Ski film explained

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.

Feature film

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.

Feature-length film series

• annual Bergfilme of Arnold Fanck, documentary and dramas (1920 - 1931)^{[15] [16] [17]}
• Victor Coty ski films (1933 - 1969)^{[18] [19]}
• Frank Howard Films (1935 - 1960)^{[20] [21]}
• annual Sidney Shurcliff films (1938 - 1941) ^{[22] [23] [24]}
• annual John Jay Films (1940 - 1970)^{[25] [26]}
• Hans Thorner films (1948 - 1955)^{[27] [28]}
• annual Warren Miller and successor Warren Miller Entertainment films (1950–present)^{[29] [30]}
• annual Hans Gmoser films (1958 - 1968)^{[31] [32]}
• annual Dick Barrymore films (1961 - 1980)^[33]
• Willy Bogner, Jr. films (1966 - 2009)^{[34] [35] [36]}
• annual Greg Stump films (1985 - 1998, 2012)^{[37] [38] [39]}
• Peter Chrzanowski films (1988 - 1997)^{[40] [41]}
• annual films by James Angrove and Jon Long of Real Action Pictures (1988 - 1998)^{[42] [43]}
• Thierry Donard and Nuit de la Glisse films (1989–present)^{[44] [45]}
• Scott Gaffney Productions and Straight Up Films (1993 - 1999)^[46]
• annual films by Teton Gravity Research (1996–present)^[47]
• annual films by Steve Winter and Murray Wais of Matchstick Productions (1997–present)^[48]
• annual Sky Pinnick and Rage Films (2002 - 2009)^[49]
• annual Howell brothers’ Powderwhore Productions (2005 - 2015)^{[50] [51] [52]}
• annual films by Johnny Decesare and Poor Boyz Productions (2007–present)^{[53] [54]}
• annual films by Josh Berman's Level 1 Productions (2009 - 2019)^{[55] [56]}
• recent films by Sherpas Cinema,^[57] etc.

Other films

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

Featurette and short film series

• 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, 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

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).^{[94] [95] [96] [97]}

Multi-film road tours which bring a selection of films to scheduled cities have included Banff World Tour, Freeride Film Festival Prime Tour,^[98] Vancouver VIMFF World Tour,^[99] Salomon Quality Ski Time Film Tour^[100] and Level 1 Freeski Film Tour.^[101]

See also

• List of Winter Olympic documentary films
• List of sports films#Skiing
• Surf film
• Travel documentary
• Winter sport

References

• Azallion, Nancy (Oct 1967) 'Skiing movies going "legit"' Skiing Vol. 20, No. 1:121-122
• Oliver, Peter (1991) "Reel Life: Ski filmmaking through the years", Skiing, Vol 44 No 3: 150-155
• Audisio, Aldo; Natta Soleri, Angelica (1997) Snow & Ski : Neve E Sci Nei Manifesti del Cinema
• Yaple, Henry M. (2004) Ski Bibliography 1890-2002 International Skiing History Association, items 1487-2123, 3630-4287
• Masia, Seth (2006) "Moving Pictures" Skiing Heritage Journal Vol. 18, No. 3: 37-39
• Anthony, Leslie (2010) White Planet: A Mad Dash Through Modern Global Ski Culture Greystone Books Ltd pp 83–84, 213-220, 295
• Sax, David (2013) "Skiing Films Now Have Stories to Match the Stunts" New York Times

External links

• Stone, Ethan (2023) Ski Trailer Yard at downdays.eu
• Trailer Time at freeskier.com
• Bamber, Katie (2023) Ski Movie Season Is Upon Us at fall-line.co.uk
• Arganbright, Libby (2023) Must-See Freeski & Snowboard Film Trailers of the Season at U.S. Ski & Snowboard
• Ski Films at skifilms.net
• Ski Movies at RedBull.com
• Anthony, Leslie (2021) “Range rover: Ski films redux” Pique newsmagazine
• ski movies album at Vimeo
• Trailer Park at Powder.com
• Reel Deal at Ski magazine
• Reviews and trailers at offpistemag.com
• ESPN Action Sports Ski and Snowboard Video Awards
• Skiing (Oct 2009) The Cinema pg 26-27

Notes and References

1. Verschoth, Anita (2 Oct 1978) "Out of the Mouth of Babe: Silence" Sports Illustrated
2. Skipress Vol 6 No 2:12
3. https://web.archive.org/web/20180427033348/http://skihall.com/index.php?_a=document&doc_id=6 Ski & Snowboard Film Institute
4. https://books.google.com/books?id=7-HCBlUw6EMC&pg=PA19-IA10 First rate flicks
5. https://www.parkrecord.com/entertainment/ishpeming-international-film-fest-will-screen-in-park-city/ Ishpeming International Film Fest will screen in Park City
6. Prettyman, Brett (2012) X-Dance Film Festival breaks away Salt Lake Tribune
7. https://www.newschoolers.com/news/read/Newschoolers-Awards-24-Movie-Year-Winner Newschoolers Awards '24
8. Walden, Kaylee (2013) “Coldsmoke Awards celebrate all things winter” Bozeman Daily Chronicle
9. https://web.archive.org/web/20160116210544/http://www.powder.com/latest-news/top-skiers-and-ski-films-honored-at-16th-annual-powder-awards/ 16th Annual Powder Awards
10. Barronian, Abbie (2013) "Film Premiere Schedule" Powder
11. Fry, John (2010) The Story of Modern Skiing Hanover: University Press of New England 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 pg 45
14. Inkster, Darlene (2012) Film Pioneers: Arnold Fanck pg 19 in Directory of World Cinema: Germany edited by Michelle Langford, Intellect Books
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 pp 186-187
22. Jay, John (1966) Ski Down the Years NY: Award House LCCN 66021960 pg 195
23. https://hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu/repositories/7/archival_objects/173848 Folder: G002.
24. Allen, E. John B. (2002) New Hampshire on Skis Arcadia Publishing 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 pp 186-187
27. http://www.newenglandskihistory.com/biographies/thornerhans.php Biography
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. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811010317/http://motion.kodak.com/motion/Publications/In_Camera/Focus_on_Film/skiFilms.htm In Camera
31. Donahue, Topher (2008) Bugaboo Dreams: A Story of Skiers, Helicopters and Mountains
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. https://www.bogner.com/en-us/an-explosive-mixture/59.html Fire+Ice
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. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231709/http://vault.biglines.com/articles/james-angrove-set-remaster-rap-films-library-and-launch-new-tv-series "James Angrove Set to Remaster the RAP FILMS Library"
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. https://www.sierradescents.com/reviews/powderwhore/television.html TeleVision
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. http://www.coloradoskihalloffame.com/images_bio_htm_files/Dick_Durrance.htm Dick Durrance
61. https://skihall.com/hall-of-famers/sverre-engen/ "Sverre Engen"
62. https://cinevod.bm-grenoble.fr/news/2016/02/26/films-cinpress-jack-lesage Jack Lesage
63. https://books.google.com/books?id=ZO6BwzRRti8C&pg=PA55 "Films and Mini Films"
64. https://archive.org/details/business196364screenmav24v25chicrich/page/150/mode/1up?view=theater Summit Films
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. http://www.theskijournal.com/issue/3.2/feature/Apocalypse-Snow "Apocalypse Snow"
68. Reifer, Susan (Oct 1998) “Dominique Magnifique” Skiing, Vol 51 #2: 61
69. https://www.svenskfilmdatabas.se/en/Item/?type=film&itemid=67000 Free Radicals
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. https://web.archive.org/web/20160816165540/http://sbcskier.com/throwback-thursday-pl-house-films/ Pléhouse Films
80. https://www.skieur.com/actu-critique-dvd-seventh-heaven Seventh Heaven
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. https://festivalif3.com/en/venues-and-events/montreal_canada_2022/films/dream_chaser/ Dream Chaser
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. 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 pg 80
95. https://www.mntnfilm.com/en/p/festivals-map-search Film Festival map
96. Hall, Brian (29 June 2012) MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVALS steepedge.com
97. Leonard, Brendan (2013) 7 mountain film festivals worth checking out Red Bull.com
98. https://www.boardriding.com/events/freeride-film-festival-schruns-2023 Freeride Film Festival 2023
99. https://discoverbristol.org/event/vancouver-international-mountain-film-festival-vimff-world-tour-041523/ VIMFF World Tour
100. Greenwood, Ian (2023) Salomon Announces Dates For The Quality Ski Time Film Tour Powder
101. https://www.newschoolers.com/news/read/Level-1-Freeski-Film-Tour-2023 Level 1 Freeski Film Tour 2023