Thursday, December 7th 2006, is a date that needs to be recorded in history. On this day, Tough Guy Productions rolled through town premiering their new freeheel ski film, Open Windows. With an all-star cast including freeheel greats like Jason West, Charlie Cannon, Dylan Crossman, Cody Smith, Andy Jacobson and Josh Madsen, this film will be one to add to the home library and revisit again and again each season.

Directed by, Stephane Riendeau, and hosted by, Lorenzo Worster, Open Windows was originally filmed to be cut into 15 minute segments or so, for television, but for the tour it has been pieced together in such a way that it weaves a story of open window opportunities as Stephane follows freeheel skiing athletes from J-Hole, the Sierra Nevadas, Utah, Alaska, and Colorado. There is also footage from last year’s Telemark Free Skiing Championships in Crested Butte as well as highlights from the Reno-Tahoe Freeheel Open rail jam, where Simon Winchell-Manning walked away with the title.

Riendeau’s modern freeheel documentary showcases every type of freeheel skiing you could imagine, and lends the viewer a taste of the direction that freeheel skiing will be taking in the future; a direction that many of us have been waiting to see taken for years. It’s almost as if freeheel skiing is cool again after watching this movie; at least to the non-freeheeler. But I also feel that to the non-freeheeler, Riendeau’s film will strike a note with them as well. Open Windows delves just enough into freeheel culture so as not to bore the viewer, but rather makes their mouth water just enough and then leaves them wanting more, wanting to get out on freeheel skis themselves and start charging.

Overall, Open Windows is one of the best put-together telemark ski movies I have seen yet. Stephane has set a standard with Open Windows; the way it flows, the choice of music for each segment, the effort put into editing the film, and most importantly not overdoing any one thing too much or staying in one place too long. Egos were not created or highlighted in this film. Instead, a window was opened into the hearts, lives, and loves of freeheel skiers for the viewer’s pleasure. Bottom line, take every open window opportunity that comes available to you and make the most of it, because that opportunity may only be there for a split second.

Be sure to watch for Open Windows on you local RSN network starting in early 2007, as the documentary will be aired regularly. For more information, also check out Tough Guy Production’s website: Tough Guy Prod