Tight Loose Movie Review — TGR

My 10 year old daughter asked me why I would watch a film where skiers are doing things which she knows are wrong. I didn’t have a good answer at the time. Then later this summer I heard that Matilda Rapaport passed away following an avalanche accident while filming, which deeply saddened me.

There is an incentives issue here. Red Bull and other sponsors sell product by associating themselves with danger. Athletes therefore are incentivized to go bigger and take more risks to keep their sponsorship money. At what point will someone say no?

Here’s what I don’t get and would like to hear what others think.
Aviation has almost the largest co2 footprint . We profess to be concerned about GW, pollution and future of our winters/winter industry and often make a conscious effort to make others aware or even reduce our own footprint. Yet we (skiers) fly to Chile, Japan, use helicopters , skiidos and make/watch movies which have taken hours of heli time to make, not to mention flying gear and crew half way round the world. i live in Zurich yet in the last 2 seasons I’ve flown to Japan and Norway, even though I have alps at my door step. Crazy. So now I cut it and committed to taking planes for skiing only 1x every 3 years. If we are going to be embassadors of our sport and winters is it not time to take a real stand ?

Lou – your answer is great. These movies are fantasy. The analoges to porn are valuable. Porn is NOT real. Its a highly manufactured fantasy. Unrealistic, probably unsatisfying if engaged in as shown, and most definitely dangerous, if only psychologically. These ski movies are all that too.
The only thing I’d add is that there is one difference: Spy movies or Porn don’t claim, loudly and often, that they are “authentic”. They are strangely – intellectually coherent in their presentation.
Ski movies, on the other hand, generally include a segment, or at least a few lines about “safety” coupled with phrases like “keeping it real” or philosophical ruminations on the meaning of life/death. Followed by ripping big alaskan lines that nobody ski cuts or hikes, or or or….
They stoke the danger to increase the suspense. Its not about safety – its about the thrill and paying your tithe to the obilgation de-jour.

Its this dishonesty that I find problematic. I’m not going to worry about faceless “kids” – I’ll take care of mine, and you’ll take care of yours. It’ll be OK. I find the dichotomy of the arguments just juvinile – and annoying.

Just either rip it up in a no-holds barred dream world, or make a safety awareness film. Don’t try to combine the two and pander to some sense of public panic.

Alex D, lots of VT kids will have ample backcountry experience. I can’t speak for the MI kids.
Perhaps you meant, all newcomers to the sport need a grounding in the real dangers inherent in backcountry travel? And the movies are currently glossing over those dangers?

Mountain bike films tend to follow the same format as ski movies; vaguely linked edits of big-mountain, petrol-supported, Rampage style riding, some dirt jump/ park scenes of fashion-forward dudes who seem to spend as much time thinking about their wardrobe as their aerial tricks, and an occasional segment of ungodly fast trail riding. The trail riding segments are the ones that get me the most stoked, as I find them most relatable. I know I won’t be charging big-mountain lines, or getting upside down in the air, but to watch an expert-level rider navigate a trail such as I might ride gets me pumped to go ride. So how about a few more “soul” segments of skiing safer, lower-angle terrain to show you don’t necessarily need to risk life & limb to have fun?

Or document the decision-making process of whether or not is safe to drop in on that steep face, and show how many times the decision is to turn around?

All things considered- the answer is still easy. This sport replicates itself every generation based on the people engaging in it. I started when I was 16 – with no idea and no skills, and i was lucky enough to find an old-timer that showed me the ropes. (I was highly motivated after an incident early into my hobby)
These days, I figure, I’m that old-timer. I try to assist while remembering what it was like to be 16. That is easy to say – but the reality is that in order to be a mentor, I have to let those kids have the lead sometimes, and that is harder than it sounds. I’m confronted with, and must be honest about, my declining physical abilities (uncomfortable) while at the same time having to push harder to keep it
Interesting for those super-fit kids.
I do view this as a duty. It’s my hope that many of you do too. Movies never made our sport, and no matter how “big”
it gets, it will never be more than a fringe thing. it’s just too hard for the masses. As such – there remains a grass-roots, personal connection between everyone engaging in this sport, and anything that defines it – like an attention to safety – will derive from this.
I’m confident that despite the hype. Our sport will be ok. We’re getting better, not worse.

AlexD, ” no matter where you are from, if your 25 and can ski hard and fast, meadow skipping may be an acquired taste after a big storm” probably sums it up. During my Avy1 course, the instructor mentioned a few times that during a big storm, “20 degrees with no terrain traps is pretty fun.” Half of us nodded as the light was turned on: “you know, he’s absolutely right.” The other half of the class was more interested in beacon search, shovel techniques and rescue.

I’ve been impressed with most the production houses toning it down and doing more adventure travel pieces with less gnar and more story. Good thing is there is something out there for everybody. Here are some offerings on the adventure skiing end for those interested.

Skiing into the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
https://vimeo.com/188884497

Ski Hardrock 100
https://vimeo.com/184866615

Very cool. Thanks Noah!