Have you ever wondered which ski resorts feature in your favourite ski films? We have! So, we decided to research four iconic films that you need to watch in order to get your alpine fix.
James Bond – The World Is Not Enough
James Bond films are synonymous with extreme sports and specifically iconic ski scenes. There’s going off-piste then there’s going off-piste 007 style. Pierce Brosnan stars in the film ‘The World Is Not Enough’ filmed in 1999 in the world-class resort of Chamonix in France.
If you haven’t seen this classic Bond film here is the summary of the ski scene. Bond and his accomplice drop from a helicopter onto the mountain to leisurely enjoy the Les Grands Montets freeride area in the ski region. However, to their surprise, four attacking paragliders meet them. What follows are typical scenes in any Bond film, a thrilling action-packed chase.
During the filming period, Chamonix experienced an unprecedented amount of avalanche warnings and catastrophes. The 150-person crew and filming helicopters actually helped with the rescue effort.
Heavy snow and avalanche warnings challenged the crew. As a result of this, the filming overran by 5 days and some close-up scenes had to be followed up two months later.
They shot the film over 20 years ago and the technology was not as innovative as what’s available now. The crew had to ensure the winterised cameras would work in the sub-zero conditions. So to test this, the videographers experimented with leaving them in the British Airways refrigerators at Heathrow overnight.
Chamonix is home to some of the finest skiing in the Alps that you will not want to miss out on. It boasts a ski area of 150km and the highest altitude reaches an impressive 3,840m. It is a close ski resort to Geneva and can be considered a snow-sure ski region all season long.
Chalet Girl
Chalet Girl is a British rom-com set in the ski resort St. Anton in Austria and is a firm favourite with ex-seasonnaires.
The film focuses on the main character, Kim. Kim has never skied, snowboarded, or even been to the Alps before. She decides to take the plunge and accepts a chalet girl job. Being a former skateboarding champion, she hopes to immerse herself seamlessly into the lifestyle.
Despite this, she feels out of her depth and is met by another chalet girl who initially gives a frosty welcome. At first, the pair don’t get on, being from different backgrounds and outlooks. However, as the story develops, the two warm to one another. All while Kim takes an attraction to the chalet owner’s son, Jonny.
Kim explores what the resort has to offer, rubbing shoulders with locals and getting involved with legendary après. Which are some of the best in Austria.
The film follows Kim and her efforts to perfect her snowboarding skills. She practices her turns with a local snowboarder who persuades her to enter a competition to win €25,000. Viewers get to watch her explore the ski region of St. Anton, which is part of the huge Arlberg ski area.
St. Anton has everything you would want in a ski resort. The resort can be reached by three airports in under two and a half hours’. It is regarded as one of the snowiest areas in Europe. The ski area of Arlberg totals a mammoth 305km and has slopes suitable for every type of skier. The village itself has all the amenities any non-skier would look for and some of the best spa wellness centres you will find in Austria.
Bridget Jones – The Edge of Reason
Bridget Jones is a household name you will know when it comes to iconic romantic comedies. The Edge of Reason is the sequel to the infamous Bridget Jones’s Diary. The film follows the clueless actress to the ski resort of Lech, Austria, where she had been invited on a ski holiday with her boyfriend. As she ponders her relationship at the top of the steep ski slope, she comes to the realisation that she could be pregnant.
Bridget, an obvious beginner, is alone and left to her own devices on the slopes. She proceeds to chaotically tear down the slope, involuntarily entering an official slalom event. To our surprise, she beats the participating skiers due to her rolling (or falling) start. This celebration is very short-lived as she is hurtling at top speed to the end of the slope, where onlookers frantically make way for Bridget as she hasn’t grasped stopping.
Conveniently she skis into the nearby village, and directly into the pharmacy where she purchases a pregnancy test. A hilarious exchange occurs because, in the ski resort of Lech, locals speak German and to their confusion can’t quite understand what she needs to purchase.
When you are not hurtling oneself down ski slopes at top speed, Lech has some of the best cruisy ski slopes in Europe. The ski area reaches an altitude of 2,811m and you can admire fantastic views of the valleys below. Being part of the Arlberg ski region, Lech is encompassed by 305km of varied runs, ideal if you are travelling in mixed-ability groups. Lech is a short 2-hours’ drive from three airport hubs, making it a great ski resort for a weekend trip.
Eddie the Eagle
The final film is Eddie the Eagle, which tells the story of the most famous British skier. Eddie has the dream to compete in the Olympics, regardless of what sport. The viewers follow Eddie with his initial dream of entering the summer Olympics, but that swiftly changes in favour of the winter Olympics, as it is easier to be accepted into the British team.
Rather hilariously we watch as Eddie teaches himself how to ski jump. He arrives at a training facility in Germany to the disgust of the more seasoned ski jumpers. However, he is not deterred from his end goal, despite the hostile welcome. His tenacious spirit perseveres and he successfully increases his jump length each practice.
The resort where Eddie develops his skills is Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany and is famous for its countless major events and annual World Cup competitions. Garmisch-Partenkirchen has a high-altitude glacial ski area and 40km of runs to suit all abilities. The ski resort is traditionally Bavarian, with beautiful slope-side huts offering hearty stews and schnitzel.
You may also notice some of the scenes are filmed in the beautiful Austrian ski resort of Seefeld. Seefeld is a traffic-free ski resort, the only form of transport is horse-drawn sleigh.
The ski resort is perfect for beginners and intermediate skiers, it has 27km of pistes with mainly blue and red runs. Seefeld is a short distance (under 1-hour transfer!) from Salzburg airport. Seefeld is a fantastic ski resort for a ski holiday, especially if you are looking to become an Eddie Eagle character yourself.
