Behind the Lens: Filming Extreme Sports from Tahoe to the Summit of Denali
Why Wild Locations Fuel the Best Adventure Stories The world’s most remote and rugged environments aren’t just beautiful—they’re unpredictable, breathtaking, and you need to earn your keep. That’s exactly why I’ve spent my career filming in places like Lake Tahoe and Alaska. From documenting ski descents off Denali’s 20,310-foot summit to navigating the icy waters with polar explorers, I’ve learned that the most powerful stories are born where nature pushes back.
The Lake Tahoe Connection — Where It All Began Lake Tahoe:
I was born and raised in Truckee, California—where winters meant ski boots before sneakers, and summers were spent barefoot in the forest. My parents were ski bums with grit: my mom, a ski instructor and teacher; my dad, a racer. We didn’t come from much, but we had everything that mattered—mountains, brothers to compete with, and the kind of backyard that taught you how to take a fall and get back up.
I didn’t grow up with a phone or a TV. I grew up with tree forts made of scrap wood, river crossings, and pickup baseball games in the fading alpine light. That foundation shaped how I see the world today—as a place to explore, capture, and protect.
Even now, after 40 polar expeditions and filming on all seven continents, Tahoe remains my compass. It’s where I return to recharge, reconnect, and remember why I started telling stories in the first place. From Denali’s summit to the heart of the Amazon, everything I’ve ever created began with that first breath of cold mountain air in Tahoe.
Filming the First Disabled Ski Descent of Denali
In 2021, I joined a life-changing expedition—filming the first-ever disabled ski descent of Denali alongside athletes Vasu Sojitra and Pete McAfee, and with teammates Erich Roepke, Ted Hesser, and Ben Farrar. Our team of six had a combined total of ten legs.
At 20,310 feet, Denali is unforgiving. Every step was earned through altitude, exhaustion, and sub-zero temperatures. We hauled over 1,000 pounds of gear up the West Buttress Route, filming as we climbed and capturing every critical moment on the descent. There were no second takes—only trust, timing, and the shared mission to redefine what’s possible in the world of skiing and beyond.
This wasn’t just another ski film. It was a story of representation, resilience, and adaptive excellence. The project, ultimately featured in Warren Miller’s Winter Starts Now, brought visibility to the power of inclusion in the mountains—and changed how I think about storytelling, teamwork, and what it means to summit together.
Working with BBC’s Life Below Zero in Remote Alaska Another unforgettable chapter of my Alaska filmmaking came in 2022, when I worked with the BBC’s Life Below Zero crew for 3.5 weeks in the interior village of Huslia. We followed Ricko DeWilde and his kids during their first-ever moose hunt, filming daily in raw conditions that tested every ounce of endurance and patience. As the on-site cinematographer and DIT specialist, I had to manage delicate camera systems in snowstorms while capturing intimate family moments.
The experience reminded me why Alaska is such a powerful canvas: it’s wild, vast, and alive with stories. That project aired globally on National Geographic and helped elevate my approach to working with legacy networks and high-end field production crews.
On Expedition with Mike Horn and Børge Ousland Alaska also brought me aboard a sailboat expedition with legendary explorers Mike Horn and Børge Ousland as they launched their historic North Pole Crossing. I was part of the expedition film crew during a critical training phase in Alaska. Documenting the planning and execution behind one of the most daring Arctic crossings of our time gave me a front-row seat to human ambition in its rawest form.
Why Filmmaking in Harsh Conditions Matters Whether it’s frozen lens glass at 14,000 feet or fogged-over drones in coastal storms, extreme environments expose weaknesses—both technical and personal. But they also sharpen your eye. When everything is stripped down to what’s essential, only the real story remains. That’s what I live for.
Final Thoughts: The Purpose Behind the Production
From the summit of Denali to the golden alpine light of Tahoe, extreme sports filmmaking isn’t just about documenting action—it’s about transformation. It’s about carrying a camera into wild, unrelenting places not just to capture what happens, but to be changed by it. The lens becomes a mirror. Every frame we bring back carries the weight of the journey, the grit of the team, and the quiet moments that reveal who we’re becoming. And if we’re lucky, those stories inspire others to step into the unknown—and come back with something deeper than before.
“At the edge of certainty lies the ‘Y’ in the road—where adventure ignites, kindred souls connect,
and we’re forged by the fire of discovery.” – Stein Retzlaff
Explore More. Go Deeper. Connect the Journey.
Want to Join the Next Expedition?
Beyond filmmaking, I’m here to help you create your next adventure-of-a-lifetime memory. My partners and I lead trips to the most remote corners of the Earth—from Antarctica to the Amazon, Indonesia, Svalbard to the South Pole. Whether you’re looking to collaborate on a film project, need guidance planning an expedition, or simply want to experience a transformative journey—I’m here to help shape something unforgettable.
→ Contact Me Directly — Let’s talk ideas, logistics, and what’s possible.
Explore more Stories
Discover the world through my eyes:
→ Mastering Cold-Weather Film Logistics
→ Filming in Antarctica with EYOS Expeditions
→ Arctic Wildlife Filmmaking: Svalbard Stories
Behind the Scenes with Stein Retzlaff
→ View the Antarctica Film Portfolio
→ Inside the Mosaic Studios Expedition Workflow
→ Why Antarctica Is the Ultimate Adventure Film Location
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