Steep: Glorifying extreme risk taking?

From what I read online I thought the documentary Steep was going to focus on the realities and historical aspects of big mountain ski mountaineering. If the trailer on Youtube is representitive of the movie, I must be wrong.



I don't think there's anything wrong with this trailer, but it's not what I expected.

I saw some old people, that means it's historical.
I saw some avalanches, that means it's real.
I didn't see nature valley granola bars, that means it's a documentary.

From the trailer it does look like it has lots of ski footage (probably appropriate) and definitely features some interviews with skiers who were stoked with what they had done, or were doing (hard to avoid unless you search high and low for the disgruntled). But who knows, there could be quite a few segments showing the brutal realities that come with flirting with nature's cold unbridled slopes.

From what I read online I thought the documentary Steep was going to focus on the realities and historical aspects of big mountain ski mountaineering.

Hmm, I see what you mean. The trailer sure doesn't market it that way.

A documentary should describe the preparation needed to pursue big mountain skiing safely and successfully. The trailer doesn't do that--but then maybe it's just a trailer.

The trailer explicitly portrays high-risk skiing as a way to give meaning to an otherwise drab and unfullfilling life. As if we need more of that crapola...

Steep is definitely more of a documentary than that trailer makes it appear. I'm not big on ski stoke films, but I enjoyed this movie.

It is coming to Seattle. This if from the documentary group's website:

JANUARY 18, 2008

BERKELEY, CA - Shattuck 8
PALO ALTO, CA - Cinearts @ Palo Alto Square
SAN DIEGO, CA - Ken
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Lumiere Cinemas 3
SAN JOSE, CA - Cinearts at Santana Row
SAUSALITO, CA - Marin Three
BOULDER, CO - Century 16
EVANSTON, IL - Cinearts 6
CAMBRIDGE, MA - Kendall Square Cinema 9
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Lagoon Theatre 5
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Ritz at the Bourse 5
SEATTLE, WA - Varsity three Cinemas

seems like 'ski mountaineering' and 'big mountain skiing' aren't necessarily very compatible topics for the same movie....I'm kinda curious to see the movie and how they mix the two. If done well it could be interestering to see the story from how we've gone from Bill Brigg's descent of the Grand to the current state of heli accessed descents in Alaska and elsewhere.