TRIBUTES TO WARREN MILLER

25th January 2018 | James Cove, PlanetSKI Editor

Last modified on November 23rd, 2022

The legendary and pioneering US ski film maker has died aged 93. Tributes are coming in. PlanetSKI looks at his life & legacy. UPDATED

The news was released in a statement after his death on Wednesday 24th January.

“We are saddened to share the news that our beloved Warren passed away peacefully at the age of 93 at his home on Orcas Island, WA.

While this is a time of profound loss, we are comforted that Warren’s life touched so many.

Warren made the extraordinary seem accessible, and his legacy of freedom, humor, and adventure endures through all of you.

Whether you saw his movies, read his books or met him on the slopes, he considered you to be part of his family.

Your love meant the world to him.

For those who are able, ski your favorite run or do something else you love in Warren’s memory.”

His wife Laurie commented: “This is a sad day during which we draw some comfort from the fact that Warren’s legacy of adventure, freedom and humor carries on in the countless lives he touched,” she was his wife of the past 30 years.

“Warren loved nothing more than sharing his life’s adventures and hearing literally every day from friends old and new about how his stories inspired others to enrich and enjoy their own lives. All of us are better for knowing and loving Warren.”

He was born in Los Angeles, California and developed a passion for skiing.

He made his first ski film in 1944.

When discharged from the navy after World War 2 he went to the ski resort of Sun Valley in Idaho.

He camped in a van and worked as a ski instructor – the ultimate ski bum.

He began filming other ski instructors.

In the summer he moved back to the coast to surf and took his 8mm camera with him.

His passion for filming devleoped and he honed his skills.

In 1949, Miller founded Warren Miller Entertainment and began a long-standing tradition of producing one full-length film per year.

Here is the first one:

1950 – Deep and Light:

1988 – Escape to Ski:

Trailers to Sixteen of Warren Millers movies:

The rest, as they say, is history.

Everyone out there now making videos, and who isn’t, owes some debt of gratitude to Warren Miller.

He was the first.

In 1988 he sold the company with his name and later was involved in a long-running and bitter court case as he became involved with making ski films again.

Warren Miller court case dismissed.

Warren Miller was inducted into the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame in 1995.

He was awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards from the International Skiing History Association in 2004 and from the California Ski Industry Association in 2008.

Tributes To Warren Miller:

One of the greatest moments of my life was when I heard Warren Miller say my name in one of his movies. It still gives me chills. His impact on my life and many skiers lives cannot be overstated. He will be remembered forever. RIP to the legend. pic.twitter.com/MdGLmChtCu
— Cody Townsend (@codytownsend) January 25, 2018

Facebook reaction to PlanetSKI tribute

And his most famous phrase?

RIP Waren Miller, 1924 – 2018.

Here at PlanetSKI we also like this one:
“If you are a better skier at 60, than you were at 16. It just goes to show, you weren’t very good at 16”.

Warren Miller is survived by his wife, three children and one stepchild.