Monday, Oct. 26, 2009

It's Miller time in Richland

By Bethany Woo, Herald staff writer

If heaven is a half pipe, then Warren Miller fans can die happy, especially after watching the latest Warren Miller Entertainment film Dynasty.

Snowboarders and skiers can rejoice -- the world's largest action sports film is on its 60th annual U.S. tour and will be coming to the Tri-Cities at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Richland High School auditorium.

"They're going to see it in hi-definition and it's incredible cinematography," said Nancy Richter, a film tour spokeswoman.

The 90-minute film is narrated by Olympic gold medalist skier Jonny Moseley, who introduces fans to Ingrid Backstrom, Kevin Bramble, JT Holmes, and Alexis Roland, a 9-year-old considered to be the future of snowboarding.

In the latest excursion, viewers are taken on a powdery ride through Colorado, Norway and Tahoe, and Washington skier Tyler Ceccanti takes viewers down the slopes of Crystal Mountain, allowing for the best views of Mount Rainier.

"Growing up, I went to the Warren Miller movies and this is my first big movie appearance as a professional skier," Ceccanti told the Herald. "Hopefully people will get a good feel of what Crystal Mountain's like in the Northwest. There's so much to offer here and I never really get bored of it."

Ceccanti thanks his father, an avid ski-lover, for taking him to Crystal Mountain as a toddler and passing on his passion for it.

The climax of the film explores the history of snow sports, giving audience members the chance to take a horse ride through the backwoods of China and see how one village was skiing 3,000 years before any Scandinavian records.

Wide camera angles soak up all there is to love about a fresh snowfall. As the saying goes, there are no friends on a powder day, but after watching Dynasty, skiing and snowboarding newbies will understand why.

"If you're a skier or snowboarder watching this film, you just go, 'I want to be there now, I want to be in that powder, I want to be in that place,' " Richter said. "That's what it makes you feel."

Everyone attending the film will receive a free lift ticket to Big White Ski Resort, Silver Star Mountain Resort and Sun Peaks Resort. In addition, they will receive a two-for-one lift ticket to Whistler Blackcomb, one free mid-week lift ticket to White Pass, and one free ski or snowboard hot wax from Sporthaus in Kennewick.

For more, go to www.warrenmiller.com. Richland auditorium is at 920 Long Ave. Tickets are $16, or $15 for groups of 12 or more. Tickets are available at Sporthaus in Kennewick, the school's box office and at ticketmaster.com.