“Swift. Silent. Deep,” a movie that chronicles the history of the legendary Jackson Hole Air Force, is touted by the filmmakers as “the first true historical documentation of hardcore ski culture in the United States.” After watching the movie on DVD, I decided that statement is as true as the sun rises in the east.
A combination of historical footage and new interviews, “Swift. Silent. Deep.” explores the beginnings of the Jackson Hole Air Force (JHAF) as they evolve from a bunch of guys concerned only with jumping off cliffs, to an organization that changes the face of skiing forever. But this film is also much more than a history of the JHAF. “Swift. Silent. Deep.” is also a love letter to skiing in general, especially skiing untracked lines of power in wild terrain.
The film opens with a look back at the beginnings of the modern ski industry post-World War 2, to Warren Miller’s influence, to the creation of Jackson Hole Ski Resort. From there, biographical features of Jackson’s most famous (and notorious) skiers leads into the forming of the unorganized fraternity that would become the Jackson Hole Air Force.
Every era of the Jackson Hole Air Force is looked at, including their exploits by evading ski patrol in their pursuit of out-of-bounds powder (headlines were made when the late Doug Coombs was banned from the resort after getting caught,) their domination of the first World Extreme Championships in Alaska, how some members went on to open up the powder mecca of Valdez, and even profiles new members who continue to push the boundaries of the ski world.
Overall, “Swift. Silent. Deep.” is an exhaustive, in-depth analysis. Aside from the monotone narration (get that guy some coffee!) the film still knows how to have a lot of fun. Gone are the stupid bro-dude-rail-grabs-in-a-wide-angle-lens antics of modern ski flicks. Instead, we get old film from the 80’s and 90’s that still gets the adrenaline going. Just watching these guys do flips into Corbet’s Couloir on skinny skis is enough to get pumped. Add the incredible powder footage, and the fact that you’re watching film shot 20-years ago is soon forgotten.
But in my opinion, the best part about “Swift. Silent. Deep.” is that it’s a ski movie about normal people who love to ski. Aside from a few household names, the Jackson Hole Air Force is populated by unknown, regular guys who don’t seek the limelight and are more concerned with their next powder day than sponsorship deals. In that respect, this film is about you and me. It’s a film about ski-bum culture. It’s a film that makes you want to get off the couch and ski powder right now. “Swift. Silent. Deep.” is a story that was simply worth telling.
Although “Swift. Silent. Deep.” premiered at X-Dance in January of 2009 and has already toured the country, it is currently available on DVD and screenings are still happening in select ski towns.
For more information on tour dates, or to purchase a DVD, visit www.swiftsilentdeep.com
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