21 Best Snowboarding Documentaries [Exciting & Inspiring!]

Caution all winter sports fans – this post contains some of the best snowboarding documentaries and films to get your adrenaline pumping!

Especially if you’re preparing for a snowy slope adventure, watching snowboarding documentaries is a good way to kill time while counting the days before your trip. 

But you don’t necessarily need to be a snowboarder to enjoy these films.

Thrill seekers or not, they offer a ‘winter wonderland’ through iconic riding landscapes and the dreamiest backcountry terrain. 

Despite making hearts thump like a rodeo, you can still enjoy these movies with your whole family – imagine the oohs and aahs along the way!

So grab your crew, wind down with some popcorn and beer and let’s check out your weekend binge.

best snowboarding documentaries

21 Best Snowboarding Documentaries

1. The Art of Flight 

2. The King Snow Movie

3. Stronger

4. R.P.M (Revolutions Per Minute)

5. 28 Winters

6. Perceptions

7. Offline

8. Unbroken

9. Method Movie 3

10. The Spark Within

11. As the Crow Flies

12. Ode to Muir

13. Full Moon

14. Let It Ride

15. Boom

16. The Crash Reel

17. Horgasm – A Love Story

18. That’s It That’s All (TITA)

19. Optimistic 

20. As The Crow Flies

21. The Spirit of Flatness

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best snowboarding documentaries

21 Best Snowboarding Documentaries

1. The Art Of Flight

The first best snowboarding documentaries is created by one of the most technologically advanced storytellers in the world Curt Morgan and professional snowboarder Travis Rice, this movie provides beautiful scenery and a lot of fast action. 

Insane mountains, amazing birds-eye scenery, and the toughest to watch; all their terrible falls… they put a lot of work into it with all the amazing footage captured. This movie is regarded as one of the best snowboarding movies ever made. I couldn’t agree more.

2. The King Snow Movie

I think snowboarders’ back is made of steel, thanks to this movie. They raise the snowboarding bar higher at legendary street spots, roofs, and railings – a groundbreaking ride with stunning visuals.

If you’re ready for all the oohs and ahhs with your buddies, this is the movie for you. 

3. Stronger

If you’re an avid snowboarder recovering from an injury, I would say this movie will get you pumped to heal up and get back out riding.

Deemed among the best snowboard movies, Stronger features legends like Travis Rice, Kazu Kokubo, Gigi Rüf, and Scott Stevens. They are incredible, and this, their team film, is probably the best team film ever made.

4. R.P.M (Revolutions Per Minute)

Check out R.P.M. if you’re interested in checking out ‘90s snowboarding movies. Many big names in snowboarding and skateboarding from the early ’90s make cameo appearances in this road trip film.

The soundtrack features a range of styles, from smooth and soulful to funk and a more rough feel from the bands Dead Kennedys, Super Suckers, Monster Magnet, and Afghan Whigs.

5. 28 Winters

Winter is more than just cold, short, dark days. Some people live for the winter and all the fun things it brings. 

28 Winters shows the history, the team, and the current state of Nitro Snowboarding through the many different personalities of the Nitro family, who all got into snowboarding in different ways.

Still, they’ve all come to the same conclusion: snowboarding is an escape from reality about freedom, friends, and fun.

6. Perceptions

In this movie, Austrian snowboarder Gigi Rüf and his motley crew travel the world in search of the best snow, the biggest jumps, the gnarliest lines, and unique features.

From the streets of Russia and Canada to the mysterious forests of Japan, from the steepest mountains of India and Alaska to the endless possibilities of the European Alps and the spiritual slopes of Greenland – you will enjoy it as much as I did.

7. Offline

The title says it all. Another brilliant production by Nitro Snowboards, Offline, is about the Nitro team riders on a road trip through the United States to Alaska and Balkan Mountains.

There’s a lot of good old-fashioned resort snowboarding with friends. I even have a favorite quote from this movie – “It’s more than just snowboarding. It’s our escape back to reality”. 

If you have thought of stepping away from the screen and living in the moment, this film will push you to do it for real. 

8. Unbroken

Unbroken is another motivational documentary surrounding Mark McMorris, a famous Canadian snowboarder. After recovering for six months from a broken femur in 2016, Mark returned to his board to do what he loves.

But his career took another shocking turn for the worse in 2017 while the cameras were rolling.

Unbroken is a true story you couldn’t make up if you tried.

9. Method Movie 3

Method Movie 3 is the final film of the Method Movie trilogy, produced by Method Magazine (a European snowboard magazine).

The movie features a mix of crazy visuals and snowboarding on locations in Russia, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Poland, Japan, California, and Oregon.

Method has been at the forefront of European snowboard news for over two decades, moving with time and remaining relevant in the snowboarding scene until today. Check out Method Movie and Method Movie 2.

10. The Spark Within

Anna Gasser sees snowboarding as more than competing or riding in the park. She loves to snowboard on any surface on the streets or in the middle of nowhere in the backcountry.

From a snowboarding latecomer to an international superstar, let’s watch Anna in this action-packed documentary on snowboarding.

11. As The Crow Flies

Gigi Rüf and Elias Elhardt are two of the best all-mountain freestylers on the planet. In this classic film from Pirate Movie Productions, they team up to do round after round of amazing powerhouse shredding. 

Put on your seatbelt and let the dynamic duo take you on a trip through an old mountain ghost town and unforgettable action in Alaska – a trip you’ll never forget.

12. Ode to Muir

Ode To Muir starred professional snowboarder, adventurer, and founder of Protect Our Winters Jeremy Jones with two-time Olympian Elena Hight for a 40-mile trek deep into California’s John Muir Wilderness

Their journey combines the challenges of winter camping, hard climbs up the sierra’s biggest mountains, and beautiful first descents with personal reflections on the importance of the natural world and the people who first traveled it many years ago. 

13. Full Moon

Beautifully shot, Full Moon is a snowboarding film that showcases the talents of some of the top female riders in the world. The film is more than just a showcase of spectacular riding; it also tells the backstory of its leading actors.

This film is about the incredible journey of some of the world’s best female snowboarders as they overcome obstacles on their way to the top. It took place over the course of two years to film. 

Expect thought-provoking interviews, breathtaking riding, and a hip soundtrack. The scene in which the motorcyclists are in the wilderness is quite exciting.

Full Moon is an excellent film to see if you want to improve your snowboarding and gain insight into the sport’s business.

best snowboarding documentaries

14. Let It Ride

If you’re a snowboarding pioneer Craig Kelly fan, you must watch this film. I’d say it’s not too much to claim that Craig helped shape the sport into what it is today.

Sadly in 2003, while guiding, another group accidentally triggered an avalanche, which claimed Craig’s life. However, the film covers 25 years and focuses on his rise to fame as a major figure in the snowboarding world.

The narrative opens with an account of his early life, when snowboarding was still green and how he contributed to popularising the sport. The film covers his competitive achievements and his rise to snowsports legend status.

15. Boom

Nitro Snowboards and Red Bull teamed up to create Boom. What’s great about this movie is you won’t see anything serious about snowboarding. It’s pure fun and excitement. It highlights the thrill and elation of snowboarding.

Even though big business names are in the movie, it doesn’t look expensive. It was made on purpose to look rough because not all of the jumps are perfect. In other words, watching Boom will make you feel confident about riding.

16. The Crash Reel

The Crash Reel came out in 2013 and is a classic and epic snowboarding movie. It shows how Kevin Pearce worked hard to become the best snowboarder in the world by competing in snowboarding.

On his way to the top, Kevin has to compete with his rivals and struggle with a serious injury. His fights on the mountain are shown up close. It also shows how he got back on his feet after a huge crash left him with brain damage.

Kevin’s determination to rise back to the top makes for an emotional and interesting snowboarding movie.

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17. Horgasm – A Love Story

Horgasm is a happy-go-lucky, funny, good-times rollercoaster that looks into the life of record-setting snowboarder Torstein Horgmo

best snowboarding documentaries

Let’s see the world of snowboarding that has changed from a small hobby to a multi-billion dollar industry through Torstein’s eyes as he travels the world to film beautiful places or compete in the Olympics in front of tens of thousands of thousands of people. 

The movie goes beyond the fun, friends, and good times to show you the pressures, highs, and lows that have made Torstein who he is.

18. That’s It That’s All (TITA)

Travis Rice is among the best snowboarders of all time. In this film, he travels the world with his dream squad to find the best terrain, the ideal trick, and a new snowboarding viewpoint. 

best snowboarding documentaries

TITA shows Travis’ enthusiasm for his Jackson backyard (he was raised near Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wilson, Wyoming) and marking the world’s top places. It’s one of the best snowboarding films on YouTube, hands down!

19. Optimistic

An adrenaline-fueled film that stars three-time world champions Danny Davis, Wolle Nyvelt, and Nicolas Müller. Optimistic features backcountry heliboarding and urban snowboarding with an old-school soundtrack and wonderful retro music. 

best snowboarding documentaries

Watch some creative street snowboarding done in the classic style – a perfect way to unwind and reminisce after a long day on the slopes.

20. As The Crow Flies

As The Crow Flies features Gigi Rüf, Elias Elhardt, Kazu Kokubo, and Toni Kerkela on a mission to Japan, Alaska, Italy, and Sweden. 

best snowboarding documentaries

This masterpiece is one of the best snowboard videos ever shot, with several scenes guaranteed to send shivers down your spine as you watch snowboarders speed down sheer cliff faces.

It also delves into the snowboarding subculture’s deeper meanings and spiritual practices.

21. The Spirit of Flatness

In this gorgeously shot but somewhat slow-moving documentary, filmmakers investigate snowboarding in Finland, home to some of the world’s flattest terrain.

best snowboarding documentaries

Watch as snowboarders Janne Lipsanen, and Axel Thelen prove whoever says ‘flat is boring. Truly Finnish, they even go ice fishing for dinner during break time.

Best Snowboarding Documentaries On Netflix

Well… Netflix used to air pure snowboarding movies, but not anymore. But NDG Cinema (Nuit de la Glisse) has produced five multi-sport adventure films that feature extreme athletes at their peak: Addicted to Life, Don’t Crack Under Pressure I, II, III, and Magnetic.

Big-mountain skiing and snowboarding, wingsuit jumping, kiteboarding, surfing, and freediving… these athletes push themselves to their utmost in the harshest environments.

Although the actions of snowboarders flicking over mountains and rooftops are technically the same, they are still… different. For some reason, each movie is unique, and watching them repeatedly is therapeutic despite the heart-stopping tricks and flips.  

Since we are here, check out Amy Purdy, the most decorated Paralympic snowboarder in U.S. history and a three-time Paralympic Medalist. At 19, Amy had a condition that gave her less than a 2% chance of survival.

She lost both legs and one kidney, but today, Amy and her husband train athletes with disabilities in action sports.

You will have opened doors to many opportunities with a positive outlook and a never-give-up attitude. So… what’s stopping you?

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21 Best Snowboarding Documentaries

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