The Greatest Snow on Earth: Utah's Skiing Story

Utah is recognized as one of the world's most important winter sports centers. Nearly four years in the making, The Greatest Snow on Earth: Utah's Skiing Story takes viewers on a 100-year journey from when miners first used skis as transportation in the avalanche-prone Wasatch mountains to the controversial 2002 Olympic bid process that shook the entire Olympic movement. Through a collection of rarely seen archival and original footage, the documentary reveals the people and events that impacted the sport of skiing far beyond Utah's borders. The compelling history of resort development, avalanche science, powder skiing technique, inventions, and competition are brought to life in poignant, high profile interviews. It features several of the century's most influential skiers: 1952 Olympic champion and Deer Valley Resort's director of skiing Stein Eriksen; ski pioneer, deep ecologist, author of "Deep Powder Snow" Dolores LaChapelle; 1948 and 1952 Olympic ski team member Suzy Harris Rytting; skiing's most prolific inventor Earl Miller; world-renown snow science avalanche expert Edward R. LaChapelle; ski historian Alexis Kelner; the first person to climb the highest peak on each of the seven continents and Snowbird Ski Resort CEO, Dick Bass. Other appearances include 1997 World Extreme Skiing Champion Brant Moles, free skier Kim Reichelm, and well-known ski mountaineer Andrew McLean. Hank Kashiwa, 1972 U.S Olympian and network sports commentator narrates. All original footage was shot on 16mm and the finished program drew from a total of 16 hours of original and archival footage.