Harvard Ski Coach Assails Killy For Use of United Airlines Film

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

I took great pains in explaining to Jean-Claude Killy's manager, the man responsible for the Friday night show, what type of crowd I expected to get and made recommendations, as a variety of films were available. I anticipated an audience comprised mostly of students who would have a thorough knowledge of skiing, and an extreme sensitivity to commercialization. With these facts in mind, the films were specially picked out for us. Killy's man behind the scenes described the films as running 45 minutes each in length, and of such high quality that he felt them better than the beautiful Summit Films Production, "Ski the Outer Limits." The film we all saw at the show on Friday night was undoubtedly the worst ski movie I've ever seen, and as I can not think of even one redeeming aspect, I have no idea how anyone could sincerely recommend the movie, much less rave enthusiastically about it.

Yet I think those people with the show were sincere, incredibly naive, not unlike myself, but nonetheless, sincere. Of course they had no trouble interpreting the mood of the crowd, and were extremely surprised. They couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe they did not have the same audience reaction everywhere they went, but apparently on college campuses in the Midwest and in non-skiing regions they were enthusiastically received (even after the show).

I think Ann Black, a panel member and ex-U. S. National Team skier, expressed the feeling of most of the audience in asking Killy, "Does this film accurately represent what you feel skiing is all about Is this being one with nature?" It is frightening and depressing to learn that so many people, and I am sorry to have to include Killy here, think this is so. I have successfully managed to ignore the reality of this attitude in the past, and hope it does not take me long to forget about in the future, for I love the sport, and wish to remain involved with it.Harvard Ski Coach

[The film was sponsored by United Airlines and showed several scenes of a United Jet.-Ed.]