Warren Miller Entertainment wows audiences with its latest film, No Turning Back. For many ski and snowboard enthusiasts, viewing the new film is the official start to the winter season. WME movies capture spectacular locals and amazing skiers and snowboarders with breathtaking cinematography.
A showing of a Warren Miller movie is an event. They are generally screened in real theaters rather than movie theaters so more people can attend. Vendors from local ski shops and representatives from ski mountains attend and raffle off prizes. The WME grand prize for one lucky winner is a nine day trip for four to ski resorts in Montana; the first prize is a ski trip to Norway; and the second prize is to Switzerland. Everyone who comes receives vouchers for regional ski deals and free lift tickets. Although a family venue, alcohol is served and a live host energizes the crowd. It feels like a party of people who love the mountains and cannot wait to hit the slopes.
The basic message of the movie is one of Warren Miller’s famous quotes, “If you don’t do it this year, you’ll be one year older when you do.” The film is about accepting challenges, moving past fears, and enjoying what life presents. This year’s athletes push the envelope of the possible all over the world. Director Chris Patterson delved into the story of skiing and how the people who brave the mountains guide the evolution of the sport.
Warren Miller began filming ski movies in 1949. The current film mixes old stock footage with the new stories to show the development of skiing and snow boarding. One thing has not changed – skiers are still crazy, and still crazy about skiing. Narrator Jonny Moseley’s opening monologue states, “It’s all about being out here, and sliding down the mountain on a pair of skis.”
The first locale is the Chugach range in Alaska, known for its narrow ridges and steep, long faces. Ingrid Backstrom, Jess McMillan and Chris Anthony take a helicopter to the top of impossibly precipitous slopes and charge down in sweeping lines.
Next, the film moves to famed ski town Chamonix, France. The team took an aerial tram to a lovely chalet. Then they had to climb over the edge of the patio down a narrow ladder and rappel down the cliff face past the boulders to reach the run. The skiers, Seth Morrison, Mike Hattrup, Tim Petrick and Heather Paul Featherman, are ski veterans past the age of forty. They proved that modern equipment is like a fountain of youth for skiers and age is not reason to slow down.
Fun-loving, young skiers Sierra Quitquit and Julian Carr were filmed enjoying the deep powder of a small town ski resort in Montana. The film switches to Japan for even deeper snow and high-energy snow boarding by Rob Kingwill, Seth Wescott and Nobuyoshi Chiba. Hokkaido is the snowiest place in the world and the constant fresh powder has spurred a cottage industry of snow board manufacturing. In contrast, in Beaver Creek, Colorado, the film explored the established sport of ski racing through iconic athletes Ted Ligety, Julia Mancuso, Bode Miller and Mikaela Shiffrin.
A truly amazing segment of the movie was filmed in Greece where Tyler Ceccanti and Josh Bibby skied down Mount Olympus. The two trekkers rode horses from the thousand year old mountain village to the base of the slope.
In the islands of Lofoten, Norway Kaylin Richardson and Oystein Aasheim climbed over mountains seeking a 5,000 year old mythical ski. What they found were awe-inspiring vistas of peaks and fjords, and invigorating rides down the slopes.
No Turning Back wrapped up its exploration of modern skiing with speed riding in Switzerland. Veteran Ueli Kestenholz guided J.T. Holmes through the Alps with skis on their feet and wings on their backs. When they came to a cliff they just flew over it and floated down the mountain.
Although the athletes have the well-known names in the ski world, the real stars of the film are the cinematographers. Climbing mountains with heavy equipment and capturing the light, scenery and fluidity of the line is a challenge. Their expertise is what sets the Warren Miller Entertainment film above other ski movies.
The athletes and camera men had an extra challenge during this filming. In many locations, snow cover was more scarce than usual. Locals repeatedly explained that it had been a warm, dry winter. Skiing and snow boarding depend on snow. Climate change could drastically affect the industry as warming weather patterns keep the slopes bare more days out of the year.
Warren Miller Entertainment wows audiences with its latest film despite difficulties with weather during filming. For 65 years Warren Miller films have ushered in the ski season for skiers, snowboarders and snow aficionados. Let winter begin.