time travelers: Chris anthony, Scott Kennett and Tony Seibert prepare to make some vintage turns. Courtesy of Braden Gunem
Storm the Hill
Chris Anthony traveled back in time to Camp Hale where he skied on the same equipment as the legendary 10th Mountain Division for Flow State, the latest Warren Miller flick.
Denver native Chris Anthony had always been intrigued by the 10th Mountain Division, the U.S. Army mountain unit that trained for World War II in the Colorado backcountry and whose ranks returned from battle to help create the U.S. ski industry. That interest grew as he worked with director Max Bervy to create a segment in “Flow State”, the new Warren Miller movie, and learned more and more about the young men who suffered the highest casualty rate in the war and dreamed resorts like Vail and Aspen into existence. Anthony and Bervy wanted this segment to be different than the usual ski porn. They wanted to teach young skiers about the legacy of their sport in a way that wasn’t preachy.
The answer? Anthony, Scott Kennett and Tony Seibert, whose uncle and grandfather had been in the 10th, put on the same skis, boots, packs and jackets the original soldiers used to train and headed out into the wild snow around Camp Hale. That experience makes for some amusing viewing as well as a glimpse into how tough these guys were. But the movie is well worth watching for more than seeing lifelong skiers go ass-over-tea-kettle on historic boards. Surviving members of the 10th talk about the experience, and the segment creates a reverence for the sport that spans generations. Anthony took time out while leading a bike tour in Italy this fall to tell us more.
How did you first become interested in the 10th Mountain Division?
The legend of the 10th is something one grows up with in Colorado. Except in reality, I did not know very much about them, at least in detail. Being around the ski industry for so long, I eventually learned in some definition who and what the 10th Mountain Division was as well as their impact on who and where we are now. It did not take long for me to realize that if I was taking so long to learn about them, then why not do something that takes their story to the people rather than letting the people come to their story.
Why did Warren Miller decide to do a segment on the 10th? What was your involvement in making it happen?
Warren Miller Entertainment realized the importance of the 10th story. I tried to bring this story to the table with a number of different of angles. The one that stuck and was easiest to permit was the story about Camp Hale.
How did the 10th create the ski industry we know today in the US?
They had an impact in more than 50 different arenas of the industry. Opening up ski areas, developing ski schools, designing equipment and overall sharing the sport with the greater population of a post-war industry when they returned from Italy after Hitler had surrendered. Basically they modernized the North American ski industry.
What have you learned about these guys that has surprised you?
They were a unique group of individuals brought together during an interesting time in world history, well educated with a love for the outdoors and mountains. They had amazing tenacity. They took on obstacles and dreamed big. They were doers.
What’s your experience on the equipment they used to ski on?
The equipment was, to say the least, not easy to work with. I’m sure during their time it was probably pretty innovative—but not compared to what we have now. It was bulky, not exactly well finished and painful to use. The boots were uncomfortable, no ankle support and with annoying laces. The skis were long. They did not bend nor float. They were heavy. The bindings were metal and cable—very rudimentary and I often found myself cutting my fingers trying to use them.
How will you continue to be connected to the 10th and their legacy? How has this project changed your perspective on skiing?
With this segment from the film and some additional documentary work, I will have a great tool to educate the greater population including our youth about who they were as well as bring attention to the Colorado Ski Museum. Through presentations we will be able to party with a variety of charities.
What’s next for you personally?
I would like to continue my work with Warren Miller as an athlete as well as continue to grow youth impact and my adventure business. Down the road, I hope to write a book about it all.
What legacy do you want to leave behind?
A positive one with a historical and timeless impact. •
Get in the Flow
The latest (and 63rd!) Warren Miller movie, “Flow State”, features Chris Anthony and the 10th Mountain Division as well as hot stuff from Julian Carr, Jess McMillan and others. Catch it in Aspen at the Wheeler Opera House on November 1, Colorado Springs at the Pikes Peak Center on November 2 and 3, Boulder at the Boulder Theatre November 7-11, Denver at the Paramount Theatre November 15-18, Lone Tree at the Lone Tree Arts Center November 19-21 and Beaver Creek at the Vilar Performing Arts Center November 23 and 24. Get more info and check out teasers at warrenmiller.com.
