Film Lens
Skiing Everest is a 2009 documentary directed by Les Guthman and Mike Marolt, focusing on high-altitude ski mountaineers including Mike Marolt and his twin brother Steve. The film chronicles their expeditions, particularly their historic ski descent from the summit of Shisha Pangma in Tibet in 2000, marking them as the first skiers from the Western Hemisphere to ski from above 8,000 meters. The documentary captures their attempts to ski on Mount Everest and Cho Oyu, emphasizing the extreme conditions faced in the death zone above 8,000 meters without supplemental oxygen.
The film also provides a historical context for high-altitude skiing, featuring interviews with notable figures such as Hans Kammerlander, the first to ski from Everest's summit, and Laura Bakos, the first woman to ski from an 8000-meter peak. It intertwines the personal story of the Marolt brothers, sons of Olympic skier Max Marolt, who grew up in Aspen, Colorado, before it became a renowned ski destination. The documentary was shown at various film festivals and was later acquired by ESPN for broadcast in 2011.
Why Watch
- •See Mike and Steve Marolt's historic ski descents.
- •Meet Olympic skier John Callahan and his adventures.
- •Find out about the first ski descent from Everest's summit.
Did You Know
•Mike and Steve Marolt skied from Shisha Pangma's summit in 2000.
•Fredrik Ericsson, featured in the film, died skiing on K2 in 2010.
•Laura Bakos was the first woman to ski from an 8000-meter peak.
•The film was shot over a span of ten years by Mike Marolt.
Perfect For
Extreme sports enthusiastsSkiing history buffsAdventure documentary fans