A ski film is a motion picture with sequences of expedition, recreation, competition, or acrobatic exhibition on snow skis. These non-fiction action sport films capture the experience of an athletic outdoor snow sporting culture. Ski films typically present one or more techniques (ski jumping, cross-country, downhill, freestyle), locations, or skiers (expert, celebrity or novice). Categories include the feature, documentary of competition or other event coverage (such as a snow festival or sportscast), instruction or technique demonstration, retrospective history, travel guide showcasing a region, or a short subject (such as a web series or included in a newsreel).[1] More than 200 such videos debuted in 2006.[2] Notable examples are listed at the Ski and Snowboard Film Institute,[3] or have received awards from the International Ski Film Festival,[4][5] X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival,[6] IF3 International Freeski Film Festival, Newschoolers magazine,[7] Cold Smoke Winter Film,[8] Powder magazine,[9] or similar.

Dr. Fanck in the Alps

Feature film

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Feature-length entertainment films about skiing, skiers, and the ski lifestyle, shot in actual locations around the world and featuring the best skiers of the day, have been released annually since 1938. Although not distributed through normal film channels, these movies were first exhibited on the resort, club, film festival and ski show circuit[10][11] and are now available via internet video or home video.

Many features include sequences of other mountain, airborne, water, or speed sports.[12] Slow motion and time-lapse effects and skier point of view shots have been used in ski films since the first features of Dr. Fanck.[13][14] Many film makers release a film early in the ski season, with content recorded in the past season or two. The following list is a chronology of prolific feature production companies or directors with numerous ski films over the indicated time span.

 
Early camera mounted on ski for point of view shots

Feature-length film series

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Other films

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Many ski film makers have initially or predominately released featurettes and short films, in addition to features.

Featurette and short film series

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  • Winston Pote winter films (1927–1943)[58]
  • annual Marcel Ichac ski films (1934–1950, 1957, 1972)[59]
  • Dick Durrance films (1940–1993)[60]
  • Sverre Engen films (1944–1962)[61]
  • annual Jack Lesage and Cinépress ski films (1959–1984)[62]
  • Roger Brown and Barry Corbet freestyle Summit Films (1961–1988, 2012)[63][64]
  • Harvey Edwards Films (1970–1986)[65]
  • Joe Jay Jalbert Productions (1970–present)[66]
  • Alain Gaimard and Didier Lafond Apocalypse Snow series and other ski films (1981–1986, 2008)[67]
  • annual Dominique Perret and Vertical Zoo films (1990–2012)[68]
  • annual Poor Boyz Productions (1996–2006)
  • annual Free Radicals series films (1996–2011)[69][70]
  • Two Plank Productions (1997–2012)[71]
  • Kris Ostness and Wind-Up Films (1999–2008)[72]
  • annual Darrell Miller and Storm Show Studios (2000–present)[73][74]
  • annual Geoff McDonald and Meathead Films (2000–2010)[75][76]
  • annual Level 1 Productions (2000–present)
  • annual Josh Murphy and Unparalleled Productions (2000–2004)[77]
  • annual Pléhouse Films (2001–2007)[78][79]
  • annual Lionel Géhin and WW Productions (2001–2008)[80]
  • annual Martini brothers' Stept Productions (2002–2014)[81]
  • annual Falquet brothers' FLK productions (2002–present)[82]
  • annual Heart Films (2006–present)[83]
  • AJ Dakoulas and Andrew Napier's 4Bi9 Media (2007–present)[84]
  • annual Eric Pollard and Nimbus Independent productions (2007–present)[85][86]
  • annual Mike Douglas and Switchback Entertainment productions (2007–present)[87][88]
  • annual Nicholas Waggoner and Sweetgrass Productions (2008–present)[89][90]
  • annual Legs of Steel releases (2010–present)[91]
  • annual Dubsatch Collective releases (2011–present)[92]
  • annual releases from The Bunch (2013–present)[93]

Ski film may also refer to a fictional theatrical-release sports film which incorporates a skiing theme,[94][95] although the on-snow scenes may have been enhanced by the use of stunt doubles for the actors and special effects.

Film festivals and tours

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Ski, snow, adventure and mountain film festivals are held in Switzerland (Les Diablerets/FIFAD), Austria (Graz, St. Anton, Vienna Freeride), Germany (Tegernsee), Italy (Cortina, Trento), France (Annecy High Five, Dijon, Val d'Isère, Chamonix), Russia (Moscow), Spain (Torello), Canada (Banff, Montreal, Whistler, Rossland, Fernie, Vancouver), United Kingdom (London FreeSki, Fort William, Kendal), New Zealand (Wanaka) and United States (Ishpeming, Jackson Hole, Steamboat Springs, New York City, Midwest, Crested Butte, Mammoth, Missoula, Lake Tahoe, Stowe, North Bend, Boulder, Whitefish, Flagstaff, Williamstown, Mount Snow, Anchorage).[96][97][98][99]

Multi-film road tours which bring a selection of films to scheduled cities have included Banff World Tour, Freeride Film Festival Prime Tour,[100] Vancouver VIMFF World Tour,[101] Salomon Quality Ski Time Film Tour[102] and Level 1 Freeski Film Tour.[103]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Verschoth, Anita (2 Oct 1978) "Out of the Mouth of Babe: Silence" Sports Illustrated
  2. ^ Skipress Vol 6 No 2:12
  3. ^ Ski & Snowboard Film Institute U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum
  4. ^ First rate flicks (Jan 1975) Ski Vol 39 #5:31
  5. ^ Ishpeming International Film Fest will screen in Park City (2014) Park Record
  6. ^ Prettyman, Brett (2012) X-Dance Film Festival breaks away Salt Lake Tribune
  7. ^ Newschoolers Awards '24 newschoolers.com
  8. ^ Walden, Kaylee (2013) “Coldsmoke Awards celebrate all things winter” Bozeman Daily Chronicle
  9. ^ 16th Annual Powder Awards at Powder.com
  10. ^ Barronian, Abbie (2013) "Film Premiere Schedule" Powder
  11. ^ Fry, John (2010) The Story of Modern Skiing Hanover: University Press of New England ISBN 978-1584658962 pg 278-280
  12. ^ Oliver, Peter (1991) "Reel Life: Ski filmmaking through the years", Skiing, Vol 44 No 3:155
  13. ^ Von Moltke, Johannes (2005) No Place Like Home: Locations of Heimat in German Cinema University of California Press ISBN 9780520244115 pg 45
  14. ^ Inkster, Darlene (2012) Film Pioneers: Arnold Fanck pg 19 in Directory of World Cinema: Germany edited by Michelle Langford, Intellect Books ISBN 9781841504650
  15. ^ Thorne, Patrick (2021) A Century of Ski Films skiinghistory.org
  16. ^ Tanous, Adam (2012) "Ski Films: Big Air, Big Mountains and Big Laughs". Sun Valley Magazine
  17. ^ Moulton, Richard W. (2002) Film's Role in Popularizing Alpine Skiing in America in Collected Papers of the International Ski History Congress, ed. E. John B. Allen (New Hartford, Conn.: International Skiing History Association, 2002), 190-194
  18. ^ Kuhnert, Amanda (2012) "Victor Coty" Stowe Guide and Magazine Stowe Reporter pg 83-87
  19. ^ Miller, Peter (Nov 1984) Ski People: Victor Coty Ski Vol. 49 Page 16E
  20. ^ US National Ski Hall of Fame "Dr. Frank Howard" (1987) Honored Members
  21. ^ Cohen, Stan (1985) A Pictorial History of Downhill Skiing Pictorial Histories Pub. Co ISBN 0-933126-55-7 pp 186-187
  22. ^ Jay, John (1966) Ski Down the Years NY: Award House LCCN 66021960 pg 195
  23. ^ Folder: G002. Correspondence and Manuscripts of/by Sidney N. Shurcliff at Harvard University Library archive hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu
  24. ^ Allen, E. John B. (2002) New Hampshire on Skis Arcadia Publishing ISBN 9781439628591 page 107
  25. ^ Lund, Morten (1996) "Skiing Down those Golden Years with John Jay", Skiing Heritage Journal, Vol 8 Number 2: 7-26
  26. ^ Cohen, Stan (1985) A Pictorial History of Downhill Skiing Pictorial Histories Pub. Co ISBN 0-933126-55-7 pp 186-187
  27. ^ Biography at newenglandskihistory.com
  28. ^ Robbins, Paul (Spring 1986) Little Bit of Magic Skiing Vol 38 #7:14
  29. ^ Konigsberg, Eric (2009) "Still King of the Cinematic Slopes" New York Times
  30. ^ In Camera (2011) KODAK.com
  31. ^ Donahue, Topher (2008) Bugaboo Dreams: A Story of Skiers, Helicopters and Mountains ISBN 1897522118
  32. ^ Dart, Ron (2010) Hans Gmoser The Canadian Encyclopedia Historica Canada
  33. ^ Lund, Morten (Nov 1969) "Dick Barrymore, we ask you--are you making it?" Ski Vol 34 #3:150-8
  34. ^ Doran, Patricia (January 1975) "Willy Bogner, Jr" Ski Vol 39 #5:32
  35. ^ Stebbins, Neil (Sep 1995) "Willy's World" Ski Vol 60 #1:174-180
  36. ^ Fire+Ice at bogner.com
  37. ^ Finkel, Mike (1991) "Helter Skelter" Skiing Vol 44 No 3:160-162
  38. ^ "Return of the Blizzard King" (2008) Ski Press Vol 8 No 1:8
  39. ^ (2012) Greg Stump interview offpistemag.com
  40. ^ Skiing (Dec 1992) "Video Review" Vol 45 #4: 144
  41. ^ Lanthier, Nancy (2010) Taking it from the Top Issue 77 Spring Point of View
  42. ^ Lovitt, Rob (1991) "Rap Master Flash", Skiing, Vol 44 No 3: 164-166
  43. ^ "James Angrove Set to Remaster the RAP FILMS Library" (2011) biglines.com
  44. ^ Rège, Philippe (2009) Encyclopedia of French Film Directors Scarecrow Press Volume 1:330-331
  45. ^ skitime No 62 pp 41-45
  46. ^ Mohler, Chaco (2000) "Reel Life Stories" Skiing, v53 #4:4C-8C
  47. ^ Shalbot, Chris (April 2013) “evo visits Teton Gravity Research" evo.com
  48. ^ Carr, Dan (2010) "Behind the Scenes"
  49. ^ Hagemeier, Heidi (2011) "Bend filmmaker Sky Pinnick" The Bulletin Bend OR
  50. ^ Tabke, Drew (2015) Powderwhore is Dead: Long Live Powderwhore Backcountry magazine
  51. ^ TeleVision film review at SierraDescents.com
  52. ^ Cohen, Tyler (2014) A Decade of Powderwhores: BC Filmers Prepare To Turn 10 backcountrymagazine.com
  53. ^ Abbott, Nate (2015) Only the skiers matter: The past, present and future of Poor Boyz Productions Freeskier
  54. ^ Braunstein, Zach; Parks, Megan (2008) "Ski Film Reasons Puts a New Spin on a Trick Flick Genre" US National Geographic adventure blog
  55. ^ Krichko, Kade (2019) “Is Level 1 Done? We Asked Founder Josh Berman” Powder
  56. ^ Luby, Kevin (2010) "Josh Berman" Skiing
  57. ^ Clark, Adam "Sherpas" The Ski Journal issue 5.4
  58. ^ Eastman, Tom (June 1998) Winston Pote Pioneer Photographer Skiing Heritage Vol 10 #2:7-11
  59. ^ Rège, Philippe (2009) Encyclopedia of French Film Directors Volume 1:515 Scarecrow Press
  60. ^ Dick Durrance at Colorado Ski Hall of Fame
  61. ^ "Sverre Engen" (1971) Honored Members US National Ski Hall of Fame
  62. ^ Jack Lesage at numothèque grenoble-alpes
  63. ^ "Films and Mini Films" (Jan 1970) Skiing Vol 22 #5:55
  64. ^ Summit Films in Business Screen (1964) vol 25 #1:150
  65. ^ Brady, M. Michael (2012) Harvey Edwards, Eclectic Filmaker [sic] and Author Mountain Gazette
  66. ^ Rand, Abby (Feb 1977) "Joe Jay Jalbert: Reel Success" Ski Vol 41 #6:2
  67. ^ "Apocalypse Snow" The Ski Journal issue 3.2
  68. ^ Reifer, Susan (Oct 1998) “Dominique Magnifique” Skiing, Vol 51 #2: 61
  69. ^ Free Radicals Swedish Film Institute
  70. ^ Larsson, Tim (2021) “Classic Ski Movies: Where did they go?” Redbull.com
  71. ^ Dujardin, Ed (2012) "Two Plank Productions" Freeskier magazine freeskier.com
  72. ^ Davies, John Clary (2011) “First! Kris Ostness and Father Time” Powder.com
  73. ^ Forno, Cherise (2020) “Storm Show is back with the 'Top 100' lines from two decades of filming” Jackson Hole News & Guide
  74. ^ Mander, Brigid (2010) “10 Years of Jackson Hole” ESPN
  75. ^ Jane Lindholm, Samantha Fields (2011) "Meatheads" Vermont Public Radio
  76. ^ Fater, Tim (2014) The Meatheads’ New Plan powder.com
  77. ^ Bie, Tom (Dec 2002) "Soul Slide" Skiing Vol 55 #4:36
  78. ^ Schnier, Susan; Rinfret, Thomas (Oct 2006) "Junkyard Jibbing" Skiing Vol 59 #2:104
  79. ^ Pléhouse Films (2011) SBCSkier
  80. ^ Seventh Heaven review at skieur.com
  81. ^ Dowaliby, Shane (2014) Stept Productions announces its 2014 ski film will be its last freeskier.com
  82. ^ Desmurs, Guillaume (2014) Interview: Falquet brothers – skiers & filmmakers RedBull.com
  83. ^ Dream Chaser iF3
  84. ^ Fielding, Leah (Feb 2012) "4Bi9" Freeskier vol 14.6:76
  85. ^ Meyr, Kyle (2 May 2014) Nimbus Independent’s new film: After The Sky Falls RedBull.com
  86. ^ Brown, Julie (August 26, 2014) Nimbus Releases Coordinates Powder.com
  87. ^ Hampton, Christie (2014) Words with Mike Douglas snowsbest.com
  88. ^ Desabris, Jonathan (2015) Mike Douglas Ask Me Anything Recap TetonGravity.com
  89. ^ Ski Cine (2008) Ski Press Vol 8 no 1:8
  90. ^ Blevins, Jason (9/13/2013) Ski film "Valhalla" takes tired adventure genre to new heights The Denver Post
  91. ^ Menzies, Carson and Grinnell, Charlie (2016) Legs of Steel Redbull.com
  92. ^ Allen, Dana (2013) "Stuff We Like: Dubsatch Collective" Ski Magazine
  93. ^ Barronian, Abbie (2016) The Bunch is Back Powder
  94. ^ Senn, Bryan (2022) Ski Films: A Comprehensive Guide McFarland ISBN 9781476645032
  95. ^ Lund, Morten & Schwartz, Gary (1996) "The First Hollywood Ski Movies" Skiing Heritage Journal Vol 8 #1:30-33
  96. ^ Hartemann, Frederic; Hauptman, Robert (2005) The Mountain Encyclopedia: An A to Z Compendium of Over 2,250 Terms, Concepts, Ideas, and People Taylor Trade Publishing ISBN 9781461703310 pg 80
  97. ^ Film Festival map at mntnfilm.com
  98. ^ Hall, Brian (29 June 2012) MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVALS steepedge.com
  99. ^ Leonard, Brendan (2013) 7 mountain film festivals worth checking out Red Bull.com
  100. ^ Freeride Film Festival 2023 at boardriding.com
  101. ^ VIMFF World Tour at DiscoverBristol.org
  102. ^ Greenwood, Ian (2023) Salomon Announces Dates For The Quality Ski Time Film Tour Powder
  103. ^ Level 1 Freeski Film Tour 2023 Newschoolers
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