On a ski slope far, far away, Warren Miller, who died Wednesday at his home on Orcas Island, might be enchanting an audience with stories of his life that ranged from ski bum to war veteran to the founder of a film genre who delivered “impossible” ski challenges to a broad audience.
With his dry sense of humor, perhaps he might have seen the irony of forever being synonymous with extreme skiing while spending his last 26 years near sea level.
He narrated most of his annual films, usually shown in relatively small venues, which jump-started the ski season. They attracted those past their skiing prime to young children who asked Santa for snowboards to those who had never felt the thrills but might be inspired.
It would be easy to reflect only on jaw-dropping sequences of snowriders soaring off incredibly sharp peaks high up in mountain ranges around the world, or how his films evolved from women skiing in their bikinis on bunny slopes to women soaring off peaks and ripping down mountainsides.
Together, the films serve as an historical timeline for skiing and snowboarding styles and skills, snow-related humor and filmmaking technology.
But underneath all of his accomplishments ran a river of joy, a celebration of life and adventure that was on the scene long before the fame.
One person who spent countless hours with Miller is Nancy Richter, of Entertainment Media, who shepherded him on film tours to interviews and stages, starting in 1986.
“Warren seemed to ask more questions of his interviewers, than they could ask him,” she said. “He was interested in everyone and everything. If we were seeing Steve Raible at KIRO, he was asking him about football and his knee injury. He was always making jokes, pointing out the funny aspect of things.
“He would talk to everyone. It would take us forever to get from one place to the next because he was so engaged with people.”
At the shows, Richter remembers how Miller would sign the SnoWorld Magazines and his books that were sold in the lobby.
“The line would be 100 people, and he was talking to every single one,” she said. “He was a people person. He was a pleasure to be around. Everyone liked him.”
Skiing’s ambassador directed his first ski film, “Deep in Light” (1950), and 37 more, ending with “White Winter Heat” in 1987. He continued to be involved, mostly by narrating, through his 55th film, “Impact,” in 2004.
Miller has left a few oft-repeated tips for his audiences.
■ “Winter starts now.”
■ “It’s always winter somewhere.”
■ “If you don’t do it this year, you’ll be one year older when you do.”
Warren Miller will always be 93.
Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or songandword@rockisland.com.
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