Basecamp podcast: Stump and Hattrup discuss making ‘Blizzard of Aahhh’s’

"Blizzard of Aahhh's" is regarded as one of the most influential ski films of all time.

It’s generally regarded as the greatest ski film of this generation, and certainly the most influential.

“These guys set a different level of skiing,” said Mike Specian, host of New England Ski Journal’s Basecamp podcast, presented by Country Ski and Sport. “I have been on the hill with each one of them at different times. There’s nothing like what these guys have accomplished and done.”

Those “guys” would be ski filmmaker Greg Stump and big mountain legend Mike Hattrup, who teamed together to help create 1988’s “Blizzard of Aahhh’s.” Stump and Hattrup recently joined Eric Wilbur and Specian on the Basecamp podcast, presented by Country Ski and Sport, to discuss the lasting importance of the movie.

Highlights from this episode of the Basecamp podcast, presented by Country Ski and Sport:

On how the film’s star Lynne Wieland broke her back:

Stump: She did the one turn and then I heard this horrible thump. She’d almost cleared this cat track that she had forgotten about, but she didn’t clear it. Next thing I know, she’s being airlifted and we go to the hospital. I’m in the hallway of the hospital, and the doctor comes out — I don’t speak French — and the doctor’s like, ‘she broke her back,’ and I actually fainted. I fainted and I like fell into the wall, because it was my worst nightmare.

On having Glen Plake join the crew as a replacement:

Stump: I knew Europe, but I knew what I did not want, and that was for me to have the ugly American. Glenn had every possibility of being the ugly American. And as it turned out, he was the opposite. I mean, geez, he was speaking French by the time we even left. But I was afraid of him being the ugly American and I didn’t want that. I didn’t want the responsibility of a guy that was out of control because at that point I was very in control. I managed to get out of control after that.

Listen: