First Descent
Release Date:
December 2, 2005
Limited release
First Descent is a documentary/drama that looks at some of the early pioneers of snowboarding, including Shawn Farmer, Nick Perata and Terie Haakonsen. Along with these icons of the sport, two superstar phenoms of the current generation, Shaun White and Hannah Teter, will be along for the ride. The five all head to the mountains of Alaska, where they'll attempt their sport on some of the most difficult natural terrain in the world.
Each one of the five boarders has different reasons for the journey. Perata and Farmer both are hoping to find out if they "still have it". Haakonsen is looking to add one more "Big Mountain" to his growing list. White and Teter, meanwhile, are going to be attempting their first Big Mountain ride ever. All of the snowboarders are looking to accomplish a monster feat by attempting their sport on powder never before forged by anyone in their sport.
The film intersperses footage from the '80s and '90s, as snowboarding broke out along with accounts from famous and not-so-famous riders. Additionally, it will feature some newly filmed scenes from big winter contests. As the five snowboarders go up to their first descent from the mountain, they share stories and discuss lifestyles that have come from their participation in one of the fastest growing extreme snowsports in the world. (Kim Hollis/BOP)