Featured Picture: Jonathan Finch | Skier: Wiley Miller
Web page by means of the exceptional movie catalog of Degree 1 Productions and also you’re prone to come throughout among the biggest ski films of all time. As you tear by means of piece after piece of freeski historical past, you’ll discover a typical thread, and his title is Wiley Miller. In tandem with a number of of our favourite manufacturers within the trade, FREESKIER is proud to assist current Miller’s newest cinematic providing, “ZORRO (the fox).”
Miller’s function as a pivotal determine in freeskiing can’t be understated. His progressive model helped to affect a brand new technology centered on increasing what freeride snowboarding may very well be. Closely influenced with a freestyle eye, Miller has lengthy been somebody that picks aside the mountain in another way than most. He has been on the high of the proverbial class for a decade, with timeless items like his “Partly Cloudy” section and X Video games Actual Ski Backcountry half dwelling in infamy. (X Video games deliver again Actual Ski!)
Miller acquired us hooked on his private work with the preliminary YLESKI quick movie 10 years in the past. And whereas “ZORRO” may very well be thought of a private venture in a way, you’ll discover extra than simply Miller in entrance of the lens. We additionally get to see snowboarding from Giray Dadali, Jake Hopfinger, Celeste Pomerantz and Shika Ichiueki all through the venture. Discuss a stacked lineup. The crew linked up throughout the Central Rockies, with nearly all of filming going down in Wyoming and Montana.
“We wished to get again to the fundamentals when it got here to creating a movie this season,” Miller informed us. “We put collectively our greatest snowboarding from the 2024 season and paired its with some nice visuals and music. In season’s previous Ed [Clem] and I’ve got down to inform a narrative, however this 12 months, we simply wished to make ski porn once more.”
But it surely was far simpler stated than carried out, with snow missing throughout most of Miller’s residence state of Montana. “Final season was robust in our neck of the woods,” he stated. “We lucked out in some new areas in Wyoming. It was actually enjoyable to problem ourselves with having to go outdoors the field when discovering areas. Over time, we’ve got pinned some nice spots, which we usually return to 12 months after 12 months. Final season was completely different. Regardless of the challenges, I feel we created a terrific venture and I can’t watch for folks to see it.”
A part of what makes this flick stand aside will be credited to Director Edward Clem, who took a couple of liberties and blended conventional digital camera pictures with drone footage and GoPro clips to provide the movie an immersive really feel that will get you up shut and private with a couple of of those huge strains and kickers. We definitely suggest killing the lights and turning up a great set of audio system for this one. From step downs to booters to the steep and deep, “ZORRO” is a bundle of freeride perfection.
Photos: Jonathan Finch | Skier: Wiley Miller