If you’ve been a passionate skier for any number of years, particularly over the last several decades, you’re obviously quite familiar with Warren Miller. The man essentially revolutionized the ski film industry, and was arguably (and perhaps still is) the industry’s #1 ambassador. Whether you grew up watching his films that he’d narrate or are more familiar with his son’s work in the more recent films that took on a different style, nothing gets you pumped up for winter like a Warren Miller flick.
A few weeks ago, a new documentary on Warren’s life came out, distributed on a number of online streaming services and available to rent or buy. Last Friday, I bit the bullet and bought it, and I don’t regret it one bit. A lot of us became familiar with Warren through his narration of the films but this documentary does an incredible job of delving into his actual life, something most of us knew very little of. In fact I came away from watching this amazed at the adversity he overcame to get to where he did. And yes, I shed a few tears.
Here’s the trailer for you to check out (and if anyone can figure out that intro song with the horns, let me know, I’m digging it).
Recognize that intro voice? That’s none other than our own Warren Miller star, John Egan, who along with his brother Dan and a number of other ex-stars, videographers, and Miller’s family, provide some great insight into what Warren was like. And don’t worry, they delve into probably the most famous Warren Miller scene ever involving the Egan bros and their near death experience on camera. I don’t want to spoil much in the film, but there’s plenty of laughs, surprises, and certainly some sad moments. I highly recommend it at about 90 minutes.
Anyway, there are a ton of ways to rent or buy it, and it’s pretty darn cheap depending on which platform you choose. I bought it on YouTube just to have forever. Here’s a list of all the ways to watch.
So go watch it now: if you don’t, you’ll be one year older when you do.