully we have plenty of those. DIYX isn’t like any other snowboard event out there. Take skateboarding’s infamous CPH Open, add snow, combine it with Berlin’s Berghain and that’s roughly where you land. The crowd which showed up and the madness which ensued this time was on another level. The set up of spots created for this edition were hard to fathom as they were built both high into the castles roof and integrated into its permitter. Once the light dipped there was three floors of rave caves (as scary as it sounds), cinema rooms, and basement dancefloors with big names at the helm of each playing until the sun rose. Not to mention a warehouse big enough to store a 747 complemented with a skatepark at its far end. Personal highlights? Being greeted by knights on horseback upon entering the castle. Sparrow Knox’s bottomless pit of energy and home made fire breathing dragon. Watching the girls go as big as the boys at each spot. Hrund Hanna Thor’s trumpet playing capabilities. My 4 hour man on man sauna ice bath session with Zeb Powell. Hot apple pies aka hot apple juice mixed with copious amounts of Fireball. Dutch inspired public relation strategy to keep the press corps bright eyed and bushy tailed into the early hours. The list could go on for pages…
Be sure to keep an eye out for the recap video which will be essential viewing and in the meantime if you’re not already following DIYX you can do so here. A huge thank you to Monster for getting us there, Ethan Morgan and the Method Mag crew for organising it all, and everyone else behind the scenes which make these special events what they are. If we’re invited back, we look forward to seeing you at the next one!
