Creative Direction Most Inspired by American Apparel: Nimbus Independent’s Contrast
Athlete interviews on white leather chairs and Pixies songs over light-saturated road-trip footage somehow work. It’s an oddly refreshing aesthetic for a ski movie. Producer Eric Pollard says, “What sets us apart is our organic way of capturing film.” It feels like a film made by a few friends—just friends with better tricks and more professional editing skills than yours. [nimbusindependent.com]
Most likely to cite "progression": Matchstick Productions’ In Deep: The Skiing Experience
Ignore the talk about progression and finding stoke and you’ll get to this movie’s bread and butter: a killer soundtrack, a McConkey tribute, and plenty of ski action from a wide range of locales from Colorado to Sweden. According to the press release, “For 2009, MSP takes an original look at the sport of skiing.” You decide. [mspfilms.com]
Ski Movie that Most Makes You Crave Sushi: Sweetgrass Productions’ Signatures
Shot entirely in Japan, the second film from Colorado’s Sweetgrass Productions is just as hippie-soulful as the first (the soundtrack includes Bon Iver and soothing ocean sounds) but with an Asian twist. Case in point: “The Japanese compare January to the womb,” says filmmaker Nick Waggoner. “When the snow flows over your head, you can’t tell up from down, and it just becomes you.” [sweetgrass-productions.com]
Best Movie Starring All Women, and Mainly Swedish Ones: Generation Flinga’s Catch Us if You Can
Four Swedish girls—all pro skiers—get together and decide to make a ski movie. Then they recruit Americans Lynsey Dyer and Rachael Burks to star in their film. They travel to Utah, Russia, the Alps, Japan, and Bjorkliden, Sweden, to ski and shoot footage. The result is something you won’t want to miss. Trust us on that. [generationflinga.se]
Most Tall Ts in One Movie: 4BI9 Media’s So Far So Hood
The third full-length film from 4BI9 Media, So Far So Hood is 35 explosive minutes of urban handrails, East Coast tabletops, and a few rowdy big-mountain shots. We like the neck-deep pow segment starring skier Collin Collins. Or maybe we just like saying Collin Collins. [4bi9media.com]
Best Use of a Remote-Controlled Helicopter: Powderwhore Productions’ Flakes
For the past five years, the telemark-only films made by a couple of ex-Mormon brothers from Salt Lake City have showcased bluebird pow turns in the Wasatch backcountry. This year, look for night-skiing footage, destinations as far as Ushuaia, Argentina, and Haines, Alaska, and shots taken from a mini remote-controlled helicopter. [powderwhore.com]
Best Title that Spoofs a Tom Cruise Movie since Top Guns 3: Field Productions’ Eyes Wide Open
“Every jump is full-focus,” says Jon Olsson in the trailer. “It’s all about keeping your eyes open.” In the film, Olsson returns to the Norwegian glacier where he got his start. Parts of the flick were filmed with a Red One, a super-high-res camera. The best scene: bottomless New Year’s Eve powder at Mica Heli Guides with Eric Hjorleifson, Chris Rubens, and two Norwegian rippers. [vasentertainment.com]
Best attempt at narrative: Two Plank Productions’ Declaration
The Two Plank crew graduated from Colorado’s Western State College in December 2007. This is their fourth film but first as diploma-toting members of society. They’ve got 400-foot straightline chutes, unique park features, and, shockingly, a story line. Why Declaration? Says founder Corey Tibljas, “Because we want everyone to know that we’re here, and we’re going to be making movies every year.” [twoplank.com]
Best Motivation to Buy a Lotto Ticket: Teton Gravity Research’s Re:session
The film’s title mocks cash-strapped ski bums everywhere. Re:session showcases glittery travel segments shot everywhere from Poland to Haines, Alaska. The only dirtbag segment in this business-as-usual film features Sammy Carlson riding the concrete walls of Snow King’s ice rink in Jackson, Wyoming. [tetongravity.com]
Best Segment Shot in Michigan: Level 1’s Refresh
Some skiers ride park. Other skiers ride backcountry. But with athletes like Tanner Rainville, Wiley Miller, and Henrik Harlaut, you’ll see plenty of spins, flips, and other gutsy maneuvers off massive drops in the backcountry of Alaska, Utah, France, and elsewhere. Plus, Mike Hornbeck and friends slide rails in his home state of Michigan. [level1productions.com]
Best Movie to Watch with grandpa: Warren Miller’s Dynasty
Between a father-son tree-skiing segment, ancient Chinese skiing petroglyphs, and Jonny Moseley perched on a rock in Lake Tahoe, Warren Miller’s 60th film has something for everyone. Vintage footage sprinkled throughout the film—even if you were born decades after it was shot—provides an interesting contrast to today’s big-mountain lines. [warrenmiller.com]
Best Proof that East Coast Skiing Ain’t Half Bad: Meathead Films’ Wild Stallions
Big-mountain skiing on the East Coast does exist, and if you don’t believe it, watch the Meatheads take on Mount Washington’s Tuckerman Ravine in New Hampshire. Don’t miss legends Radio Ron and Dan Marion schralp moguls dressed as retro ski bums. [meatheadfilms.com]
Most Private Parts Exposed in a Ski Movie: Rage Films’ Pretty Good
It’s called ski-porn for a reason. Witness Joe Schuster nut himself on a rail at Mt. Bachelor and hear his howling reaction over a wireless mike. Or watch Ian “Chug” Cosco reveal his bare ass. There are PG scenes too: Skiers Gus Kenworthy, L.J. Strenio, and Cosco throw down on jumps in Minnesota, Oregon, and Europe. [ragefilms.com]
Best Rails: Poor Boyz Productions’ Every Day Is a Saturday
Like all Poor Boyz flicks, the newest offering has the usual grade-A talent—Tanner Hall, Simon Dumont, Mark Abma, T.J. Schiller, and more. Sure, it’s got phenomenal park, urban, and backcountry segments, but skier Matt Walker puts it best: “We slid some metal, most of it was over concrete. Fun times.” [poorboyz.com]
—Hillary Procknow, Paul Sliker, and Megan Michelson
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So, I was stoked to see that there's an all female movie coming out this fall, but I can't find anything more about it! I click on the link and do a google search, but the site doesn't seem to be working. Can you give me any more info? Are they premiering the film in the US at all?
Thanks, Hannah