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Award-Winning Film Celebrates Michigan’s Remarkable Skiing Legacy

Michigan’s story isn’t just about great skiing. It’s about where organized skiing in America took root.

That story comes to life in First Tracks: Michigan’s Skiing Legacy, an award-winning documentary that explores the people, places, and innovations that helped shape skiing in the United States. Produced as a MIsnow initiative with the support of the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association (MSIA), the film preserves our rich heritage while inspiring future generations to discover the joy of winter sports. 

This spring, First Tracks: Michigan’s Skiing Legacy received international recognition when it earned a Film Awardfrom the International Skiing History Association (ISHA), placing it alongside some of the world’s finest historical ski documentaries. The film was recognized for its outstanding contribution to preserving skiing’s historical record and sharing Michigan’s unique place in the history of the sport. 

The documentary follows Emma, a young student who discovers the incredible story of skiing in Michigan. Along the way, viewers learn how Scandinavian immigrants introduced skiing to the Upper Peninsula, how towering ski jumps and mining communities helped grow the sport, and why Ishpeming became the birthplace of organized skiing in America. The film also highlights Michigan’s remarkable innovations, including the Midwest’s first chairlift, early snowmaking advancements, and the invention of the Snurfer, the precursor to the modern snowboard. 

More than a history lesson, First Tracks celebrates the people whose passion for winter continues to make Michigan one of North America’s premier ski destinations. It reminds us that preserving our history is an essential part of building the future of skiing and snowboarding.

The project represents the shared mission of MIsnow and MSIA. MIsnow was created to preserve the past and protect the future of Michigan skiing by documenting our history, supporting youth participation, encouraging diversity and inclusion, promoting sustainability, and ultimately establishing a Michigan Ski and Snowboard Museum. MSIA proudly supported the creation of the film as part of its ongoing commitment to promoting and growing skiing and snowboarding throughout the state. 

Whether you’re a lifelong skier, a history enthusiast, or introducing someone to the sport for the first time, First Tracks: Michigan’s Skiing Legacy is a film that will leave you with a deeper appreciation for Michigan’s extraordinary place in skiing history.

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