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My guess is that there are very few readers of this publication who hasn’t seen a Warren Miller ski flick. They were staples of ski shows in the 60s and 70s and gave the world a view of skiing that few every saw. More importantly, they gave us a Walter Mitty view of the sport. Some of us said, I can do that. Or, more likely no way! And, I’ll bet they encouraged more than a few of us to take up the sport or ski more.
Now, at age 72 when I see one and watch the skiing, all I can think of it is amazing what you can do if you have young legs!!!
I was first introduced to his films while working at The Slope bar in Aspen in the early 70’s. They never got old and continually thrilled both locals and tourists. They got everyone excited about the next magical powder day regardless of their skill level.
I don’t think there was anyone else that came close to showing both the beauty and joy of the sport of skiing.
“I don’t think there was anyone else that came close to showing both the beauty and joy of the sport of skiing.”
Well said. That’s a great tribute to Warren. He will be missed.
I first watched his films while working at The Slope bar in Aspen in the early 70’s, and they always thrilled both the locals and tourists. They never got old and were a joy to watch and dream about the next perfect snow day regardless of your skill level.
I’m not sure there was anyone else that capable of capturing the joy and beauty of skiing.
My column in the Lewiston (Maine) Sunjournal is on Warren Miller and some personal interactions with him. I asked him in a TV interview in the eighties how he could maintain such enthusiasm after a ski movie every year for 38 years. His reply was typical Warren, “It’s easy, I look at life through the eyes of a 14 year old”. I wonder if he wasn’t answering for a lot of us whose lives revolve around skiing. If you haven’t seen it check out Greg Stump’s film. “Legend of Aaahhs” which includes a bunch of insights from Warren as Stump explores not only how he came to film Blizzard of Aaahhs, but the history of ski films. It’s available on Greg’s website.
Dave Irons
Warren was the real deal. I was lucky to have met him at Brundage Mountain Ski Resort in McCall, Idaho. My ski club, Bogus Basin Ski Club in Boise, Idaho showed his films as our yearly fund raiser. He will be missed.
I had the pleasure of meeting Warren in 1998 in the Vail Valley Hospital while my sister was recuperating from a shoulder replacement due to a ski injury. He came into her room with a six pack of root beer and a gallon of ice cream. Just a very nice man. got to know him a little after that while he was living in Vail. He will be missed.
“Uncle” Warren was the counterculture of what the joy of skiing is all about; the complete opposite of the strict uniform European expectation of our ski world: I still see this uniform in the USA in the NSP and the PSIA. Warren taught us to let go of one’s inhibitions. Perhaps he wanted us to know life is too short to go around as a ramrod, especially when it comes to skiing. Ester Ledecka of the Czech Republic gave us a glimpse of what Warren was and is still trying to tell all of us.
I have very few heroes. But the ones I do have all have the same characteristic: they managed to do what they love their entire life and also make a living at it. And Warren Miller is one of my heros. He will be missed.