Ski flick 'Wasteland' features local Chris Logan
JULIE ENGLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 1 week AGO
Julie Engler covers Whitefish City Hall and writes community features for the Whitefish Pilot. She earned master's degrees in fine arts and education from the University of Montana. She can be reached at jengler@whitefishpilot.com or 406-882-3505. | October 9, 2024 1:00 AM
With less than 60 days until opening day at Whitefish Mountain Resort, it is time to turn up the stoke with ski movies. The Remington Bar is the place to be to see “Wasteland,” a Level 1 film featuring local skier Chris Logan.
Logan grew up skiing on the East Coast and competed in slopestyle until he transitioned into backcountry filming in his early 20s. He’s been working with Level 1 for years and has appeared in seven or eight films.
Five years ago, Logan helped bring the premier of the film company’s 20th annual film to the Remington Bar in Whitefish.
“That was the first one we threw and it was a big hit, packed the house,” he said. “I wanted to put on another premier and try to recreate what we did five years ago and try to have it all be for a good cause -- for the kids and the freeride team around here.”
Logan said “Wasteland” features a mix of street skiing and backcountry skiing. His segments were filmed in Utah, Idaho and Alaska, while some of the movie’s dozen or so other skiers went to Europe for early season snow and spent time on Finland’s fjords.
"There are a couple athletes who have been doing it as long as myself, as well as a couple new faces in the mix, athletes and filmmakers,” Logan said. “It’s cool when you get that young energy involved. It helps keep things fun and light and keeps you going.”
For the last four years, Level 1 worked on projects that focused more on individual athletes. It just released “Full Circle” on Netflix, a documentary style film about the history of adaptive athletes in extreme sports.
“Wasteland” is the company’s return to making full-length ski movies of this kind and is the first since the last one premiered at The Remington.
“It’s for the community, for getting everyone around here fired up on skiing and trying to give back to the kids and the freeride team,” Logan said. “I've been fortunate enough to do what I do in skiing and ... wanted to help out.”
Logan will be on hand Thursday evening with two fellow Level 1 skiers, Wiley Miller and Ben Smith, who will be showcasing films before the main feature.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and the movies begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10. The films are suitable for all ages. The Remington Bar is at 130 Central Ave., in downtown Whitefish.
There will be a raffle with prizes like a day of cat skiing, gift cards, skis, bindings and other gear. Tickets are available online and all raffle proceeds benefit the Flathead Freeride Team.