Waterville Valley, New Hampshire — If there’s one ski movie I’m looking forward to in the future, it’s the one with Wayne Wong in it.
Recently, crews have been working on documenting the life and legacy of Wayne Wong. The film is being directed by Danny Berish, who has produced for media outlets such as CBC Gem and the Discovery Channel.
The film will analyze Wayne Wong’s life and how he, along with a group of pioneers, helped birth and grow freestyle skiing. Called the “Bruce Lee of skiing,” he was the face of the “hot doggers” who helped grow the sport. Along the way, they faced challenges from old-school skiers who didn’t want to see the sport evolve. Eventually, freestyle skiing became a major part of skiing, and it likely inspired snowboarding’s rise.
In order to get the film to the finish line, a Kickstarter has been launched. Here’s what they intend to use the money for:
- Archival footage licensing (broadcast and private collections)
- Digitization and restoration of aging formats
- Research and rights clearance
- Editorial work to integrate archival material into the film
- Licensing fees for music
The Kickstarter is in its final days, with the deadline being on March 1st at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. You can donate to the efforts here.
Image/Video Credits: Nashoba Valley Ski Area, Waterville Valley/Ski The Wong Way
