“To score in Alaska, you must be present to win,” says pro skier Todd Ligare. And we’re presently at the edge of our seats watching his latest, insane ski edit, “Prototype.”
Press play on this flick, and hard-hitting rock and roll beats play as a bird’s-eye edit of Valdez, Alaska, ensues. Ligare is one small but mighty speck on the vast mountain range. No newby to the world of ski flicks, Ligare’s been a standout in Teton Gravity Research films for years. Now, his 2024 edit with Armada is a masterclass in drone piloting and rad skiing.
Set in Alaska, a dream destination for snow junkies, “Prototype” is practically begging us to book a flight up north. While the locale is ideal for so many reasons, Ligare explains that “filming in Alaska can be a tricky proposition, with small windows where good snow and clear weather coincide. In this case, Sammy Carlson and I capitalized on a golden moment: we arrived in Valdez on the tail end of a storm and were able to smash in a few sessions before a wind event came through and did a number on the snow quality.”
What immediately sets this edit apart is its unique drone footage. “It was the first time I had ever been out with an FPV Drone, and it was also the first time the pilot, Kadison Pelletier, had ever shot skiing,” says Ligare. “Calling the film ‘Prototype’ is a nod to the experimental nature of filming and editing this type of footage for the first time.” After going back and forth on whether or not to use FPV predominately, Ligare ultimately felt it immersed the viewer in the experience. In our professional opinion, he totally nailed it. But don’t just take our word for it. Check out this unique and inanely gorgeous edit for yourself.
From YouTube –
Follow the big-mountain legend Todd Ligare to Valdez, Alaska, for the culmination of a winter captured during a short but sweet trip with fortuitous weather, snow and stability that allowed the crew to attack little-explored terrain in ideal conditions. “There’s so much excitement rolling into these trips, and we show almost every single run we took. “Prototype” is a document of a magical window where everything came together.” – Todd Ligare
Edit: Jodie Stackhouse
Cinematography: Kadison Pelletier & Brody Jones
Photos: Daniel Stewart
