Sick of scouring Netflix? Check this playlist.
Mountain folk aren’t made to stay inside. But given our current state of affairs, you’re probably finding yourself alone and indoors much more than usual. Before you get gloomy, consider this: There’s a whole world of ski films and edits at your fingertips! Short of doing the deed itself, watching skiing is one of the best ways to keep the stoke alive.
We put together an all-star playlist to get your ski-flick binge started. Some of these titles are free; others you’ll have to rent or buy. Either way—they will all improve your day.
Did you know every Warren Miller movie is available on Amazon Prime?
1999 – Matchstick Productions
Matchstick Productions has made some iconic ski flicks over the years. Among their more recent works, you’ll find titles like Hoji, McConkey, Return to Send’er, Days of My Youth, and so on. Their vault is worth a deep dive (especially when the alternative is talking to your cat). “1999” is our sleeper pick, and we’re calling it out here because if we don’t, you’ll probably overlook it.
If you want to see what freeskiing looked like as its pioneers threw down on skis that many freeriders would scoff at today, look no further. “1999” has it all. For Colorado skiers, it’s worth a watch purely for the Berthoud Pass scenes. We’ll say no more. Watch
Into the Mind – Sherpas Cinema
Sherpas Cinema is known for world-class cinematography and films that make your jaw drop. To this day, their 2013 film Into the Mind may be the best narrative ski film ever made. Beautifully threaded with literary storytelling and mind-bending segments, it promises 80 minutes of complete distraction. Watch
Pretty Faces – Unicorn Picnic
Released in 2015, Pretty Faces celebrates women athletes who live and thrive in snow-covered mountains. It kickstarted Unicorn Picnic and its sister non-profit SheJumps. The two organizations are built around celebrating, empowering, and developing female adventurers. And to be clear: Pretty Faces is not timeless because it’s an all-female film. It’s timeless because it’s a premier ski movie. Period. Watch
Fire on the Mountain – Teton Gravity Research
“From the mind of Chris Benchetler comes TGR’s latest short film collaboration with Flagship Independent. Improvisation is the silver thread that weaves this crew together. Just as the Grateful Dead did not fit their music into an established category, this short film finds a cast of some of the world’s best athletes on a spontaneous journey of skiing, snowboarding, surfing, and music, complete with a soundtrack comprised of only Grateful Dead music.” – Teton Gravity Research Watch
The Fifty – Cody Townsend
The FIFTY is professional skier Cody Townsend’s currently unfolding project to ski every line in The Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America, a book by Chris Davenport, Art Burroughs, and Penn Newhard. Unfolding in real time, it features 24 episodes as of the time of publishing. Skiers love The FIFTY for its authenticity. As in, backcountry skiing isn’t all pretty. Townsend’s storytelling conveys that—along with plenty of wow moments. Watch
Winterland – Teton Gravity Research
“Winterland is a celebration of ski and snowboard culture. Today’s mountain athletes can only stand as tall as those who came before, the pirates of the past who followed their own path and passion. This story of adventure is far from over, as a new crop of modern-day pioneers are eager to etch their names in the annals of history. The technology and style might evolve, but the rush, excitement, and pure fun remain eternal, bonding past, present, and future riders. The film will follow these individuals as they leave their own mark on these fabled locations.” – Teton Gravity Research Watch
All.I.Can – Sherpas Cinema
When it was released in 2011, All.I.Can redefined what a ski movie can be by blending never-before-seen cinematography with an environmental message.
“What else is there to say than the JP Auclair street segment? Other than being a revolutionary collection of ski cinematography, the film was also a guide on how to create a movie with a message that wasn’t cluttered by the bro brah talk that pervades most ski movies these days.” – Unofficial Networks Watch
Few Words – Quicksilver
If you know of Candide Thovex but haven’t seen Few Words, you don’t really know Candide. An award-winning biopic that tells Candide’s story alongside big-mountain skiing that is purely world-class, Few Words is well worth an hour. But beware: it will make you want to ski bigger and better than you ever have. Watch
McConkey – Matchstick Productions, Red Bull Media House
McConkey tells the story of Shane McConkey, pioneer of freeskiing and one of the most iconic extreme sports athletes of all time. It’s widely regarded as one of the best ski movies ever—but there’s a lot more to it than skiing. Watch
Afterglow – Sweetgrass Productions
LED suits. Alaskan spines. Pillows. Night skiing. Produced by Sweetgrass Productions—also famous for Valhalla and its legendary nude-ski scene—Afterglow is one of the most visually striking ski films ever created. Watch
Have you seen Powder7 athlete Owen Leeper’s most epic edit yet? If not, time to catch up.
