Surfing had The Endless Summer and skateboarding had The Search for Animal Chin as early genre defining films that inspired countless athletes to get out and try their hand at counter culture sports but what did skiers back in the day rely on for a taste of what rebel life could be like in the mountains? Many point to the Dick Barrymore’s iconic film Assignment K2 as their first exposure to the world of hotdog skiing when it was released in 1975. Its fantastic and well worth turning off notifications on your various devices and watching undisturbed end to end.
“Assignment K2 takes you from the Alps to North America, following some of the best skiers of the time as they push boundaries on K2 skis, the gear that was rewriting the rules of performance. It’s raw, real, and full of the energy that made skiing more than a sport—it became a way of life.”
Dick Barrymore was inducted into the U.S. National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2000 in recognition for indelible contribution to the world of skiing including 30 short films and nine 90-minute features. Barrymore also wrote “Breaking Even” his personal story of a life making ski films which is a delightful read. Barrymore along with John Jay and Warren Miller delighted untold thousands of snow lovers all over the USA and undoubtedly induced hordes of curious viewers to try the sport.
