STEEP takes us inside the world of big-mountain skiing. From its beginnings in the 1970s in the mountains above Chamonix, France, to its future in remote Alaskan and Icelandic peaks. Highlighting...

STEEP takes us inside the world of big-mountain skiing. From its beginnings in the 1970s in the mountains above Chamonix, France, to its future in remote Alaskan and Icelandic peaks. Highlighting the best of the best of this rare breed of men and women who attempt ski descents where the slightest mistake can mean death, Steep tells a tale of bold adventure, exquisite athleticism and the pursuit of a perfect moment on skis. We meet pioneers French Anselme Baud and Patrick Vallencant who were inspired by the challenge of skiing where no one thought to ski before. American Bill Briggs followed in their tracks by attempting to ski Wyoming’s Grand Teton. 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. In addition to many of the sport’s greatest athletes — Stefano De Benedetti, Eric Pehota, Glen Plake, Shane McConkey, Seth Morrison, Chris Davenport, Ingrid Backstrom and Andrew McLean — we meet the man who is often described as the greatest big mountain skier in the world: Doug Coombs. The central character in STEEP, Coombs twice skied to top honors in the World Extreme Skiing Championships, opened up Alaska’s Chugach Range to high-adrenaline heli-skiing, and founded his own steepskiing school. With his Teflon-smooth style and bombproof technique, Coombs may have influenced more big-mountain skiers than anyone in North America. Through Coombs and others of his ilk, STEEP seeks to answer the essential question at the heart of big mountain skiing: How does a skier weigh the risks versus the rewards of a sport where the possibility of dying is ever-present? STEEP was shot on High Definition and on film in Alaska, Wyoming, Canada, France and Iceland.