‘Face of Winter’ a tribute to a snow-sports legend
Warren Miller died in January. But his legend lives on the big screen.
The godfather of snow films will be honored and remembered in a film titled “Face of Winter,” which debuts around the Bay Area this week.
It’s a tribute to the man who actually became the face, the voice and the lens of winter for decades, pioneering a style of filmmaking that mixed fun-loving comedy with high-stakes adventure. In many ways, Miller defined the culture of snow sports: wild and wacky on slippery planks.
As he has for years in Miller’s films, the Bay Area’s Jonny Moseley both narrates and skis in the movie, dedicated to the man who meant so much to him.
“I grew up going to the movies, here in Marin,” said Moseley, who grew up in Tiburon. “I looked forward to it every winter . ... My first thought was, ‘I want to be in one of those movies. I want to go to those places!’
“It was such an abstract and ridiculous vision at that point. But as things went on, those images motivated me to think I could be a skier.”
Moseley, of course,
realized those dreams and then some, winning a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. Since then, he has become a leading ambassador for the sport, based in Squaw Valley, following directly in Miller’s line.
“After I came off the tour in ’98, (Miller) gave me a chance to ski in the backcountry,” Moseley said. “That changed my whole philosophy of skiing. Out there in the backcountry, that’s where I created the ‘dinner roll.’ ”
That aerial move became Moseley’s signature trick. And Warren Miller Entertainment became a part of his life.
When Miller died, at 93, the film company that bears his name decided to pay tribute.
“Warren Miller was very influential to the ski industry,” said Moseley. “He was the face of winter. He sold more ski tickets than any of us combined.”
Several star skiers comment on Miller’s impact on their lives throughout the film, Moseley said.
In terms of the filmmaker’s impact on the sport’s culture, Moseley sees Miller as a man of the people.
“He kind of defined the true skier,” said Moseley, now 43. The sport “had the image of Sun Valley. Very high-brow. Warren said, ‘No.’ He’s the original ski bum. There’s a whole other world out there.”
In defining the sport, Milled used the world as his canvas. His films feature some of the most amazing footage you’ll ever see, in some of the most exotic locales.
This year’s film, the 69th annual iteration, includes segments from Chile, New Zealand, British Columbia and Iceland, where Moseley traveled in May to ski the spring corn near the Arctic Circle.
“It was killer. It was light all day long. We’d have dinner and go back out skiing,” Moseley said. “The avalanche danger is low. The stress level is low. You can ski fast. It’s hero snow . ... The Icelandic people were so cool.”
Joining him on the trip was another Squaw skier, Amie Engerbretson. Moseley grew up watching her father, Jeff, compete in freestyle. Dad became a ski photographer. And now his daughter is skiing with Moseley in Iceland.
“She’s awesome. An incredible skier. I grew up watching her dad in all the Warren Miller films,” Moseley said. “Then I was shooting with him for years. I watched her come up and skiing with her in films. It’s kind of funny and a cool story. She’s just got a great attitude and positive. Loves to be up on the hill.”
So, if you’re itching for that first big snowstorm, think about going to one of the many showings of “Face of Winter” in the Bay Area over the next few days. Like every year, if you’re sitting in a theater watching Warren Miller, sitting on a chairlift isn’t far behind.
If anything, you can pay homage to the man who revolutionized the sport.
“The film is for anyone whose life (whether they realize it or not) was impacted by Warren Miller,” said Andy Hawk, Warren Miller Entertainment managing director, via news release. “We are all the face of winter — from the athletes to the audience to the locals in far-off destinations or even at our home mountain. Warren recognized this, and this year’s film celebrates that.”