Warren Miller is a moneygrubbing asshole

[powpowpowderwheels]

Originally posted by crstlextrm
could the 8 bucks been for charity?

funny guy.

[Dexter Rutecki]

Originally posted by Bum Z
Paying $8 for a poster is total bullshit. All of the athletes I've dealt with are happy to sign posters for people.

It sickens me that people are shelling out all sorts of money to Warren Miller when TGR, MSP, Team13, and others are putting out better ski films.

These are the two best points. Seriously, I had never met Kreitler until last week (two weeks ago?--brain is fried), and I didn't even ask him for a poster. After speaking to me for a few minutes, he asked if I wanted one, so I asked him to sign one for my daughter. Same with Stein--not only did he ask which poster she'd prefer, but he saw me struggling to hold my daughter and the two posters, so he took the posters, rolled one inside the other, and carefully taped the outside one so they'd stay rolled up while I just stood there.
Pretty incredible contrast.

[Dexter Rutecki]

Originally posted by Pinner
This is due in large part to your own kind nature.

That doesn't sound like me!!

[emoticons! Buster, mad!]

[Alkasquawlik]

Originally posted by BradyCU
So your saying that everytime some films with msp and tgr that they shell out 3grand for a couple days of filming???

Pretty much mang. In SMII Seth, Shane and Dean had to put together around $15,000 each, for the boat/heli trip into coastal range BC. A good portion of that bill came straight out of their own pockets. The other parts coming from thier contract's travel budget and a tiny bit from MSP. None of these guys are in it for the money that's for damn sure.

[BobbyDigital]

Hey Pow Pow your right- WM SUCKS!

He pulled the same prick-move in Colorado a few years ago at a Book-signing in a lodge at Vail. There was this minority kid from Denver who was there on a day-trip....who was turned down for autographs-for not purchasing his book.

WM continues to hinder the progress of skiing in 2003. Everytime his movie is shown.....the ski industry loses more money by kids purchasing those side-ways boards. We also end up with thin, shallow ski magazines.

[gonzo]

Originally posted by BobbyDigital


WM continues to hinder the progress of skiing in 2003. Everytime his movie is shown.....the ski industry loses more money by kids purchasing those side-ways boards. We also end up with thin, shallow ski magazines.

you sure are right on there brother. snowboarding and its growth and thin ski magazines are a result of warren miller's snowboarding segments in his PG 13 ski movies. same with the inevitable snollerblade and monoski segments. they take away from skiing's growth too. we should not allow any other sports to be shown to anyone, then skiing will be awesome and magazines will sell like hotcakes!

you should write someone a letter. it would be a crime against society if you kept your amazing insightful market analysis all to yourself.

(it's saturday, snowing, and i am in a library in flat as shit Illinois. sorry)

[joshbu]

Well, I will put it out there that WM is a far bigger celebrity than Kent Kreitler or Stien Erikson. If you asked John Q to name some skiers, Warren is going to be way up there on the list (probably right after not being able to name anyone...)

The bigger you get, the less you can really connect with your fans. Just the way it goes.

Or maybe he's a moneygrubbing a-hole. Hell if I know.

[altachic]

i grew up watching wm and grew to love skiing from all of his movies.....BUT, i'm not a big fan anymore, after seeing this years, which was a total waste of money. i'm disappointed.

[BakerBoy]

I went to the Bellingham WM showing last night, and the theatre was sold out ($15 x 1500 seats). I only went because I had some comp tickets, and even then, I wanted my money back and 2.5 hours of my life. Almost all the jibbing was direct footage trade from PBP's Ready Fire Aim, the big-mountain skiing consisted of a bunch of super sick older ski mountaineers, which was neat to watch and all, but jump turning is really lame, especially when the snowboarders are riding some similar lines in the typical high-speed/low-turning style that is so hot right now. Product placement was well into the CHEEZE realm, and the foofy one-turn, spray the camera with snow shit got old QUICK, nevermind the 30th time they did it. The snowboarders totally owned the snow, because they don't seem to have to live up to the same stupid preconceived notions that Powder 8's and moguls are still cool to watch in a movie.

If I wasn't a skier, watching a WM movie would make me think that skiers are pretty gay. Oh well.


edit: Cool shit -- the skier stomping that HUGE 180 off the 30 foot cliff into pow during the intro, and that crazy fucking French skydiver, buzzing the mountains at 120 mph and cranking off banked turns in a flying suit. So sick.

[Plakespear]

Originally posted by joshbu
Well, I will put it out there that WM is a far bigger celebrity than Kent Kreitler or Stien Erikson.

I disagree- Go to Europe, and see if anyone has heard of Warren Miller. Meanwhile Stein is a national treasure in Norway, and well known throughout the continent.

I saw Journey- but didn't pay- I just walked right into the viewing area. The movie did suck for the most part, but the Craig Kelly tribute segment was sweet. And the comp magazine was very nice.

[VTskibum]

I'd never wanted to leave a ski movie so badly in my life. I don't know if it was the talking 5 year old sitting behind me the whole time, or just the general GAPERness of the audience, but it was certainly rough to sit throught, only reason I ended up making it was b/c of the free lift tickets they gave out afterwards. The begging was pretty sweet, but was way too long.

My favorite was the Yellowstone Ski Club segment, yeah how many of us can drop 1/2 million to join a that club. They also stated it was the worlds only Private Club, that can't be true can it?? I thought NZ has a bunch of private ski areas or at least semi-private. Oh well got a free lift ticket out of the deal at least.

(edit) Craig Kelly tribute was nice to see. They at least had some kind words to say about the guy.

[Ubersheist]

Man... what people forget is that WM is the ONLY ski film company to make ski films palatable to the recreational or even the non-skier. You ever try to get a non-skier or even a weekend warrior skier to watch an MSP or a TGR film? They're bored senseless after about 10 minutes. Not so with any given WM film. Even though he never gets nearly as good big mountain shots as MSP or TGR and the skiing's much more bland in WM films, it's a an absolute no brainer to see why he's so popular. Hell, my stepfather even goes every year to see his movies. He hasn't actually skied in at least several years.

I saw Journey last night. I gotta say that I really liked it. Mind you, I liked the MSP film fuckloads more and the product placement became NAUSIATING, but I still liked Journey.

On an interesting note, I went with a friend who's never skied or snowboarded, only cross-country skied a few times. She left determined to learn to snowboard this season and even had me drive her by a snowboard shop immediately after the show.

I met Mr. Miller breifly once in Mammoth a few years ago. He seemed nice, cordial and awefully humble. I'll bet you caught him on an off night, powpow.

[Crinkle]

Originally posted by BakerBoy
edit: Cool shit -- the skier stomping that HUGE 180 off the 30 foot cliff into pow during the intro, and that crazy fucking French skydiver, buzzing the mountains at 120 mph and cranking off banked turns in a flying suit. So sick.

Didnt that guy just die recently in Colorado? If it is the same guy he misjudged a bridge he was going to fly over and hit it instead.

Ouchy

[gonzo]

Originally posted by Crinkle
Didnt that guy just die recently in Colorado? If it is the same guy he misjudged a bridge he was going to fly over and hit it instead.

Ouchy

I'm bored. Results of "skydiver death bridge colorado" google...ouchy indeed...
______________________________________

Aussie skydiver falls to death
October 7, 2003

One of the world's best base jumpers, Australian Dwain Weston, died on Sunday (yesterday, AEST) when a stunt parachute jump in the United States went awry and he hit a bridge before falling onto rocks.

Weston, 30, and another parachutist, had jumped from an aeroplane and were to descend either side of the 316-metre high Royal Gorge Bridge, the world's highest suspension bridge near Canon City in Colorado.

Weston, who was travelling at an estimated 160kph, miscalculated his distance from the bridge, said Heather Hill, vice president of a company sponsoring the inaugural Go Fast Games for extreme sports.

Known for pushing his extreme sport to the limit, Weston misjudged the tricky winds, struck a railing and fell onto a rock face roughly 90 metres from the bottom of the gorge.

"I really couldn't believe it. All I ever heard was he was the best in the world, and he had skill to do it," Ms Hill said.

"Of course he always understood the risk and consequences of what he did. He was somewhat of a showman in his sport."
__
Weston was wearing a "wing suit", which has fabric extending below the arms to the body, with more fabric between the legs, allowing a skydiver to catch the air and travel more horizontally.

The Royal Gorge is narrow for manoeuvring parachutes, and winds are tricky, according to Go Fast Parachuting director Jimmy Pouchert.

There were about 200 people on the bridge at the time of the accident, said Royal Gorge Bridge and Park executive director Mike Bandera. The bridge was shut down for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Before the accident, Weston had participated in the Go Fast Games, jumping off the bridge with about 40 other base jumpers - athletes who skydive from fixed objects.

Weston, who also worked as a computer analyst, was a prominent member of Australia's base jumping community, and had been president of the Australian base Association. base is an acronym for Building Antenna, Span and Earth.

He had pioneered many techniques in the sport over the past few years, base jumping websites said.

Weston had performed hundreds of base jumps across the globe. including jumping from the 73rd floor of Malaysia's Petronas Twin Towers building.

He was well aware of the risks involved in the sport which is not recognised in Australia.

"You jump off something and after 2.8 seconds you're going 100km per hour," he was quoted as telling a magazine website in 1997.

"After six seconds you're going 180, and after nine seconds you're doing 200km per hour!"

In an article written in June this year, Weston wrote: "It is no secret that over the past five years I have pushed the limits hard.

"Although I train extensively and arm myself with the latest knowledge and technology, I have used these things simply to survive at the very edge, rather than allow myself any margin for error."

Experience, skill, accuracy, gear, weather conditions and the right mindset were essential before even considering BASE jumping, said Weston.

"It's not a sport for everyone," he said.

"It's not about having the balls to jump off a cliff. It's about being able to deal with a problem if it arises."

His death left international devotees of the extreme sport shaken.

Hours after news of his death became public, shocked base jumpers from around the world posted tributes on the Dropzone.com website.

A base jumper from Portland, Oregon, using the name Narcimund, described Weston's death as "absolutely unbelievable".

"Dwain never broke a bone," he wrote.

"Over 1,200 base jumps with never a broken bone or other injury."

Matthew Nekvapil, of Kuala Lumpur, said he was shocked by the news.

"Wow. I've read so much about this guy although I've never seen any of his videos," he said.

"Only 30, so young."

Base570 wrote: "Dwain was a true pioneer in our small sport, always pushing the limits."

[Crinkle]

Bored indeed. Well it was said in here the guys was French, you resulted in Aussie. I bet the Aussie's would be pissed if it was the same guy and Baker mistook him for French no? oui? That or just coincidence.

[crylonewolf]

I went to the Chicago show today, I past by the Warren Miller booth. He seemed to be talking to the people. I didn't buy anything, so I quess I'll be one year older when I do......was that Kurt Miller with him??

[crylonewolf]

P.S. All the new ski movies this season and not a one paid tribute to Craig Kelly.....I'm a skier, but no one could waste 10 seconds of film on an icon????????????????

[two_planks]

Originally posted by The AD
If you don't call Warren Miller an asshole this year, you'll be one year older when you do.

funny shit meng.

[Plakespear]

Originally posted by Ubersheist
You ever try to get a non-skier or even a weekend warrior skier to watch an MSP or a TGR film? They're bored senseless after about 10 minutes. Not so with any given WM film.

Yeah, show them a WM film and they'll be bored senseless in five

I've shown some non skiers There's Something About McConkey. Most of them though it rocked- even the slowboarders were impressed.

[grrrr]

Some thoughts:

I watched the premiere of Journey with Mr Miller on the night he first saw the finished film. His comment: It's too bad those assholes won't listen to an old man when it comes to making a film.

Could the 8 bucks have gone to charity? The entire proceeds from the opening weekend went into the local community theatre, including books, posters, admission and art sales. The guy is a huge supporter of his community. They have a kick-ass skate park, free to the public, paid for by Mr. Miller.

Mr. Miller is money grubbing? He's 78 years old, has more money than you or I will ever dream of, and more than he could ever spend. Maybe he is. But I'll bet you one thing. He isn't travelling around the country for the 8.00 or the 80.00 or even 8000.00. He doesn't need to make another dime to live the rest of his years in luxury. He travels with his show because it's what he does. He has lived his life for skiing, and he's not stopping now, not even at 78 after having spent two years battling cancer.

I bought grrrr jr a poster and Mr. Miller has extremely chatty to grrrr jr, far more interested in talking to him than to me. Was the $8 worth it? absolutely. If for no other reason than to let grrrr jr meet an icon , to give him a memory of something that has made skiing what it is in America today.

Frankly, I think that the other ski movie people still have something to learn from him. Yes, the movies aren't what they were. Yes, they are too commercial. Yes, they are kinda gay at times. But they get people, ordinary people, stoked. and they have stories in them. Why did Immersion hit home with people? Because they want more than just endless skiing and soundtrack. They want to know the people behind the lines, the places, the culture. I would love to see a movie that had TGR or MSP level skiing, but also told me a bit more about Chamonix or Bella Coola or the Selkirks.

I won't apologize for him. I couldn't if I wanted to. I don't think that your experience was what most people find with him, though. I think Uber is probably right. After 55 years of doing this, the guy probably is due an off night once in a while.

[grrrr]

PS: Somebody should shoot Chris Anthony. Talk about gay.

[Plakespear]

Originally posted by grrrr
It's too bad those assholes won't listen to an old man when it comes to making a film.

Exactly the reason "Warren Miller" films have sucked for the last decade or so. I discussed this breifly with Scott Schmidt when I met him last year. He basically said that Miller's sons have a different vision than Warren himself.

[Eldo]

Back when Warren Miller was making the ONLY ski movies you could go to each year, we looked forward to them immensely. It didn't matter that they were always kinda cheesy (even back in the 70s), and that as the years went by they became more and more your "parent's ski film."

But they still set the stage for almost everything that followed in other (better?) ski/snowboard movies. The first amazing Alaska footage I ever saw was in a WM movie, and even though it featured snowboarders at the height of the ski-vs-snowboard era, that didn't matter to the mostly ski crowd because the whole thing was so amazing.

I got to meet the man a long time ago when I (and our group of ski friends) were all still teenagers. We had sort of formed this unofficial ski team and got some baseball caps made up with our team name on the front. After attending WM's movie one year we went down to the stage were he was putting away his tape recorder and presented him with a cap as a honorary team member. He seemed really surprised and pleased. Then he told us that every year he travels to dozens of cities on his tour, and each place he meets up with the local organizers before the show to set things up. After the show they shake his hand and then take off with their buddies to the bar, leaving him to go back to his hotel and watch TV. So Milller asked if we wanted to go for some beers. We ended up spending a couple of hours hanging with a guy that we considered a ski bum legend, hearing more of his stories. And most of them were exactly like the ones he tells in the movies, complete with the cheesy windup and delivery. We came away thinking he was pretty cool for an old guy.

But I wouldn't be surprised if he has lost touch with what it's all about. Like it or not he is an industry to someone else now. Even if he is not in the mood he's expected to show up and go through the motions so that the company with his name on it can make money.

So it's too bad that people who have respected the guy are now getting to see him in a bad light. If that's the case then it would probably be best if he just walked away from the whole thing now, before he tarnishes his reputation any further.

[The AD]

Originally posted by The AD
If you don't call Warren Miller an asshole this year, you'll be one year older when you do.

Originally posted by two_planks
funny shit meng.

Thanks. I thought it was pretty good myself

One thing that is pretty cool about Warren: he still claims to ski 100 day per year. We'll see how many of us can say that in 50 years or whatever!

[trainnvain]

Originally posted by Alex P. Keaton
Also, he doesn't own the company any more- I think he sold out to his son. Poor Warren Miller, being pimped out at 80 by his ne'er do well seed.

Well, yeah!
Who the hell would want an autograph by Kurt Miller? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!! Will never happen chunky, you're not your daddy.