Itchy feet before your next ski trip? Don’t know what to do with all that excess energy as you try to keep your inner Herman Maier at bay? Fear not, I’ve collated the top ski and snowboard films to really get you in the mood for your next trip.
For me, the best ski films are the ones which truly take you on a journey or delve into the personalities inside the helmets. Here's the top 8 film to get you in the mood for the slopes.
1. CLAIM (2008) – Matchstick Productions – 72mins
Self-proclaimed as ‘the greatest ski movie…..EVER!’. This ski comedy has legendary skiers poking fun at themselves and the ski industry as a whole. Featuring MSP legends Shane McConkey, Mark Amba, Simon Dumont and Sean Petit amongst others. A must watch!
2. The Blizzard of Aahhh’s (1988) – 75mins
This is Greg Stump’s best piece of work as a ski film director, the man famous for putting extreme skiing on the map in the 80s. This rockumentary features cliff jumper Scot Schmidt and extreme skier bad boy Glen Plake (he has a moawk!). 190cm straight skis only, no twin tips or back country ski on show in the 80’s, but these boys still send it big!
3. That’s it That’s all (2008)
This Red Bull sponsored snowboarding documentary film is written by Brain Farm Productions and is the predecessor to The Art of Flight film,. The film presents the life of an influential snowboarder Travis Rice and his crew, while facing different challenges in the professional world of sport. The film features the first ever double-cork and other snowboarding legends such as Jeremy Jones, Bryan Iguchi, Nicholas Muller and Scotty Lago. This is the first of the Travis Rice mega films preceding ‘The Art of Flight’ and ‘The Forth Phase’.
4. Legs of Steel: Same Difference (2017)
This Red Bull produced film pulls together the world’s best in the ski disciplines of racing, big mountain and freestyle. It follows German slalom legend Felix Neureuther on some of his major World Cup events. It also documents the build phase of “the world’s biggest jump” and mouth-dropping scenes of it being hit. The film is a is a reflection on the mindsets of top level skiers, no matter their chosen discipline.
5. McKonkey documentary (2013)
There is no doubt Shane McKonkey has left his mark on the ski community. A trailblazer for the all-mountain and backcountry ski. His love for adrenaline ultimately cost Shane his life as his died in a base jumping accident. This MSP film takes an intimate view on McKonkey’s personal life, interviewing his closest friends and family. Mckoney will make to laugh and cry, but ultimately make you want to get the planks on!
6. Steif – One Hell of a Ride (2014)
The annual Hahnenkamm Downhill ski race in Kitzbühel, Austria, has produced unforgettable triumphs and heartrending tragedies, a heritage that is full of myths and legends. Nowhere else is skiing celebrated so intensely. The city, the nation, and the entire winter sports world go crazy for the battles that play out on the slopes, and the race down the Streif is the most anticipated event of all. "STREIF - One Hell of a Ride" vividly shares this momentous occasion, plus everything done in preparation. Starring Aksel Lund Svindal, Erik Guay, Max Franz, Hannes Reichelt, Marcel Hirscher, Darren Rhalves and Dider Cuche.
7. Horgasm – a love story (2012)
Horgasm follows Norwegian snowboarder over two years of his career. The film is spiked with comedy by Torstein’s parody manager Dex Carrington. Dex cameos an obnoxious American manager with Notes of David Brent as he follows Horgo’s career from competition to competition.
8. Hoji (2019)
Born in the heart of the Canadian Rockies in Canmore, Alberta, Eric Hjorleifson is not the gregarious character that most people would equate with being a professional backcountry skier. Hjorleifson quietly became one of the biggest influencers in backcountry gear over the past decade, with a tireless attitude to progressing equipment. His constant tinkering made Hoji a great fit for companies like 4FRNT and Dynafit, where he has helped design his own pro model skis and boot to handle his favourite kind of skiing: heavy backcountry lines.