The Greatest Snow on Earth: Utah's Skiing Story

Utah is fast becoming recognized as one of the world's most preeminent 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 the birth of Utah's ski culture, when miners used skis as transportation in the avalanche-prone Wasatch mountains, to the controversial 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 shaped the sport of skiing in Utah.

The history of resort development, avalanche science, powder skiing technique, inventions, and competition are brought to life in interviews including 1952 Olympic champion and Deer Valley Resort Director of Skiing Stein Erikson; ski pioneer, ecologist, and author of "Deep Powder Snow," Dolores LaChapelle; 1948 and 1952 Olympic ski team member Suzy Harris Rytting; skiing's most prolific inventor, Earl Miller; wold-renowned avalanche expert Edward R. LaChappelle; ski historian Alexis Kelner; and the first person to climb the highest peaks on each of the seven continents, Snowbird Ski Resort CEO Dick Bass.

The Greatest Snow on Earth: "Utah's Skiing Story" examines the development and operation of Utah's ski resorts, from the now defunct Blue Mountain to the mega-commercial Snowbird and Deer Valley. The section devoted to the 2002 Winter Olympics chronicles the early movement to attract the Games to Salt Lake City and touches on the contemporary controversy surrounding the bidding process.

The film contains rare and never-seen skiing footage dating back to Ecker Hill in the 1930s. There is also rare footage of the Engen brothers, Junior Bunous, Jim Gaddis, and Dolores and Ed LaChapelle. Appearances by Park City resident and 1997 World Extreme Skiing Champion Brant Moles and local mountaineer and author Andrew Mclean are showcased.

The Greatest Snow on Earth is the first comprehensive documentary on skiing in Utah. Through an interview with historian and Save Our Canyons founder Alexis Kelner, the documentary shows the evolution of the environmental movement and resort development on public lands.

The documentary is narrated by Hank Kashiwa, 1972 U.S Olympian and well-known network sports commentator, and is produced by Shawn Emery, 35, a filmmaker and writer with corporate, commercial, educational, and documentary credits.

About the Producer

Shawn Emery, 35, is a filmmaker and writer with corporate, commercial, educational, and documentary credits. His independently-produced documentary films include "Abbey's Country Remembering the Late Novelist Edward Abbey," which won several awards; "Summer Skiing the Ring of Fire," which aired nationally on PBS and locally on KUED-Channel 7; "Skiers Mecca," produced for the Utah Centennial Commission. His programs have been distributed to PBS, The Outdoor Life Channel, Northwest Airlines and other outlets.

He holds a B.S from the University of Utah, and an M.A from Emerson College, Boston, in Mass Communication. Awards: Telly, National Educational Film & Video Festival, International Ski Film Festival, EarthPeace Film Festival, International Wildlife Film Festival. Born in Seattle, Washington, he has lived, worked, and skied in Utah since 1972.

Contact Information:
Shawn Emery
Producer/Director
Working Title Productions
1221 South 1000 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84105
(435) 649-7721 or (801) 463-0741