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

POND SKIMS HAVE become a spring staple at many winter resorts – skiers and riders try their luck gliding down a ski slope and then across an icy pond.
 
But at Big Sky Resort, the annual Pond Skim is a ritual in creativity and daring, pushing the boundaries of a ski culture classic.  Last weekend, Big Sky pulled it off again, with these key ingredients for the perfect Pond Skim.

Power Ponds:
Big Sky’s pond is never just a pond.  Every year the shape and approach are a surprise - participants tackle double ponds,  giant kicker entries, and s-curves.  2012 brought the most elaborate pond yet: a tetris-piece shaped pond with two separate entry points, a jump, and endless skimming path combinations.  

Crazy Costumes:
Ballerina, banana, giant ape, beach babe – skimmers don’t skimp on wild attire.  And neither does the crowd. 

Skim Strategy:
Rules are, there are no rules - Big Sky encourages the unexpected.  Daffys, 360s, ski and water ballet moves are all fair game. 

Sheer Volume:
Over 100 skiers and riders skimmed to the tune of thousands of cheering spectators this year.  And every spring it gets bigger and crazier.  There’s just something about standing in a sea of neon onesies that makes you feel like you're part of something bigger.

-  Greer

Photo courtesy of Barb Rooney

Photo by Michel Tallichet

Photo by Michel Tallichet

Photo by Michel Tallichet 

Photo by Miche Tallichet

Photo courtesy of Milton Menasco and the Big Fiasco (on stage)