Which Mountains for Warren Miller?

[RIDEr]

One reason why I like TGR films so much, though they too aren't into the east coast.

TGR has shown the MEATHEADS in a few of their recent ski porn while at Stowe (Soul Purpose I think). Right now, TGR is a great ski production company and have great segments on all of their riders and skiers.

Our season that passed (that only seemed like yesterday) TGR spent a week at Stowe hanging out with Jake Burton. I wouldn't be surprised if they have another segment on the East Coast again...

As for WM, I think it really doesn't bother him that his company sold out as long as they keep sending him checks and he can continue to ski at his private resort at Yellowstone.

 

[skibum1321]

TGR has shown the MEATHEADS in a few of their recent ski porn while at Stowe (Soul Purpose I think). Right now, TGR is a great ski production company and have great segments on all of their riders and skiers.

Our season that passed (that only seemed like yesterday) TGR spent a week at Stowe hanging out with Jake Burton. I wouldn't be surprised if they have another segment on the East Coast again...

As for WM, I think it really doesn't bother him that his company sold out as long as they keep sending him checks and he can continue to ski at his private resort at Yellowstone.

Their last segment at Stowe was just filming in the park. Not exactly what I would call a quality segment. If they do put the east back in another film, maybe TGR will actually realize that we have real terrain too.

 

[jackstraw]

Their last segment at Stowe was just filming in the park. Not exactly what I would call a quality segment. If they do put the east back in another film, maybe TGR will actually realize that we have real terrain too.

ec doesn't exactly fit the bill when one speaks of exciting, mind blowing, adrenaline flowing footage. it's also not the best place to hang out and wait for a bluebird day w/ powdah lines either...it could be months...unless you live here like the meatheads.

the jones' of tgr grew up on the ec and are all about skiing. but, like us all they need to meet the needs of the people paying the $$$.

the whole 'soul' of skiing thing is bs. unless you've been in the industry on some level you shouldn't be shooting your mouth off about any of these companies and what they have to do to make a buck. they're are countless companies out there that you and i support everyday that are much worse than a tgr, matchstick, or wme.

'no one gets out alive'

 

[skibum1321]

I have no problem with TGR or MSP - both make good films. Warren Miller films have never been up my alley - even when he was running the show. I was just saying that the footage at Stowe doesn't exactly show EC skiing. Shooting at a location in the East and showing actual EC skiing are 2 totally different things IMO. Just showing a couple of kids hucking in the park isn't what EC skiing is about as a whole.

 

[JimG.]

the whole 'soul' of skiing thing is bs. unless you've been in the industry on some level you shouldn't be shooting your mouth off about any of these companies and what they have to do to make a buck. they're are countless companies out there that you and i support everyday that are much worse than a tgr, matchstick, or wme.

'no one gets out alive'

Until the past few years I worked in the skiing industry for 2 decades. So I'm going to shoot my mouth off and disagree that it's BS. First off, I don't buy or watch ski movies, so I don't support them and their marketing flim flam.

Second, I go to ski areas to ski, period.

I don't go there to get free yogurt, chapstick, lift tickets, soft drinks or any of the countless other items of crap that seem to be given away each weekend. I don't go to ski areas to watch rolling billboards while I stand in a short liftline. I don't go to ski areas to get a real estate marketing pitch. I don't go to ski areas to weave my way thorough every model of GM car on display for the whole weekend because that make is the "official this or that" of the ski area. I don't go to ski areas to visit demo days either...I go through my shop to demo gear.

I don't go to a ski area to go in a big terrain park, or ski runs that are groomed to death every night. In essence, it can be summed up in 3 letters...ASC. It doesn't stand for American SOUL Company.

All I want from a ski area is some decent vertical, some challenging terrain, and enough snow to avoid core shots if possible. That's it.

And that's what ski areas used to deliver. But today, the soul has been sucked right out of the sport because of the above stuff. Has anyone considered that alot of the NELSAP areas are lost because of this very reason? That they went bankrupt trying to keep up with all of this peripheral circus crap instead of delivering their core product, skiing?

Think about it...and don't tell me that skiing hasn't taken a serious shot to the soul.

 

[thetrailboss]

Until the past few years I worked in the skiing industry for 2 decades. So I'm going to shoot my mouth off and disagree that it's BS. First off, I don't buy or watch ski movies, so I don't support them and their marketing flim flam.

Second, I go to ski areas to ski, period.

I don't go there to get free yogurt, chapstick, lift tickets, soft drinks or any of the countless other items of crap that seem to be given away each weekend. I don't go to ski areas to watch rolling billboards while I stand in a short liftline. I don't go to ski areas to get a real estate marketing pitch. I don't go to ski areas to weave my way thorough every model of GM car on display for the whole weekend because that make is the "official this or that" of the ski area. I don't go to ski areas to visit demo days either...I go through my shop to demo gear.

I don't go to a ski area to go in a big terrain park, or ski runs that are groomed to death every night. In essence, it can be summed up in 3 letters...ASC. It doesn't stand for American SOUL Company.

All I want from a ski area is some decent vertical, some challenging terrain, and enough snow to avoid core shots if possible. That's it.

And that's what ski areas used to deliver. But today, the soul has been sucked right out of the sport because of the above stuff. Has anyone considered that alot of the NELSAP areas are lost because of this very reason? That they went bankrupt trying to keep up with all of this peripheral circus crap instead of delivering their core product, skiing?

Think about it...and don't tell me that skiing hasn't taken a serious shot to the soul.

AMEN!

 

[jackstraw]

AMEN!

that is a joke!! right?

you do have k-mart and SR listed under your pic!

 

[jackstraw]

Until the past few years I worked in the skiing industry for 2 decades. So I'm going to shoot my mouth off and disagree that it's BS. First off, I don't buy or watch ski movies, so I don't support them and their marketing flim flam.

Second, I go to ski areas to ski, period.

I don't go there to get free yogurt, chapstick, lift tickets, soft drinks or any of the countless other items of crap that seem to be given away each weekend. I don't go to ski areas to watch rolling billboards while I stand in a short liftline. I don't go to ski areas to get a real estate marketing pitch. I don't go to ski areas to weave my way thorough every model of GM car on display for the whole weekend because that make is the "official this or that" of the ski area. I don't go to ski areas to visit demo days either...I go through my shop to demo gear.

I don't go to a ski area to go in a big terrain park, or ski runs that are groomed to death every night. In essence, it can be summed up in 3 letters...ASC. It doesn't stand for American SOUL Company.

All I want from a ski area is some decent vertical, some challenging terrain, and enough snow to avoid core shots if possible. That's it.

And that's what ski areas used to deliver. But today, the soul has been sucked right out of the sport because of the above stuff. Has anyone considered that alot of the NELSAP areas are lost because of this very reason? That they went bankrupt trying to keep up with all of this peripheral circus crap instead of delivering their core product, skiing?

Think about it...and don't tell me that skiing hasn't taken a serious shot to the soul.

jim- im not going to disagree w/ you. but the reality is that this trend is everywhere you look. go into many towns now and what do you see...a walgreens or cvs, a homedepot, lowes, or both! a starbucks and of course a walmart. not every town, but many.

if there is such a thing as the 'soul' of skiing then it only resides in a few places. one would be the small ski area owner/operator who works his butt off for very little in return, meaning $$$...which we all need to survive.

the other would be the skier who primarily rides bc and hikes for his turns.

the 'soul' of the lift skier must be questioned.

i ride lifts.

 

[thetrailboss]

that is a joke!! right?

you do have k-mart and SR listed under your pic!

You dropped the Burke designation there.

If you're relying on that to judge me, you obviously don't know me or what I like to ski or what I value.

Part of the reason for going with ASC this season was Pico. The main reasons were cost, location, our tight budget, and the fact that my fiancee enjoys wider terrain than I do. It's called a compromise. I intend on spending a fair amount of days at K-Mart and Pico and hopefully more at Burke.

You can't always judge someone by where they ski.

Besides, the "soul of skiing" is different for every person and the fact that I ski at some big places does not mean that my values or passion are lesser than someone else's. I am echoing the concern and gripe that WME is more focused on product placement and turning adventure films into 2 hour infomercials for the resorts with the $$$ to fork over.

 

[JimG.]

jim- im not going to disagree w/ you. but the reality is that this trend is everywhere you look. go into many towns now and what do you see...a walgreens or cvs, a homedepot, lowes, or both! a starbucks and of course a walmart. not every town, but many.

if there is such a thing as the 'soul' of skiing then it only resides in a few places. one would be the small ski area owner/operator who works his butt off for very little in return, meaning $$$...which we all need to survive.

the other would be the skier who primarily rides bc and hikes for his turns.

the 'soul' of the lift skier must be questioned.

i ride lifts.

Can't disagree about how marketing has permeated every part of life...I hate it all!
I also agree that the true soul of the sport remains in few places, the most renowned of which is MRG.
I like to hike for my turns for the peace and quiet it affords.
But I also ride lifts and take pleasure in ignoring the marketing noise.

 

[thetrailboss]

I just want to put a screeching halt to the idea/argument that those who ride lifts to ski are not enjoying the sport or are somehow hacks. We had a confrontation on this issue in this thread. People enjoy skiing and snowboarding in different ways. There is no better or worse way of getting out.

Now I say this because I don't want this thread going in that direction. This is also a tangent to the tangent of "the soul of skiing." :wink: The main discussion was meant to be a question as to which ski areas you'd like to see if Warren Miller could come. I think it is best that we get back on that main topic...so I nominate Cannon/Mittersill. I think Cannon was in one film a few years ago (?) featuring a skier jumping out of the tram (?).

 

[meat]

I just want to put a screeching halt to the idea/argument that those who ride lifts to ski are not enjoying the sport or are somehow hacks. We had a confrontation on this issue in this thread. People enjoy skiing and snowboarding in different ways. There is no better or worse way of getting out.

Now I say this because I don't want this thread going in that direction. This is also a tangent to the tangent of "the soul of skiing." :wink: The main discussion was meant to be a question as to which ski areas you'd like to see if Warren Miller could come. I think it is best that we get back on that main topic...so I nominate Cannon/Mittersill. I think Cannon was in one film a few years ago (?) featuring a skier jumping out of the tram (?).

I have an autographed poster of Dan Egan jumping out of the Cannon Tram that I got at a Warren Miller premier back in the early 90s. He seemed like a nice guy, he was marketing "ski 93" at the time. Its still on the wall at my parents house.

 

[dmc]

Think about it...and don't tell me that skiing hasn't taken a serious shot to the soul.

Couldnt agree more...
Especially "ski culture" - the footloose days have passed.. we are now in the days of lawsuits and corporate takeovers of "mom and pops"... It's no wonder that sales of backcountry gear is going strong...

You guys may laugh at me - but one of the reasons I love Hunter (other then the terrain)is it's a family owned operation. I may not agree with them all the time.. But they do make an effort to make a better mountain.. They still maintain traditions started 40 years ago. They've been offered big $$$ from all the big players and refuse to budge... So the slow but steady march continues... Build something - pay it off - start on the next thing... Today it's condos on top of the lodge - tomorrow ??? Rumours run rampant..

 

[thetrailboss]

I wasn't trying to kill the vibe here....

 

[thetrailboss]

Honestly!

 

[mattchuck2]

Skiing films...in days long past I used to watch one or two a season. Then I realized I'd much rather be out there skiing than live vicariously through a film. So I lost interest.

This is the reason that these movies come out in late August/Early September . . . So you don't have to miss out on any skiing, but they still serve to pump you up for the season. It's the same reason that the first issue of most ski-related magazines comes out in August.

As far as soul goes, I don't know why people say that Warren Miller (or Ski Magazine, or Deer Valley, etc.) is sucking the soul out of skiing. I can still get psyched on skiing by watching some sick powder shots in the latest Warren Miller film. I can still get all excited for a season by pouring through Ski Magazine's buyer's guide and resort guide. And even at the most "soulless" mountain (insert name here - Deer Valley, Stratton, etc.), you can find some hardcore skiiers and some pretty sick terrain.

Now, that being said, would I rather watch Born from Ice, read Couloir Magazine, and ski at Jay Peak? Hell yeah. But that's just personal opinion. My parents read Ski Magazine and make a yearly tradition out of the latest WM movie. They also prefer to ski groomed trails, and usually only take 10 or 12 runs a day. I'm not going to sit here and say that what they do isn't skiing, and they are responsible for making places like Killington soulless.

If you want to find soul in skiing, or in magazines, or in movies, it's there . . . And it's much easier to find if you have that fire in your own soul.

 

[thaller1]

This is the reason that these movies come out in late August/Early September . . . So you don't have to miss out on any skiing, but they still serve to pump you up for the season. It's the same reason that the first issue of most ski-related magazines comes out in August.

As far as soul goes, I don't know why people say that Warren Miller (or Ski Magazine, or Deer Valley, etc.) is sucking the soul out of skiing. I can still get psyched on skiing by watching some sick powder shots in the latest Warren Miller film. I can still get all excited for a season by pouring through Ski Magazine's buyer's guide and resort guide. And even at the most "soulless" mountain (insert name here - Deer Valley, Stratton, etc.), you can find some hardcore skiiers and some pretty sick terrain.

Now, that being said, would I rather watch Born from Ice, read Couloir Magazine, and ski at Jay Peak? Hell yeah. But that's just personal opinion. My parents read Ski Magazine and make a yearly tradition out of the latest WM movie. They also prefer to ski groomed trails, and usually only take 10 or 12 runs a day. I'm not going to sit here and say that what they do isn't skiing, and they are responsible for making places like Killington soulless.

If you want to find soul in skiing, or in magazines, or in movies, it's there . . . And it's much easier to find if you have that fire in your own soul.

"amen!!"

 

[Big Game]

If you want to find soul in skiing, or in magazines, or in movies, it's there . . . And it's much easier to find if you have that fire in your own soul.

Wisest thing ever posted in this forum.

 

[riverc0il]

Back to the thread topic....I think several ski resorts in the east could provide the terrain favored in WM films. Seeing someone do a flip off the waterfalls at MRG would be really something. Due to today's safety regs and concerns I would think filming at Tucks would be prohibitive.

indeed. any of the bigger resorts have decent parks. folks aren't jumping dinosauer blow ups or anything, but any resort with a budget could build a park. also, the meatheads have only scratched the surface regarding new england back country and have shown that there plenty of above tree line skiing and technical descents in the east. there is no shortage of opportunity for ski film companies to do some extreme footage on the east coast. i doubt you will see any ski areas proper featured, the west does have overall better terrain and (more importantly) more realiable and lighter consistancy powder with better odds of bluebird following a dump.

meatheads filmed at tucks, i don't see why WME wouldn't be able to.

but it all comes back to the money.

 

[awf170]

meatheads filmed at tucks, i don't see why WME wouldn't be able to.

Just curious. Did the meatheads film anywhere else on in the presidentials besides Tucks?

There are so many awsome places you could film on a good day.
I think King Ravine would be awsome. You could have someone on the ridge filming with a huge zoom. Like from here looking at these gullies:

or here, looking at that big gully: