Inside the 500 Hour Edit: The Making of Progression Vol. 2 with Nate Turnbow
Progression: Volume 2 isn’t just another sled film – it’s a game-changer for the industry.
“If you’re going to do something, do it right the first time – and do it all the way.” That’s a lesson Nate Turnbow’s father always drilled into him. With over 500 hours spent editing the film, it’s clear that Nate took that advice to heart.
A bold fusion of raw snowmobile energy and cinematic storytelling. Progression: Volume 2 captures the heart of what draws riders to the mountains: the powder, the chutes, the struggle, and the triumph. Every frame intensifies the definition of progression itself, revealing those moments when skill, passion, and risk collide.
Behind the editing screen, one half of the creative force driving this project is Nate Turnbow of Backcountry Alliance, a rising name in the snowmobile film world. Though newer to the scene, Nate’s relentless work ethic, eye for storytelling, and pure devotion to the craft have quickly made him a storyteller in the industry you want highlighting your vision.
A few short years ago, Nate wasn’t even sure he liked snowmobiling. “Honestly, I haven’t been riding snowmobiles that long,” he admits. “I hopped on my first sled just a few years ago, a 2012 Pro RMK a friend sold me, mainly because I wanted something to do in the winters.” That first ride was rough. “Between the 500 stucks and the huffin and puffin, I must have loved it, because like that meme goes, ‘yup, this is my entire personality now,’ and well, it basically became that. I got hooked fast.”
From there, it escalated quickly: thirty-five ride days that first winter, seventy the next, and over a hundred each season since. “I just fell in love with it. I wanted to progress, push myself, and get into the backcountry to see what it had to offer.” His dedication to the sport over the past few years has helped him create the moments that keep him grounded.
That drive led him to a clinic at Proven Progression, where he first met Caleb. A few months later, they crossed paths again at a Utah trailhead. “He remembered me and invited me out to ride. I earned my keep by shoveling jumps,” Nate says. “Honestly, building jumps together is kind of how friendships get cemented.” It sparked a yearly tradition – Cooke City, Revelstoke, even Chile this summer, with plenty of massive builds along the way.
Somewhere in those mountains, the camera came into play. “I picked one up mostly just to document my new obsession,” Nate says. “Like snowmobiling, filming started as a passion, and I quickly realized that the two, riding and filming, just naturally clicked. Capturing that stoke, the freedom, and the backcountry moments became just as addictive as the riding itself.” Nate’s ability to marry the two together and tell other people’s stories has led to a gift in life we all strive towards when growing in new areas – a sense of purpose and discovering who he is.
When Caleb started shaping Progression Vol. 2, his goal was to show every side of snowmobiling from the deep snow, technical trees, chutes, and jumps. “The theme, ‘The Mountains Are Calling, and We Answered,’ grew out of that,” Nate says. “We realized that even though we all love different parts of riding, at the end of the day, it’s the same thing that draws us to the mountains. The challenge, the beauty, and the freedom.”
Nate poured himself into the project. More than 500 hours in the edit chair.
“Red Bulls. Lots and lots of Red Bulls,” he laughs. “We didn’t just want another snowmobile movie set to metal music. We wanted moments that give you goosebumps. Moments that leave you with a feeling.” Some sections he edited in weeks, only to scrap them later and start fresh. “There were countless drafts before the final form came to life. Every tiny detail took time. But it was worth it. This was my first big project, and it taught me a ton.”
For Nate, Progression isn’t just a title – it’s a mindset. “Honestly, I could probably go back and re-edit the whole movie from scratch, better and faster,” he says. “That’s what progression is – pushing yourself.” He recalls Brett Turcotte’s words from the film: “The goal is to be one percent better every day.” Nate lives by that. “It’s not about giant leaps, it’s about small steps that add up over time.”
One moment that stuck with him was Matt Doetsch’s interview in the chutes segment. “He talks about being intimidated at the Big Iron Shootout but deciding to just go for it,” Nate says. “That really hits me because it resonates with my experience as a newer sledder being thrown into the fire riding with such high caliber guys. I’m out of my element a lot, but I just go for it.”
When the premiere finally came, nerves hit hard. “Honestly, I was just hoping people liked it,” he admits. “After all those late nights, it was nerve-wracking finally having anyone besides Caleb see it. It’s that mix of excitement, nervousness, and relief when you finally share something you’ve poured your heart into.”
Nate’s hope is simple: “I hope people finish the film pumped for the season! But more than that, I want them to remember why we do it. The freedom, the challenge, the beauty of the mountains. I want them to walk away inspired to get out there, push themselves, and chase that feeling for themselves.”
After watching every crash, send, and victory “a hundred times – probably more,” Nate says it changed his view of the sport. “It shows me what’s possible and pushes me in my own riding. Seeing the commitment and risks people take makes me want to push myself harder every time I ride.”
His setup reflects his commitment to capturing that spirit: “My main gear I run is a Sony FX3. Usually with a full monitor on it and a Sennheiser mic, and a DJI Mavic 3 Cine drone,” he says. “I edit off Adobe Premiere.”
And he believes sled films are on the edge of a comeback. “They have the potential to come back bigger and better than ever,” Nate says. “The early sled films shaped the culture and where snowmobiling went as an industry. That died off a bit, and people really want that back. At Beyond the Backcountry, it was clear – people missed films and live premieres. There’s a resurgence coming, and people are excited for it.”
For all the epic lines and slow-motion sends, Nate says the real magic happens between the clips. “It’s the same banter, laughs, and friendships every time. We’re way more connected than most people realize, no matter what sled you ride.”
Looking back, Nate’s grateful. “I just want to thank Caleb for believing in me to help bring his vision to life,” he says. “This was his movie and his vision. I was just there to help bring it to life and guide some of the creative direction. We’re just getting started, and I can’t wait to bring even bigger and better things in the future.”
As for what’s next? “Keep chasing that passion… riding, filming, exploring, and seeing where it takes me next. There’s always more mountains to ride, more stories to tell, and bigger adventures ahead.”
*all photos provided by Nate
