A ski movie that’s entertaining for teens, but also carries sufficient plot
for parents? Not an easy find. But on Thanksgiving weekend, when we should
have been skiing (but Mother Nature had warmer plans for us) we all gathered
to watch “Edge of Never.”
Based on a true story, Bill Kerig (a passionate self proclaimed ski bum from
Mass.) documents a young man’s visit to Chamonix – to ski the run that took
his father’s life. Sound compelling? Even frightening? It is all that, and
mountains more.
This film draws you in from the start. Fantastic footage of Chamonix France,
freeskiing legends like Glenn Plake and Mike Hattrup, all brought together
to provide closure to a family hit by tragedy. Kye Petersen is the young
man, at age 15, who travels with the famous pro skiers and film crew to
connect with his father’s memory and retrace his last moments on the
mountain that ended his ski career and life.
My teens could relate to this ski movie since Kye Petersen is a typical
teen, loves to ski the terrain parks at Whistler, wears flashy ski fashions
and twin tips. But there is a compelling undercurrent as this fresh young
skier lost his father, big mountain ski legend Trevor Petersen, in 1996 when
he was just a little boy. Now, almost a decade later son Kye is facing his
own fears and the dangerous slopes that claimed Trevor’s life and countless
others.
Parents will approve of this movie as it portrays the sobering danger of
high alpine skiing, the seriousness of avalanche and crevasse risk. They
refer to Chamonix as the Death Sport Capital of the world.
Experienced alpine guides teach young twin tipper Kye all the technical tips
he will need, and coach him on the necessary caution and careful preparation
required when mountaineering outside of traditional groomed, marked and
patrolled ski area terrain. All this is in the days preparing for his
descent down the couloir that proved deadly to his dad. The anticipation is
palpable.
“Edge of Never”
is a coming of age film, a cautionary tale of the risk and rewards of
pursuing your passion and a touching tribute to family love and the legacy
that surpasses mortality.
And if you think Glen Plake is just a freaky freestyle skier with a Mohawk,
watch his mentoring chats with young Kye and you may change your mind –
probably not your hairstyle however.
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Motherly Warning: “Edge of Never” is not appropriate for young children
given the maturity of the story line and a few scary moments on the slopes.
If you have young ones, may I suggest
www.snowmonsters.com for a fun
educational romp with skiing raccoons, powder pigs and blizzard babies
instead.
