WORTH THE WAIT: Waiting Game premieres to Jackson

In the last 3 weeks, Jackson Hole skiers have had the opportunity to take in no fewer than 4 ski porn premieres by local filmmakers. So the competition is tough to make a memorable, standout film that will be regarded as “something different.” On Sunday, October 9th, WAITING GAME accomplished just that. Billed as the “first true high-def big mountain ski movie,” it is the story of a season that speaks to every skier with a soulful message. Producer Jon (JK) Klaczkiewicz’s Klutch Productions partnered with legendary kayak filmmakers Arris Productions and HD TV producers Wink Inc. to bring this vision to the screen. The intimate Mainstage Theatre held a capacity crowd for two sneak preview showings for the discriminating local audience.

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While there are plenty of marquee athletes on the Waiting Game roster like Kent Kreitler, Dan Treadway, Brant Moles, Shroder Baker, and Reggie and Zach Crist, there are also a lot of skiers that people won’t recognize, but that they can relate to. From guys like John Verdon, Jackson’s quintessential ski bum, to the Swedish Posse’s Kaj Zackrisson and Sverre Liliequist, there is no mystery about their dedication to the sport. And that enthusiasm shines through in the film.

“The trend in industry-driven ski films today has been that they tend to glamorize the “rock star” skier’s lifestyle, which doesn’t necessarily apply to the average skier. We tried to make a film that portrays a true skiers’ way of life,” says JK. Which at times, involves a lot of waiting. “Half of our time as skiers, we’re waiting. Waiting for the winter, waiting for the right conditions; road trips with your bros, and beers in the parking lot at the end of the day.”

Legendary Jackson Hole skier Bill Briggs, the first man to ski the Grand Teton in 1971, opens the film speaking about a life of skiing and what brought him to Jackson after college. Then it dives right into a Haines, Alaska segment that gets your attention. “Seeing the footage of Reggie (Crist), barreling down that face like Barry Sanders, is what made me realize it was time for me to get up there and ski,” says Shroder Baker.

Following the intro, comes the deepest powder segment seen in years. Teton Pass with “the Mayor”, Jason Tattersall, shows just another day with the backcountry guru. Record dumps in Utah and Tahoe last December follow, on an RV road trip (check out the photos) with Shroder Baker, Lindsay Dyer, and Brant Moles. If this seg doesn’t give you goosebumps, you should quit skiing.

Other segments include some of the lesser-represented aspects of the sport, shown in a refreshing and unique light. A US Freeskiing Open seg doesn’t dramatize the comp itself, but shows the skiers who do it simply for the love of the sport; hucking hardpack and taking their licks. And a ski mountaineering profile of Doug Coombs’ and Doug Workman’s descent of the Grand Teton makes you feel like you need to change your pants.

Another noteable performance is a Sun Valley “high school reunion” in Haines with the Crist brothers, Kreitler, and guide Scott Sundberg. To see the camaraderie between these skiers after years of going their own different routes speaks volumes about the relationships that last throughout a ski career.

And finally, the inevitable and often-exploited Valdez segment gets a new look from Waiting Game, where everyday skiers get a shot at greatness. Where most modern-day ski porn makes Alaskan heli-skiing seem like an intangible experience that only sponsored pros can afford. “Waiting game shows real people like Johnny Verdon, saving up all winter for his first AK heli trip, busting his ass cooking up there in the Rendezvous Lodge, and getting the ultimate payoff. As well as pros like Shroder Baker and Jason Tattersall, getting their first taste of the Chugach after years of paying their dues.”

“I had a dozen people come up to me after the show, telling me they couldn’t wait to get a group of four friends and head up to Valdez next spring,” said JK. “Everyone owes it to themselves to have that experience. It’s truly the pinnacle of the sport.”

As the movie ended, there was a definite vibe of anticipation for the upcoming season. “As long as I have been making ski films, I have never seen that kind of stoke from a premiere audience,” said JK. “Basically, what we’re trying to do is get people fired up to go skiing. And up until that first showing, you never know if you’re going to accomplish it. But the feedback from the Jackson crowd was that we did just that.”

“This has a different feel,” said Baker. “It isn’t about the hype. It was just about really good skiing, over the course of a whole season. And everyone can associate with that.”

The Waiting Game is an accurate representation of what’s happening in the real skiers’ world, not just the fantasy world of the sponsored athlete. The infectious energy of a ski town and the soul of the sport are alive and well. Ski season’s coming…what are you waiting for?

READ MORE ABOUT THE MAKING OF WAITING GAME