Sinking happy hour pints, refuelling on alpine fodder, soaking muscles in a spa, or watching the sun set on the slopes…. apres is different for everyone. But however you spend your time of the slopes we all like the best ski movies, so prepare yourself for apres ski DVD heaven.
There were some excellent ski movies released in 2012 that you should check out. But, you’d be foolish to just stick to the latest releases, as some of the best ski movies are timeless classics.
Apres ski DVD heaven: New Releases
Here are the best ski movies released in the last couple of years.
WE: A Collection of Individuals
Get a warm and fuzzy feel, by reminding yourself of an element that’s always found on skiing holidaysbut often overlooked in other ski films: having fun and hanging out with friends.
With footage from BC, Colorado, Alaska and the Alps, ‘WE’ challenges the notion of skiing solo and focuses on groups of influential individuals who ride, hike, have a laugh and look out for each other on the mountain, in the park, in urban landscapes and on the piste. Feel-good freestyle fun.
Shane McConkey, a documentary
Pay tribute to Canadian skier Shane McConkey, who lost his life in 2009 (aged 39) while performing a double back flip BASE jump in Italy’s Dolomite Mountains.
This 90 minute documentary takes a look at some of McConkey’s biggest achievements, examining the legacy he left behind and the contributions he made to the freeskiing and BASE jumping movements. With interviews from the like of Tony Hawk and Travis Pastrana, it’s set to be an inspirational watch.
Superheroes of Stoke
Taking a look at the past, present, and future of freeskiing, expect overhead powder at Chatter Creek, tree jibs in Japan, humbling spine walls in Alaska and gnarly man-made features at Whistler.
Using first-person perspectives and cameos from influential skiers, such as Seth Morrison and Tanner Hall, this film honours the heroes of freeskiing through the ages, and reminds us of those whose lives have been lost to the mountains.
Jeremy Jones Further
Ok, so this one follows boarders, not skiers, but bear with us, it’s well worth it.
If you thought snow-sports films couldn’t go any further, faster, steeper or deeper, think again. The second instalment in the Jeremy Jones trilogy is snowboarding in the most extreme and remote Alaskan and Alpine terrains you can shake a ski pole at.
Jones and his team climb hostile summits and camp deep in the backcountry to access un-ridden lines and near-vertical spines. Expect nail-biting, limit-pushing action that will appeal to all lovers of wilderness and the white stuff, whether on two planks or one.
Best ski movies: The classics
And now for some classics from four defining decades. Watch these and you’ll be in apres ski DVD heaven!
From the ‘60s… Downhill racer (1969)
When Chappellet (Robert Redford) joins the US Ski Team he quickly emerges as the group’s most talented skier and tests his coach, (Gene Hackman), as well as tries his teammates. Packed with downhill action and full of stunning mountain scenery, it’s as much a documentary about downhill skiing as it’s a cheesy ‘60s drama. Delightful.
From the ‘70s…The Man who Skied Down Everest (1975)
For something a bit different, try this haunting, black and white, Academy Award winning documentary that follows extreme skier Yuichiro Miura, in his attempt to ride the South Col of Mount Everest.
Documented from Miura’s diary, hear how he tackles the exhausting trek to base camp, traverses the shifting ice blocks of the Khumba Glacier and navigates crevasses on the world’s biggest mountain. This film really drives home the mental and technical challenges of Chomolunga.
From the 80s… Hot Dog, the Movie (1984)
‘A movie that defies the rules of gravity, sanity and good taste’: this film doesn’t try to be anything more than its trailer suggests, but it makes for a hilarious après watch, full of hip-swinging straight skiing, old-skool freestyle, classic retro skiwear and plenty of hot-tub action.
The basic plot involves Harkin – a skiing-obsessed twenty-something from Idaho -travelling to Squak Mountain to battle it out with three times champion, Rudi, in the FIA International Skiing Competition.
A great one to watch over beers in an après bar, unless hot-tubs, steam rooms and scantily clad women are likely to offend.
From the 90s… Aspen Extreme (1993)
Two boys from Detroit quit their jobs to spend a season in Aspen as ski instructors and enjoy a winter of skiing, partying and pulling women. Whilst one of the pair rises to become the most popular instructor in the ski school, the other descends into drugs.
Fluro one-pieces, day-glo headbands, sexy ladies and drug deals gone bad – it’s everything you’d expect from an early 90’s ski flick, and more.
We hope this article about the best ski movies has you in apres ski DVD heaven. Of course to apres ski you need to hit the slopes first, so check out our skiing holiday discounts as you could save a fortune.
