As you watch “Aspen Extreme,” you’ll see how unique and truly special this cult classic is. It has everything you’ll want in a ski movie: friendship, love, adventure, drama and plenty more. All these things are incorporated perfectly into this film. There’s something about it that you can’t find anywhere else. It’s a one-of-a-kind film.
Is it the 90’s ski culture that makes “Aspen Extreme” so authentically special, or the protagonists close friendships? All of that and more intertwined together is what makes this movie so special. On top of all this, it has authentic ski action and stunning ski cinematography that captures the beauty of extreme skiing.
The movie starts with an opening shot of a Ford factory in Detroit, Michigan, where one of our main protagonists, T.J. Burke, played by Paul Gross, is seen working in the factory. Tired of working on a trash mountain in Michigan, Burke and his best friend Dexter Rutecki, played by Peter Burg, decide to move up and out to Aspen in hopes of becoming ski instructors.
Burke and Rutecki just some ski bums from Detroit Michigan are clearly out of place, with them living in a van in this luxurious ski town. They act very differently from the locals, and they don’t own tons of high-end clothing that the locals wear.
They soon try to get a job as ski instructors, which will prove to be difficult because there are only five spots available for tons of people trying out. Other skiers trying out for the spot to be ski instructors scoff as they come across them. Inevitably, we see our protagonists get the job as ski instructors.
Burke quickly finds success as an instructor and immediately gains attention from the wealthy. With that, Burke is tempted by Bryce Kellog, a highly regarded figure in Aspen with plenty of money and a luxurious lifestyle. He quickly finds comfort and is seemingly starting to fit in with the locals, while Rutecki is more uncomfortable in their situation and is struggling to fit in.
As the friends begin to spend more and more time in Aspen, Burke begins to find a love interest, Robin Hand, a local Aspen radio DJ. They remain together for the next year or so together. But as time moves on, and as Burke finds more success, he finds himself being drawn back to Bryce. Not because of the person that she is, but rather because of the lifestyle that follows. Towards the end of the film, we can see our protagonists drifting farther and farther away from each other. Eventually, Burke moves in with Bryce.
Their friendship is not completely over, because Rutecki convinces Burke to be his partner in the Powder 8, a skiing competition where teams of two must perform turns in fresh powder, aiming to create perfect symmetrical “8” patterns down the mountain.
In order to get ready for the powder eight, one must train in an extremely dangerous backcountry. Unfortunately, Rutecki passes away in a tragic accident while skiing backcountry with Burke in preparation for the powder 8, which leaves Burke in a sad and distraught place. Looking back, Burke cannot believe the truth, while the only thing he can do is accept it and try to move on.
However, Burke finds a partner to ski the powder 8 and hopefully win the competition in Rutecki’s memory. They end up winning the competition together and defeat champions who have won the competition for the past eight years. In our final shot, we can see Burke happily walking away with his true love Robin, smiling contently, looking forward to his future with her.
This film truly captures what it would have been like for two friends to move away from their hometown to a ski out west. The entire atmosphere and style of the movie perfectly capture what it would have been like to be a ski bum in the ’90s. Jeans on the mountain, no helmets and trying to make money while living in your van at the bottom of the mountain. Watch the extreme style of skiing as they go down the hill at aggressively high speed, complemented by stylish jumps, with a sprinkle of exquisite powder skiing. It has emotion, authenticity, meaning, and it’s truly something special.
“Aspen Extreme” packs a punch in just under two hours. From perfectly capturing the extreme ski action, the charm of the ’90s and the strong friendship Burke and Rutecki hold throughout the film. “Aspen Extreme” is something you cannot miss out on, and it’ll have you feeling on top of the world.
