Screenshot: Level 1
After watching Level 1’s new feature film, the wide world of skiing seems a little less vast. The crew hits many different locations, some of them being quite obscure. But the point of the film, reinforced by its title, is that no matter where you go, skiing is still skiing.
In recent years, and especially with the effects of global weirding, featuring the most random locations in ski movies has become a bit of a dick-measuring contest for production companies. This year, Level-1 seems to be sporting the biggest member out there. Small World smoothly takes the audience from Finland to Estonia to Alaska, and even Minnesota. Honestly, I don’t even know where Estonia is. Thus in terms of the travel aspect of their new ski film, well done.
However, my favorite segment in the film is set in an increasingly familiar yet still far-out Haines, Alaska. The skiing is nothing we haven’t seen before, but the slow-tempo, relaxing music provides a perfect contrast when matched with footage of the gnarly, thrilling, and dangerous skiing that occurs in an Alaskan mountain range.
Screenshot: Level 1
While we know the athletes are risking their lives, the music downplays any nerves experienced by them. The music creates a different type of Alaska segment than we are used to seeing. In critiquing ski movies, anything that is original or unique will always catch my eye because we largely see the same formula year after year. Don’t get me wrong, I will continue to enjoy that formula for the rest of my life and will always be an annual participant in the autumn ski movie consumption — it’s one of my favorite times of the year. Still, framing the same experiences in a new or uncommon way, such as Level 1 did with their Alaska segment, will always impress me and make a ski movie stand out.
Overall, the soundtrack is very eclectic. It includes all genres except rap, which used to be a guarantee when watching a Level 1 movie. It’s a little surprising to see an urban segment in one of their films that isn’t set to Wu-tang. I guess we all have to move on. The most recent soundtrack is more in the direction of minimalist composition. The sounds of snow and rail are always audible. Lyrics are not included in every song. Ski movies of ten years ago we’re set to loud rock music. Five years ago they began featuring more electronic remixes. But now it seems we’re moving to even more varied yet simple tunes.
Screenshot: Level 1
The roster of Small World featured guys that have been filming with Level 1 for a long time, or newer athletes whose resume’ I was not as familiar with. The benefit of watching a scene with a newer guy is that the skier on screen is sort-of anonymized. Instead of focusing on how sick one of your favorite skiers is, you just sit back and enjoy the skiing. You don’t know what to expect because you are unfamiliar with the skier’s style. And you are pleasantly surprised every time. I had heard the name Sami Ortleib before, but my god he throws the sickest zero spin shifty I’ve ever seen. Seriously that zero spin was why vine was invented.
Also, Since when does Hoji film for Level 1? Did I miss something? That kind of veteran backcountry presence provided a different flavor than usual for a Level 1 pow segment. Usually Level 1 is filled with young, up-and-comers that kill it in the park or in the streets and are then taken in the backcountry. They are still good, but you can tell it is not their natural element. Well, backcountry powder is definitely Eric Hjorleifson’s element. That level of experience (he’s one of the best ever) is definitely refreshing in a Level 1 big mountain segment. The film’s British Columbia section concludes by a filmmaker commenting on Hoji’s slaying of a pillow line: “God he’s so fucking good.”
Screenshot: Level 1
