Fun Facts


Even after fifty-nine years of filmmaking, some fans are still curious about Warren Miller, the man, and Warren Miller Entertainment, the company. Warren, and the company he founded in 1949, has been sending his award-winning film crews out to capture the best in freeriding entertainment for half a century now. In that time, they have seen more snow, in more places, than most people see in fifty-nine lifetimes. They've worked with thousands of skiers of all ages and abilities, and have created some of the sport's greatest stars.Here's a sample of some of the unusual facts they've uncovered during that period that are perfect for use as a sidebar, or for radio call-in contests with ticket give-aways. Regardless of how they're used, the following facts highlight some interesting knowledge gained over the last fifty-nine years.

WARREN MILLER

  • Wore his first pair of skis in 1939 at the age of 15
  • Made his first film, Deep and Light, in 1950 with a borrowed camera
  • Year he sold WME to his son, Kurt mIller and Peter Speek: 1989
  • Number of frozen rabbits Warren ate in the Sun Valley parking lot his first year: 174
  • Number of lucky rabbit's-foot keychains he sold his first year: 696

EXTREME CONDITIONS FOUND DURING A FILM SHOOT

  • Most snowfall: 15 inches each day for seven days at Jackson Hole, Wyoming while filming Freeriders
  • Tallest mountain: Chacaltaya, Bolivia at 21,435 feet
  • Steepest mountain: Chugash Mountain Range in Alaska, 65 degree slope
  • Coldest temperature: -45 degrees with no wind-chill in Denali, Alaska
  • Warmest temperature: 93 degrees in Maui, Hawaii, windsurfing in Snowriders 2
  • Deepest powder: Seemingly bottomless powder at Chimbulak, Kazakstan, the former Soviet Republic during Snowriders 2
  • Most rainfall: Scotland, where it rained for 13 days straight during Snowriders
  • Furthest distance WME crew had to hike to film: 2-1/2 days to Ruth Glacier, Denali, Alaska

THE STARS OF WARREN MILLER'S FILMS

  • Youngest featured skier: Nicky Ripstick, 5 years old, Endless Winter
  • Odlest skier: AJ Snow, 101 years old, Black Diamond Rush

UNUSUAL FINDINGS

  • Most unusual skis: Handmade wooden slats found in India
  • Strangest meal eaten while on location: Goat's head in Kazakstan


(Vintage photo courtesy of WarrenMiller.net)
 
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