latest Warren Miller ski film headed to Newburyport

With all the snow that fell in December, skiers and snowboarders have plenty to be excited about this winter. As the season progresses, riders at New England mountains will showcase sweet tail grabs, helicopters, twisters, double daffies and even spread eagles. Yes, the mighty spread eagle.

The Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport, Mass., is about to help winter athletes get even more stoked. The venue will show Warren Miller’s latest sports film on the afternoon and evening of Saturday, Jan. 5, filling skiers and boarders with visions of big air and deep powder. Miller’s latest documentary, “Playground,” which is billed as “the world’s largest action sports film,” comes to Newburyport as part of the annual Warren Miller film tour, which has unofficially kicked off each ski season since 1949. 

Although Miller is now in his 80s, the incredible athletes featured in his films are sill young and limber, able to execute dazzling tricks while soaring over snowy treetops and menacing, bare-faced cliffs. “Playground” features high definition footage of sportsmen riding at extreme locations around the world, including the unlikely destination of Ski Dubai, located within the Arabian Desert. One promotional photo depicts the incongruous image of two men riding camels through the desert with pairs of skis slung over their shoulders.

The film is narrated by Olympic gold medalist Jonny Moseley, an icon of the ski industry. It includes a segment with racing badass Bode Miller, and another with X-Games gold medalists Zach and Reggie Crist. Footage was shot at snow-covered peaks in Utah, Alaska, Sweden, British Columbia and elsewhere. There is also a snowboarding segment featuring the rare talents of the youthful Burton Smalls Team. The soundtrack includes heavy numbers from Queens of the Stone Age, Beastie Boys, Maroon 5 and others.

During its tour across the nation, “Playground” will run at a total of 190 cities, all on widescreen and in high definition. Warren Miller Entertainment’s 58th feature film has met with lukewarm reviews (The Phoenix gave it two and a half stars, but confessed that it was “exhilarating to watch”), but Miller projects rarely fail to pump up winter sports enthusiasts. Every year, his team of cameramen manages to capture some of the most daring feats and elating destinations in the world.

The film will be shown at 3 and 7 p.m. on Saturday at The Firehouse Center for the Arts, located in Newburyport’s Market Square. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and Firehouse members. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.firehouse.org or by calling 978-462-7336. Shows are likely to sell out.