Yeah, the forest shot I think you're referring to was actually done on a wire and pulley system. It's a style that was poineered (at least for mtb videos) by the guys that did The Collective and Roam.
If you like that kind of stuff, there's a video here that I submitted earlier that didn't make it. It has the full sequence---one of my favourites:

http://www.videosift.com/video/Roam-North-Shore-w-Darren-Berrecloth