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STEEP is about bold adventure, exquisite athleticism and the pursuit of a perfect moment on skis. It is the story of big mountain skiing, a sport that barely existed 35 years ago. It started in the 1970s in the mountains above Chamonix, France, where skiers began to attempt ski descents so extreme that they appeared almost suicidal. Men like Anselme Baud and Patrick Vallencant were inspired by the challenge of skiing where noone thought to ski before. Now, two generations later, some of the world's greatest skiers pursue a sport where the prize is not winning, but simply experiencing the exhilaration of skiing and exploring big, wild, remote mountains.
Review
There's no denying the beauty of the landscape with its fluttering avalanches and vertiginous, zigzagging descents --Guardian
Combining numbing personal testimony and jaw-dropping footage of advanced mountain hurtling --Guardian Guide
Undeniably spectacular --The Times
Combining numbing personal testimony and jaw-dropping footage of advanced mountain hurtling --Guardian Guide
Undeniably spectacular --The Times
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have often stared up, and occasionally down, some pretty awesome slopes in the Alps. It is pretty hairy just being on the edge, but the thought of throwing yourself down them on just a pair of skis simply beggars belief. The thought came to me that you must either have supreme confidence in your ability, or an almost insane disregard for your own safety to undertake such a venture. But of course the world is full of such adrenalin junkies, the most extreme of which continually push the boundaries of what is achievable.
These types are personified by Bill Briggs, who was the first man to undertake such a venture when he decided to ski down the Grand Teton in the early seventies. No one believed him until they saw his ski tracks impossibly weaving down the mountain. This tradition was followed by others who are interviewed in this documentary. There is some incredible accompanying footage of their exploits. One daredevil skiing straight off the Col Du Midi, a place I know quite well. But as with all sports, someone sets new standards of excellence, like a Bob Beamon or a Usain Bolt, but sooner or later some freak of nature will come along and rewrite the records. Such is the case with extreme skiing as this film demonstrates. We see the likes of Doug Coombs taking on the immense pristine Alaskan mountains, the home of the extreme skiing world championships. We see other enthusiasts pushing the limits in my favourite resort Chamonix, home of the big ones.
When in Norway some years ago I spoke to my glacier guide who was an oldish guy in his sixties. He informed me that he did an awful lot of skiing in the winter. When I mentioned there did not seem to be many lifts in the area, he laughed and informed me you simply climbed a mountain and skied down it. This is undoubtedly the purest way to ski, and the film ends with Andrew McLean who is the most extreme exponent of this sport, going to such far away places as Patagonia and Iceland. There is not a helicopter or lift in sight. If you can't climb the mountain, you don't get to ski it, simple as that. But perhaps most importantly the documentary does not shy away from the costs of such risk taking. Doug Coombs who died in an avalanche in 2006, speaks like a ghost from the grave. His widow sums it up when she says "Sometimes the mountains can just swallow you up". The average person might quite sanely ask "Is it really worth it". I believe it has always been mans destiny to continually push the boundaries. Without such men we would never have conquered the air, and eventually sent men to the moon. To live life without any risk at all, is not to have lived. This is a fascinating documentary about these pathfinders with some breathtaking action. It is a snip at the time of this review, and a bargain for anyone interested in extreme skiing.
These types are personified by Bill Briggs, who was the first man to undertake such a venture when he decided to ski down the Grand Teton in the early seventies. No one believed him until they saw his ski tracks impossibly weaving down the mountain. This tradition was followed by others who are interviewed in this documentary. There is some incredible accompanying footage of their exploits. One daredevil skiing straight off the Col Du Midi, a place I know quite well. But as with all sports, someone sets new standards of excellence, like a Bob Beamon or a Usain Bolt, but sooner or later some freak of nature will come along and rewrite the records. Such is the case with extreme skiing as this film demonstrates. We see the likes of Doug Coombs taking on the immense pristine Alaskan mountains, the home of the extreme skiing world championships. We see other enthusiasts pushing the limits in my favourite resort Chamonix, home of the big ones.
When in Norway some years ago I spoke to my glacier guide who was an oldish guy in his sixties. He informed me that he did an awful lot of skiing in the winter. When I mentioned there did not seem to be many lifts in the area, he laughed and informed me you simply climbed a mountain and skied down it. This is undoubtedly the purest way to ski, and the film ends with Andrew McLean who is the most extreme exponent of this sport, going to such far away places as Patagonia and Iceland. There is not a helicopter or lift in sight. If you can't climb the mountain, you don't get to ski it, simple as that. But perhaps most importantly the documentary does not shy away from the costs of such risk taking. Doug Coombs who died in an avalanche in 2006, speaks like a ghost from the grave. His widow sums it up when she says "Sometimes the mountains can just swallow you up". The average person might quite sanely ask "Is it really worth it". I believe it has always been mans destiny to continually push the boundaries. Without such men we would never have conquered the air, and eventually sent men to the moon. To live life without any risk at all, is not to have lived. This is a fascinating documentary about these pathfinders with some breathtaking action. It is a snip at the time of this review, and a bargain for anyone interested in extreme skiing.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Steep is an excellent documentary story about various individuals and their quest for the perfect big mountain experience. It's got the usual array of jaw-dropping shots of skiers dropping down mountain sides that would reduce the average skier to tears and visually it's pretty spectacular. What makes this film different to most that have come before is the quality of the commentary and interviews. It feels like you're going on a journey with the people involved. Some of it's a history lesson, some of it's about where they are now and some of it's pretty tragic, but it's always interesting to follow.
If you're thing is skiing/snowboarding you'll not want to miss it. But be warned, you'll probably be reaching for a brochure and booking a holiday as soon as you get to the final credits because you WILL want to be there!!
The version I got included the film "Blizzard of Aahhhs" on a second DVD. This is THE classic off-piste film that really put this type of film on the map. If you haven't seen it you'll want to. It's showing it's age these days, but it's a very worthwhile addition and is a nice addition to the package. Look out for some seriously retro outfits....
If you're thing is skiing/snowboarding you'll not want to miss it. But be warned, you'll probably be reaching for a brochure and booking a holiday as soon as you get to the final credits because you WILL want to be there!!
The version I got included the film "Blizzard of Aahhhs" on a second DVD. This is THE classic off-piste film that really put this type of film on the map. If you haven't seen it you'll want to. It's showing it's age these days, but it's a very worthwhile addition and is a nice addition to the package. Look out for some seriously retro outfits....
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The best ski movie I have ever seen. No silly soundtracks, no inane interviews - just amazing skiing and a wonderful mini history of the extreme, told by some of the people involved. The sections in Chamonix and Alaska are breathtaking.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
steep dvd
Extraordinary documentary film. I was expecting
flashy skiing and there is some amazing footage but this film gets down to the reason i think we all ski. Read more
flashy skiing and there is some amazing footage but this film gets down to the reason i think we all ski. Read more
Published 3 months ago by undrell
Best ski film I've ever seen
Beautifully shot in amazing locations with a perfect soundtrack, this film really gets to the heart of why extreme skiers do what they do in spite of the huge risks. Read more
Published 7 months ago by SkiAddict
The old and the new explaining it all
You get the original baseline extreme ski movie that all others are ranked against and then a very well put togther doco that covers the history of extreme skiing featuring most of... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Alan S
Don't try this on your first skiing trip !
The DVD mixes documentory style interviews with the action, some might find the interviews a bit boring but the tricks these guys do are unbelievable, makes you want to get out on... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Den
steep
Steep is the bible for the Off-Piste nut. I keep playing it over and over. Love it!
Blizzard of Aahhs is a little dated but its amazing to see those guys ripping up the... Read more
Blizzard of Aahhs is a little dated but its amazing to see those guys ripping up the... Read more
Published on 2 May 2010 by The Dobster
Cult viewing
Great to see Blizzard of Aahhhs again. It made a big impression in the 80s when I first saw it. The steep has some amazing sequences as well.
Published on 23 April 2010 by Gary B
Disappointing. Not the great ski movie I was hoping for :(
I bought this DVD recently thinking it would be the typical great ski movie I thought and hoped it would be. Sadly I was disappointed. Read more
Published on 18 April 2010 by J. Moss
Worth watching
This is a very motivating video for anyone interested in skiing outside their comfort zone. Exciting stuff; with insights into the lives of those who excel at this sport.
Published on 15 Mar 2010
Be blown away!
First of all, I bought the DVD because of the Greg Stump film "Blizzard of Aahhhs." I used to own another Greg Stump film, "Maltese Flamingo," on VHS. Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2010 by Bugsy Malone
Steep
This was a present for a young child who is very keen on skiing and he absolutely loves it! It has been watched over and over by both him and his parents.
Published on 21 Jan 2010 by K. Owen
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