Warren Miller, one of the original patriarchs of snowsports, known for fiercely advocating for the outdoors and his globally-acclaimed ski filmmaking, died at 93 years old on Wednesday at his home on Orcas Island, Washington.
With heavy hearts, Warren Miller Entertainment confirmed the skiing legend’s death on Thursday morning.
“The unsurmountable loss of the pioneer of the Warren Miller brand, father of ski filmmaking, and one of skiing’s greatest ambassadors is a loss to the industry,” according to a statement by the company.
Miller’s first time on skis was at age 13, when he was with his Boy Scout troop leader at Mount Waterman, outside of Los Angeles, in 1937. He purchased his first pair of skis and bamboo poles for $2, earned on his paper routes, according to WME.
Witty and adventure-seeking, Miller went on to produce more than 500 films centered on winter and water sports, and wrote around 1,200 columns and 11 books. His first film in 1950 was Deep and Light. His last in 2017 was Line of Descent.
Miller once said, “A pair of skis are the ultimate transportation to freedom.”
Teton Gravity Research’s brothers Todd and Steve Jones appeared in Miller’s film Endless Gravity, after Miller had left the company.
“Warren was an absolute legend and a true ski bum at heart,” Todd Jones said. “He never veered from what he believed in and thought was right. He was also one of the best storytellers in the world.