The Way I Ski It: Big Sky Resort's Blog

SKI MOVIE PREMIER season is in full swing which is also one of the first signs that ski season is right around the corner. Lovingly referred to as “Ski Porn” in the world of skiing, ski film premiers offer an experience that every snowsport enthusiast should partake in at least once during their ski careers. Accessing one is probably easier than you think too. Most major film companies lineup national tours that hit major ski towns and larger metropolitan areas all across the country, and trust me, being part of one is an experience all in itself. I can vividly remember my first when I was just a lowly freshman at Montana State and how it’s now turned into an experience I seek out every year.

Last night I had the opportunity to represent Big Sky Resort and attend the Bozeman premier of The Dream Factory at the Emerson Cultural Center. As an avid skier, nothing is quite as inspiring as watching the world’s best pros skiing huge, epic lines in Alaska and skiing them at a level most of us can only imagine. The Dream Factory is the newest release from the seasoned and veteran team at Teton Gravity Research (TGR). Based in Jackson, WY, TGR has become synonymous in the ski industry for putting out some of the most progressive yet grass roots driven footage. While many of their films have large segments filmed around Jackson, The Dream Factory focused on skiing in the great state of Alaska.

The Dream Factory was no let down either; TGR produced yet another great film that took you on not only a tour of Alaska’s breathtaking and exhilarating peaks but also gave you an interesting journey through Alaska’s famed history in heli-skiing. Broken into segments, the filmed offered a bit of background on the major turning points and a look back at archival footage from some of AK’s first major descents. The history portions then lead into clips of today’s pros revisiting these same lines and ripping them all over again. It was a great way to draw on the similarities between todays sport of skiing and how yesterday’s pioneers lead the revolution of big mountain freeskiing.

While not all ski films are created equal, there is one overwhelmingly unifying similarity, and that’s the all-around amazing vibe and high level of excitement throughout the audience. This electrifying energy radiates through the crowd and becomes heightened even more by the film’s soundtrack. Huge smiles, high fives, hoots, hollers, oohs, and ahhs are to be expected throughout the film as the crowd cheers on their heroes and dreams of the day when they might get the opportunity to drop into a legendary AK line.

Don’t fret if you’re a local Bozeman/Big Sky resident and missed The Dream Factory premier; here’s a list of few other notable ski film premiers dropping the next few months in Bozeman:

Poor Boyz Productions – Triple Threat – September 19th
Level 1 Productions – Sunny – September 27th
Match Stick Productions – Super Heroes of Stoke – October 10th
Teton Gravity Research – Further (snowboard film) – October 25th

-Kipp Proctor

WHILE THE REST of the country prayed for snow this season, Big Sky was rolling in the powder. But awesome snow was just part of what made the '11/'12 winter season at Big Sky so rad.  Check out what season highlights made our top ten:

10) Spring Powder and Corn Snow.  Intermixed with several epic pow days, warm temperatures in March and April made for the best spring corn snow in years.

3) Bikini Babes go Spring Skiing.  Sun’s out, guns out for Big Sky locals.

2) April 7 Surprise Powder Day – Chest deep on the North Summit and Liberty Bowl.  Can you say face shots?

-  Greer

IN JANUARY, the ski landscape across the west looked bleak.  The snow wasn’t falling.  Resorts struggled to open on time.  Photos of still grassy bowls at Vail circulated on Facebook.

But at Big Sky Resort, the snow came in on time and kept falling all season long.  Powder was consistent and good, and snowfall numbers were right on target.

The good snow translated to visitor numbers, and skiers flocked to Big Sky’s snowy slopes.  In January, Big Sky extended an offer to deprived Colorado and California skiers and riders – free lift tickets at Big Sky when they booked in Big Sky’s lodging.  The deal did not go unnoticed.

Big powder dumps before Christmas and Presidents’ weekend brought in record holiday skier visits.  On Sunday, February 19th Big Sky Resort recorded its highest number of skiers in one day with an increase of 6% over the previous record day during the April 2011 Pond Skim.

And the final tally is in – the exceptional snow and deals meant a record season for Big Sky, even while other ski resorts coast to coast saw a nearly 20 percent drop in skier volume.  With a season two week’s shorter than the previous record season in 2010/11, Big Sky still drew in more skiers than ever before.

“The consistently good snow at Big Sky is key,” said Taylor Middleton, Big Sky Resort’s General Manager.  “Skiers go where there’s snow.” 

The uptick is good for the resort as well as the entire Big Sky community, Middleton said.  “More skier visits means more business.”

But the best part?  While more skier visits equal more business, it doesn’t equal crowds, said Big Sky PR Manager Chad Jones. “Our massive terrain and lift capacity maintain one of Big Sky’s best assets: virtually no lift lines!”

-  Greer

Big Sky had big powder in December while other resorts struggled to open terrain.  Snowfall stayed consistent at Big Sky throughout the entire 2011/12 season.

What happens when a small fry frenchfries... when he should've pizza-ed:

The upside of ski boots?  After a long day on the slopes, you can sleep standing up.

Sometimes, there's just too much powder (see :47)