Vertical couloirs in the remote Alaskan backcountry. Pastel-colored slopes under morning’s early glow. Rugged Canadian peaks and skiing the steeps. Jaw-dropping stunts that will make you believe humans really can fly. All this and more captured in Teton Gravity Research’s latest masterpiece, Magic Hour, rated E for Epic. If you’re not already stoked for the upcoming ski season, you will be after watching some of this TGR magic.
The 27th annual cinematic experience exceeded all expectations this year, and included TGR’s trademark combo of exhilarating filmmaking, electrifying stunts, and awe-inspiring landscapes that one could only dream up. As TGR proudly claims, “we captured some of the most amazing skiing and snowboarding action in some of the most beautiful places in the world. And we can’t wait to share the magic with the world.”
I had the opportunity to attend the Denver premiere of this film in September at the historic Oriental Theater, and the event was just as riveting as the film. For starters, don’t expect your typical “movie-going experience.” Think concert-esque crowd combined with the ski stoke of Colorado, and you’ve got your lively bunch.
The showing of the film was properly hyped up beforehand, with athlete poster signings and rad prize giveaways from TGR, Ikon Pass, The North Face, YETI, Tincup Whiskey, Sierra Nevada, and more, all hosted by DJ ManCat.
Throughout the film, the audience laughed, clapped, cheered, and hollered at every and any major action scene. Epic tomahawk off a cliff? Gasps, then cheers. Broken shoulder? Concerned groans. An epic jump, flip, stunt, or first descent? Overpowering whoops of joy.
TGR showcased the best of the best with a star-studded cast of both up-and-coming muses, and long-time veterans, such as Jeremy Jones, Kai Jones, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Ian McIntosh, Michelle Parker, Tim Durtschi, Nick McNutt, Parkin Costain, Amy Jane David, Bode Merrill, and Sam Smoothy.
The film takes us on a whirlwind tour across the continent, panning past jaw-dropping vistas of British Columbia and Montana, through massive peaks across the Alaskan landscape, and up to the very top of the Tetons.
I won’t spoil the magic of the film, but child-prodigy Kai Jones steals the spotlight with his ever-ambitious stoke for the mountains and eagerness to hang with his fellow rockstar athletes. Plus, Sam Smoothy and Christina Lustenberger get the crowd hyped with their first decent of the South Couloir of Mount Ethelberg, ending in a (momentary?) injury, but daring success nonetheless. And most notably, the plot centralizes in a comical “flash to the future” around legends Sage Cattabriga-Alosa and Ian McIntosh waiting for that “perfect” bluebird moment, which all culminates in a powerful ending of camaraderie during the cast’s great heli-skiing adventure in BC.
If you, too, revel in the joy of hunting for the right place, with the right crew, at the right time, to find fleeting moments, this film’s for you.
And when that moment hits? Oh, it’s pure magic.
If you want a taste of the action, the Magic Hour tour is just getting started! Shows are selling out quicker than you can say “Yew!” so be sure to check out TGR’s tour dates here for the most up-to-date viewings on the big screen.
Colorado folks, snag those tickets today as the tour continues across the state in Denver, Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs, and Cedaredge from now to December!
