This year’s batch of ski movies has some local flavor

Cannon is among the local ski areas highlighted in TGR's latest. (Cannon Mountain)

Ski film season is upon us, the annual period of preseason when skiers and riders can charge their stoke level with a number of premieres. 

One of the films I was most looking forward to catching this fall was Teton Gravity Research’s, “In Pursuit of Soul,” a project done in cooperation with Indy Pass in order to highlight a dozen independent ski areas.

Shot last spring, the movie includes local stops at Black Mountain, Magic Mountain, Bolton Valley, Cannon Mountain, Saddleback Mountain, and Berkshire East. 

It’s a great look at the people behind our favorite local spots, detailing what makes them so fiercely independent in a world of elite ski resorts. 

“While our annual films typically focus on big mountains and more exotic destinations, the exciting part of working on a project like “In Pursuit of Soul” is that it lets us showcase a different side of the industry that will still resonate with our core audience,” said TGR co-founder Steve Jones. 

You can catch the short, 35-minute film for free now on TGRtv. 

— TGR will also be hitting the road with its 26th annual feature production, “Stoke the Fire.” The film can be seen at stops in Newport, R.I., Boston, Fairfield, Conn., and Portland, Maine this fall. 

— Last year, Warren Miller was limited to hosting a virtual premier for its 2020 film, “Future Retro.” This year, the long-time outlet is back on the road, with its 72nd annual production, “Winter Starts Now.” 

This year’s film includes a segment shot in Maine, where a handful of Sugarloafers — Phil and Amy Taisey of Amalgam Skis, and Rob Lu and Peter McDowell of Winterstick Snowboards — represent the East Coast. 

The film is making multiple stops this fall at theaters across New England. Find a local showing near you here. 

— Matchstick Productions’ latest, “The Stomping Grounds,” takes a look at the home turfs of its athletes. The film was shot on location in Sun Valley, Tahoe, Snowbird, Park City, and Norway. It makes only a handful of stops in our area later this fall.