The Red Bench Speaker Series and Head 2 Head present Vermont’s first film screening of Spider Lives, Thursday, September 26th at 6:30 PM at the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum.
“Spider Lives” is a documentary about Spider Sabich, an American alpine ski racer and member of the US Ski team in the 1960’s. The film chronicles Sabich’s historic career trajectory from small town racing phenom to Olympian; from World Cup winner to 2-time World Pro Tour champion, including his epic season-long battle with triple Olympic gold medalist Jean-Claude Killy for the 1973 Pro title, which came down to the final weekend on the slopes of Spider’s hometown of Aspen.
At 31 years old, Spider was at the peak of his influence as ski racing’s premier ambassador in America when he was tragically killed at his home in Aspen, Colorado in 1976.
Filmmakers, Christin Cooper, Mark Tache, Mike Hundert, and Hayden Scott were intent on bringing Spider’s story to life in a short video slated for his US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame induction. With an outburst of support, they received family photos, film clips, historic race footage, and cherished stories. Becoming more than a short video, this film takes you on a journey into the earlier years of ski racing; packed with interviews of those who lived it. “The film ended up being about a lot of things, not just a charismatic ski racer and sport,” says Cooper, “It’s kind of about how character matters, and generosity of spirit, which Spider had in spades. A lot of people were inspired by Spider, and we can still endeavor to conduct ourselves as he did. If just a few viewers are inspired to do that by this film, then Spider lives.” Spider Sabich was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of fame posthumously on April 8, 2022.
Joining us for a post film discussion is Tyler Palmer. From North Conway, NH, Tyler is a 2-time World Cup slalom winner, 1972 Olympian, and multi-WPS race winner in the tour’s Bob Beattie World Pro Ski Tour heydey. He went on to a career in insurance and ski coaching, including at Attitash and a decade out West with the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. Tyler was inducted into the US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2011.
Tyler and Spider were US teammates, close friends, and competitors and appears in the film.
Doors to the Museum open at 6:00 PM and guests are invited to enjoy the exhibits and socialize. The film begins at 6:30 PM. Tickets for this special intimate Red Bench event will be sold in advance and will be capped at 75 seats.
Thank you Red Bench Speaker Series sponsors, Schoeller Textil, rk Miles, Sisler Builders, and Vermont Ski + Ride.
