Passion and Perseverance: Warren Miller’s Line of Descent
Calling all winter-sports enthusiasts and fanatics! On Thursday, November 16, Warren Miller’s film, Line of Descent, is premiering at the Broome County Forum Theatre, on the film’s North American Tour presented by Volkswagen. The film showcases beautiful mountaintops from a plethora of slopes around the globe; from famous North American Mountains, like Jackson Hole and the Northern Rockies, to mountains in France, New Zealand and Canada - Miller takes the viewer by land, sea, and air to explore the greatest mountains sought after by skiers and the winter sport community all over the world. And not only does Miller display the slopes in beautiful, cinematic shots, he also takes the audience through a one-of-a-kind viewing experience, through point-of-view shots down massive mountains and interviewing professional skiers and winter athletes about their personal experiences and passions. Whether your interest is in downhill skiing, cross-country, snowboarding, or something a little more off the beaten path, Miller gives insight into it all in Line of Descent.
On the film’s website, Miller interviews professional skiers as they reflect on the legacy left on the communities they come from, and what skiing has done for their lives. Talking to one professional skier, Marcus Caston, he claims he doesn’t know where he would be, or what his life would be like without skiing. Skiing runs deep in his blood as he inherited his talent from his father. McKenna Peterson, who comes from a racing-based background, now prefers to explore and tour mountains, untouched by lifts and less-seasoned athletes. Freestyle skier, Lexi duPont, finds the adrenaline rush of skiing brings her right back to her childhood on the slopes, and has “no doubt in [her] mind that this is what [she’s] supposed to be doing.” She claims skiing keeps her “young and inspired.” Miller talks to many different types of skiers - from professional athletes to winter-terrain voyagers - they all have one thing in common: passion.
This passion and perseverance is what keeps many of these long-term skiers going. One American couple recounts their move to Norway in pursuit of their dream life, admitting that it can be hard to go outside and hit the trails when the temperature is way below freezing, which puts this enormous strain on one’s body. But ultimately for a true ski-lover, after a long day - or few days, or weeks - of skiing and exploring the world’s vast emptiness, they are reminded that their chosen lifestyle is one of beauty and accomplishment. To get out there and do what might scare you ultimately becomes rewarding - and for this couple it strengthens their bond as partners when they work together to accomplish a goal.
One of the most well-known skiers in the community, Michael “Bird” Schaffer is prominently featured in Line of Descent because of his sense of adventure. Even Power magazine says that “if skiing were to choose a spiritual creature, it’d do well to tap Michael Schaffer.” His family raised him in the snowy mountains of Washington State. They gave him freedom to hone his skills as a child and his passion for it grew into a lifestyle. In an interview with Portland Today, he humbly describes being a part of Miller’s film as “a dream come true.” When asked about the main goal or takeaway from the film, he claims the driving message is to show why skiers “continue to be out in the mountains and experience that life,” even though to most it seems dangerous and risky - to skiers, to see what’s out there in the vastness of the mountains and feel that adrenaline rush is what makes the nerves dissipate.
Not only does Warren Miller showcase the beauty of the colder areas of the earth, he also explores the passions and relationships that arise from the athletic skiing community. Skiing allows these people to open themselves and live their passions - not only as athletes but as people, too. For many of the winter sport competitors, skiing is their job, not just their hobby. Every day out of the year is dedicated to training and confronting new challenges.
Clips and mini-interviews of the athletes discussed in this article can be found at warrenmiller.com, as well as more information about the movie itself, and its tour dates across the country. More information about the Binghamton showing can be found at forumtheatre.com, and tickets can be purchased on site or at ticketmaster.com.
