Swift Silent Deep

Swift Silent Deep + add a photo
7 reviews
100% Positive Reviews
Rated #1 in Ski Movies & DVDs
Amazon.com$15.50See It »
Pros:
“Sound, video, story, characters”
“A great story, very well told!”
Cons:
“Could have been twice as long and I would watch it over and over again”
“Glorification of a worthless pursuit ;)”
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By bjohansson

Pros: Sound, video, story, characters

Cons: Could have been twice as long and I would watch it over and over again

Watched this movie while skiing with a group of close friends and new friends at a house in SLC.  On the spot, we all resolved to go to JH the following season and we did.  Who doesn't wish they made the choices that Howie and Benny made?  The best ski move EVER.

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By 4ster

Pros: Great archival footage.

Cons: Glorification of a worthless pursuit ;)

I just finished viewing Swift Silent Deep.  I am not a big follower of ski flicks & have never owned any, although I have seen quite a few over the years.  What was different for me was the fact that this film was about a place (JH), & a perspective of that place from the point of view of the people who were there (JHAF).

 

The story is about a group of ski town kids who never grew up.  They found solace and were driven by the compulsion to ski powder and a competitive spirit to push the limits.  This is a common theme that was happening at every ski area across the country during the 70's & 80's.  This group just happened to be based at one of the Big Daddies, Jackson Hole.  It is fun & informative to see how commercializing something that was better left "swift & silent"... changed the face of skiing around the mountain world.

 

There are a few names in this film that some of the viewers might recognize, most notably the late Doug Coombs.  Lots of archived footage of some of the extreme OB terrain around the ski area & a little in Alaska, that is really cool & a bit retro.

 

I would recommend this documentary film to anyone looking for some insight as to how high end freeskiing got to its present state, anyone who has hung around a ski town for any length of time, or those who like to watch some great skiers, skiing great snow, on a big mountain.

 

Having not spent much time at JH it was nice to see some of the hidden stashes.  Kind of like Mavericks surf break.  This hand-full of skiers had this proverbial "big wave" to themselves for many, many years.

 

JF

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By jc-ski

Pros: A great story, very well told!

Cons: None - Just see it!

This is a very cool film similar in spirit to Dogtown and Z-Boys and Klunkerz. Great stuff on the history of skiing in Jackson Hole, including some fantastic footage of Olympic great Pepi Stiegler, who coached and inspired members of the Jackson Hole Air Force, who in turn inspired subsequent generations who continue to push the boundaries of what can be done on a pair of skis.

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By nolo

Pros: The Real Deal

Cons: N/A

 

Destined-to-be-a-classic dvd about the rope-ducking renegades of the Jackson Hole Air Force, who had the foresight to film many of their own exploits in the air and out of bounds. The "Air Force" is to say that this band of brothers likes to huck, and as expected, this film abounds with big air, fearless skiing, and voluptuous slopes blanketed in virgin powder. This is highest-quality ski-porn! The film has a plot with a deep philosophical message underlying the homegrown footage of hero skiing. The story about how the JHAF, notably the late Doug Coombs and JHAF founders Benny Wilson and Howard Henderson, ultimately forced open the backcountry gates at ski resorts by challenging their authority to refuse access to national forest lands through a form of civil disobedience worthy of Thoreau. 

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By MastersRacer

Pros: skiing history, great story

The movie covers the history of the JHAF and is told mainly by those that were there. I don't have much to add to the other reviews. Nice cinematography, good sound track, fabulous skiing. I highly recommend it.

 

Thanks EpicSki for the DVD as a prize to a contest!

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By Taxman

Pros: Great documentary, great skiing.

Cons: None

Had the pleasure of watching Swift Silent Deep while staying in Jackson Hole.  Without doubt, the best skiing movie I’ve seen; and even enjoyed greatly by my non-skiing partner.

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Facts and Details

Swift Silent Deep
By:
Description:

is the story of the Jackson Hole Air Force and skiing's rebel spirit. A coming of age tale of a rag tag group of ski bums whos rebellious spirit ducked ropes and broke laws under the cover of storms and in the process became the countrys most infamous ski fraternity. Founded in the 80s by Captain Benny Wilson and Howie Hollywood Henderson, the gangs outlandish adventures played a major role in birth extreme sports by leading skiings big air revolution and pioneering the big mountains of Alaskas Chugach range. Through infinite images in national ski publication and films, and the domination of the first "World Extreme Skiing Championships", this underground brotherhood would eventually change the face of hard-core ski culture in America.

Details:
DetailValue
BindingDVD
List Price$24.99
Package Quantity1
Product GroupDVD
Product Type NameABIS_DVD
TitleSwift Silent Deep
EAN0730475830702
UPC730475830702
LanguagesEnglish
Publication Date2009
Audience RatingUnrated
Region Code1
Theatrical Release Date2009
Models:
Model Name/TypeMPNEAN/UPC
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