Just like you can’t have Christmas without Santa, no ski season is complete without a stop of the annual Warren Miller film. Wintervention, his latest action sports film, kicked off the Central New York ski season this past Saturday evening. It played to two packed houses at the Palace Theater in Eastwood. In between our evening newscasts I was able to check it out and it was loads of fun.

I’ve been skiing since elementary school and I can remember watching Warren Miller ski movies soon after. The annual film travels the country visiting ski shows, clubs, stores and hotbeds. Its a great way to get pumped up for the coming winter season. What’s a bit different about these movies is that cheering and standing up are not only accepted, but part of the norm. The fast paced unbelievable ski and board action is sure to get you out of the seat, or at least on its edge. There is usually promotional giveaways and swag given out to viewers. This year was no exception. For the price of the movie ticket you got a lift ticket to Gore, a buy on get one free lift to Greek Peak, a cheap lift for Swain, and discounts at the Ski Company (one of the local sponsors for the event).

Wintervention goes to extremes; extreme skiing in remote locations around the world. Filming took place in Austria, Canada, Colorado, Utah, New Zealand, Alaska, Norway and even Antarctica. The opening scene shot at the bottom of the world was just incredible with skiers boating to the edge of huge mountains. Then they mountaineer up them with the payoff shots coming down towards the ocean well worth their effort. Jonny Moseley, a former US Olympic medal skier, anchored or introduced the scenes in the movie. A very eclectic and world beat based sound track blasted with deep base through the theater. My ears are still ringing.

If all you have ever skied is around Central New York, you might have a hard time imagining this caliber of extreme skiing. Warren Miller once again went to the biggest mountains, with the best skiers and cameras. The end product is visually jaw dropping and left the audience in Syracuse Saturday evening wanting to hit the slopes when they opened Sunday at Greek Peak.