MOVIE REVIEW: Steep - The Story of Big Mountain Skiing

There’s an inherent need residing within the adrenaline junkie that allows – or, perhaps more accurately, forces – them to eschew the boundaries and mores of society and create their own. This reconfiguration of what’s acceptable human behavior almost always involves risking life and limb and is viewed as mad by most. For the adrenaline junkie, it is a necessity. They’re not attempting stunts – jumping off of this or out of that – to kill themselves. They’re doing it to live. To truly experience life. This is a concept that the majority of us will never understand beyond a theoretical comprehension. Yet for some, it’s fundamental: the essence of existence.

Such is the case with the skiers featured in the documentary Steep, which chronicles the history of big mountain “extreme” skiing. According to the film, big mountain skiing barely existed 35 years ago. Lucky for adrenaline junkies psycho skiers began runs in the mountains above Chamonix, France in the 70’s and, in 1971, American Bill Briggs skied down the Grand Teton in Wyoming opening eyes and minds to what is possible in the sport.

Since then, big mountain skiing has evolved into a widely recognized (yet no less dangerous) sport. What began as an attempt to get down jagged, untouched 45-degree slopes morphed into an obstacle course allowing daredevil skiers to show off athleticism and creativity by incorporating jumps, speed and mountaineering.

Steep faithfully covers these advancements through interviews with the men and women responsible. With the exception of what must be an ardent fan base, these are not household names. But that’s not important. Each interview offers a glimpse into the life of a person living a fascinating paradox. On the one hand, they realize each time they take up their skis and head for the mountain they may not come back alive. On the other hand, they cannot live without the constant threat of death.

The film profiles skiers like Andrew Mclean, a “ski mountaineer” who spends weeks to months scaling and skiing remote mountains and whose expeditions have taken him to unsullied terrain on all seven continents, and Shane McConky who joined his love of BASE jumping with skiing to create an even bigger rush. Steep is most intriguing in the quiet moments when these athletes confront the addictive nature of the sport that has taken complete control over their lives.

Central to Steep is the story of Doug Coombs who is described as “the greatest big mountain skier of all.” After winning the first-ever World Extreme Ski Championship in 1991, Coombs made Valdez, Alaska his home and tirelessly explored the wild mountains there using a helicopter to transport him to peaks.

Coombs was killed in a ski accident in 2006. His widow Emily explains to the camera that it’s best he died doing what he loved.

In moments like this, Steep does an excellent job of conveying the devotion of these skiers to their sport – even if you’re never all that attached to any of the subjects. This detachment may derive from an inability to identify with behavior that rational people know is too risky to be attempted. Nonetheless, an appreciation is felt for the resolution to live their lives on their own terms.

Unfortunately, with the exception of Coombs, the film doesn’t delve into the tragic side of the sport, often glossing over the deaths of skiers in the same manner the subjects interviewed have learned to do. This is a defense mechanism for skiers that stare death in the face every time they slide down a mountain, however, for the audience, it is the natural balance to the highs of big mountain skiing. The film could have benefited from exploring various tragedies, injuries and recoveries on the slopes in greater detail.

Still, Steep is an interesting peek into what most will find to be an altogether unfamiliar world. You may not want to strap a pair of skis on and head off to Jackson Hole but you’ll likely have an appreciation for those who envisioned and created a sport where no one had the foresight or fortitude to do so previously. At the very least, the mesmerizing, high definition footage of man conquering mountain is a triumph in itself.

For more information on Steep, checkout www.steepfilm.com