Warren Miller's Dynasty Ready for World Premiere

Jeff DeMoss - Standard-Examiner

Warren Miller Entertainment is kicking off its annual feature-film tour in Utah this weekend with the world premiere of another ambitious, globe-spanning project featuring a mix of today's top bigmountain and freestyle skiers and snowboarders, old-school masters, and some impressive up-and-coming talent.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the iconic Warren Miller franchise, "Warren Miller's Dynasty" begins its run of more than 240 cities nationwide Friday in Salt Lake City, followed by three Saturday showings in downtown Ogden.

"Dynasty" is anchored by the breathtaking mountain scenery and top-notch skiing and riding Warren Miller fans have come to expect, but it also pays homage to the sports' past and future, with scenes ranging from footage dug deep from the Warren Miller archives to 10-year-old snowboarding phenom Alexis Roland.

"It is a film that gathers the generations under one roof," Director and Producer Max Bervy said. "It leaves no snowball unturned in celebrating everyone who has, is, and will forever be a part of Warren Miller's Dynasty."

Cody Barnhill, a 26-year-old Salt Lake City resident and one of the top names in big-mountain skiing today, said he has skied for films before, but "Dynasty" is the biggest production he has been involved in to date.

For the film, Barnhill traveled to Blue River, British Columbia, with fellow big-mountain skier Chris Benchetler to experience Mike Wiegele's Helicopter Skiing, an operation that has been around since the 1970s.

"It was all fresh for me, which was very cool," said Barnhill.

He said his favorite place to ski is his native Alaska, but praised Utah's Wasatch Range for having "a higher number of bluebird powder days than anyplace else in the world."

Other stops on the "Dynasty" filming tour range from Norway to China to Alaska.

As an added bonus, those who attend this weekend's premiere events will receive a free lift ticket to The Canyons. Those attending the Ogden and Salt Lake City shows will also get a free lift ticket to Alaska's Alyeska resort.

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