Champions on the Snow
A documentary illustrating the mountain sports activities of the university students of the GUF (Gruppi universitari fascisti) in Val Gardena, Madonna di Campiglio and Roccaraso. The film starts with a rock climbing winter ascent to Sasso Lungo (Langkofel). A party of four men make an approach on skis and climb roped from the base of the mountain to the summit. Then the film shows images of different competitions: ski (cross country, slalom, ski jumping), skating (figure, speed) and biathlon. A propaganda film of the Italian fascist regime.
Of Snow, Soldiers and Avalanches
A winter ascent of Piz Bernina by Swiss mountain soldiers under the command of Major Charles Golay. The film also shows images of avalanche research, the use of avalanches as a weapon, avalanche rescue by dogs, and other military maneuvers. An early color Swiss military film by Major Charles Golay and Egon Sommer.
The White Valley
Rare film about skiing, shot in the Nuria Valley in 1941, with the participation of the first company of skiers of Nuria. The documentary entitled 'The White Valley', was made by the directors Seville and Fortuny and filmed in the Valley of Nuria in 1940 or 1941, with the participation of the first ski company of Nuria.
The Basic Principles of Skiing
Shot in 1941, this black-and-white instructional film (featuring actor Alan Ladd) serves as a veritable time capsule on the history of the sport, with advice on ski design, schussing, lacquer, wax and toe plates.
From Shade to Light
Dive into the mind of French mountaineer Charles Dubouloz as he achieves Rolling Stones (5.10 A3, or M8, 1100m) a rarely repeated route on the fabled north face of the Grandes Jorasses above Chamonix, France. He spent six days with five bivouacs on the wall, pressing on through strong winds and low temperatures of -30°C (-22°F), sustaining some frostbites to achieve one of the most acclaimed winter solo ascent in the Alps. « I'm scared, I quiver, I'm cold...but I have this intense drive to set foot on the summit. »
Wilkie in Winter
A program in which David Wilkie demonstrates various winter sports, like alpine climbing and skiing in the Cairngorms. In one of the segments, John Cunningham leads up an ascent to the Hells Lum route in the Cairngorms. The program was directed by Tait Clarke and produced by Scottish TV in 1979.
First Aid and Emergency Repair of Equipment
An official training film from the War department. In April 1942, a detail of five enlisted men and two officers, Capt. Paul Lafferty and Lt. John Woodward, left the 87th Regiment at Mt Rainier for Sun Valley to produce winter training films on ski safety, snow camping, ski first aid, ski mountaineering, and ski equipment.
Ski Mountaineering
An official training film from the War department. In April 1942, a detail of five enlisted men and two officers, Capt. Paul Lafferty and Lt. John Woodward, left the 87th Regiment at Mt Rainier for Sun Valley to produce winter training films on ski safety, snow camping, ski first aid, ski mountaineering, and ski equipment.