The Story

A spark in the modern day ski industry began in a chalet in the Swiss alps in the 1970s. After leaving their homes to live together in a small chalet in the woods 700ft above Verbier, Switzerland (ski & in ski out only) a group of young skiers follow each other off the pistes and into some of the world’s most committing mountains.

This tight knit crew became known as Team Clambin after being featured in many ski
magazines & articles. Photographs from this self-sufficient ski commune beckoned skiing’s most influential personalities—ranging from John Eaves to Kit DesLauriers and Scot Schmidt—and spurred a pilgrimage.

“Clambin was about the collective good of the group, the strength of many contributing to a common goal. Love was free, and a revolving network of people arrived from all over the world”
– The Ski Journal 2001
Beyond the peaks, ”Clambin” is a tale of camaraderie. From triumphs to the loss of friends, this film tells the undiscovered story of the chalet’s residents and the events that shaped their lives for 15 years. The characters reflect on human experiences that transcend skiing and the complexities of the commercialization of the sport. Begging the question, can you be a ski bum forever?

A Freeskiing Story that has Never Been Told

While freeskiing is a young sport, its history is rich and compelling—defined by bold dreamers and visionaries. This documentary will help give a voice to the freeskiing movement and honor the many individuals that decided to defy the status quo, paving the foundation for where the sport is today.

This project resonates with generations, young and old. ”Clambin”, while set in the ‘80s, is a story full of themes and messages relevant today. More people are seeking the mountains in pursuit of snow, an unconventional lifestyle, and freedom. This film is a testament to those ideals and will continue to inspire the next generation of ski bums.

Main Characters

JohnFweb-624x414
THE GURU
John Falkiner
John Falkiner is an Australian/Swiss skier and mountain guide. Born and raised on a sheep farm on the old man plain...
1985_switzerland_0072akp
THE GODFATHER
Mark “Marko” Shapiro
Marko hails as the “Godfather” of freeski photography, having been one of the pioneers to document the movement of the 1970’s...
Ace Kvale
THE STORYTELLER
Ace Kvale
From the ski hills of Minnesota to the mountains of Telluride to the Alps. Ace Kvale came to Verbier seeking bigger mountains to ski...

SUPPORTING CHARACTERS

For 15 years, skiers from around the globe trekked to Verbier—lured by the mythical photos of Marko, Ace and John. High adventure skiing, incredible scenery, and ridiculously deep powder snow were the hallmark of Team Clambin. As a result, this cozy chalet was a revolving door to some of the sport’s most iconic talents.

In the press

News

Home Of Creativity

Home Of Creativity

YouTube 6/23/2022 Verbier is known worldwide for its skiing, freeriding, conviviality and contrasts. But the destination is also full of …
Meet John Falkner & Mark Shapiro in Verbier Switzerland

Meet John Falkner & Mark Shapiro in Verbier Switzerland

YouTube 02/07/2023 Falkner’s advice, “Keep on doing it, always look for something new, the run you haven’t done is the …
This Clambin team that changed the image of Verbier forever

This Clambin team that changed the image of Verbier forever

Besson Immobilier SA 01/18/2022 Once upon a time, there was Verbier and skiing. Let’s go back in time to the …
Team Clambin – John Falkiner and friends changing perceptions of skiing and Verbier

Team Clambin – John Falkiner and friends changing perceptions of skiing and Verbier

Mountain Aire 01/05/2018 Where do you start telling a story like this? The honest truth is that we are only …
Depth of Field – Mark Shapiro

Depth of Field – Mark Shapiro

POWDER 06/16/2021 Born in Toronto, Canada, Shapiro took his first photos at the age of seven when his grandfather gave …

Podcasts

LOOK & FEEL

Marko and Ace’s untapped vault of photographs from the period will be brought to life. This will be a key part in creating an immersive experience for the viewer.

POWDER magazine is providing access to their library in which there were multiple covers, articles and photo spreads.

John Falkiner has been a part of close to 80 films in his career; from Warren Miller to James Bond. We are planning to use all these sources; this will create an engaging multi-dimensional piece.

TONE: KISMET

Harnessing the power of nature to create a feeling of wonder and excitement, this film takes place in a world where mystery & magic exist.

Promotional Partners

Online Distribution Partners in UK, USA, Europe, Asia: The film will partner will key magazines for PR and marketing opportunities in key markets.

POWDER MAGAZINE

Online Distribution Partner

For over 50 years POWDER has been an essential component of the skiing lifestyle. After a short hiatus, POWDER has been uplifted with a refresh from The Arena Group regaining its place in the skiing community as the largest voice in the industry. POWDER is a key pillar of the Team Clambin story and joined us to distribute the film through their network of online platforms. This partnership will play an important role in amplifying the film across the skiing community.

 

THE ARENA GROUP

 

TOTAL MONTHLY USERS: 109 + MM

The Arena Group has enormous reach across multiple platforms and medias. This includes but is not limited to Sports Illustrated, Mens Journal, Surfer, Snowboarder and Powder Magazine and Transworld Skateboarding
Magazine

POWDER AT A GLANCE

 

MONTHLY TOTAL REACH: 3 MM

DIGITAL USERS: 2.1 MM

SOCIAL FOLLOWING: 792 K

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS 72K

PRODUCTION TEAM

dan-e
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Dan Egan
An award winner film and television producer, since the 1990’s. Egan’s productions have been featured ...
charlotte-p
DIRECTOR, PRODUCER
Charlotte Percle
Dancing between the world of action sports and documentaries, Charlotte has had a hand in some ..
tom-g
PRODUCER
Tom Grissom
After graduating film school from UCLA, Grissom embarked on a world-wide journey...

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John Falkiner

THE GURU

John Falkiner is an Australian/Swiss skier and mountain guide. Born and raised on a sheep farm on the old man plain in New South Wales, he ventured to Europe in the 1970’s. With Verbier as his new home base, he dedicated himself to skiing at all costs.

Around then, he connected with Mark and Ace, and together they sparked “Team Clambin” On top of competing all throughout Europe, he was ski stuntman on many films throughout the 70’s and 80’s including James Bond, A View to Kill. Additionally, he trained as a ski instructor, and examiner, race coach and finally followed his passion for the mountains to become an internationally certified UIAGM mountain guide.

Mark “Marko” Shapiro

THE GODFATHER

Marko hails as the “Godfather” of freeski photography, having been one of the pioneers to document the movement of the 1970’s. He’s blunt and has no filter. Coming from the flattest place on earth, Marko originally moved to Verbier from Toronto to work ‘ski bum jobs’ but photography would become his career.

During Clambin’s heyday, Marko’s photos graced seven Powder Magazine covers and continue to be printed worldwide. In the Powder Photo Annual of 1984, his photograph was captioned ‘Best Photo, Period’. His work encompasses a host of outdoor brands like K2, Scarpa The North Face & many more.

Ace Kvale

THE STORYTELLER

From the ski hills of Minnesota to the mountains of Telluride to the Alps. Ace Kvale came to Verbier seeking bigger mountains to ski and a thirst for adventure. He found it when he walked into a bar and met Mark Shapiro.

Ace became Marko’s go-to ski model and one of the original Clambin kids. Eventually Marko mentored Kvale who went on to become one of the top adventure photographers of his generation documenting the emerging world of freeskiing while joining climbing expeditions around the world and working with clients such as National Geographic, Patagonia, Marmot, The North Face, Nike, and many more.

Dan Egan

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

An award winner film and television producer, since the 1990’s. Egan’s productions have been featured on United Airlines, Discovery, ESPN and countless other outlets. He appeared in over 14 Warren Miller Films and is an Honored Member of the US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. He has covered 3 Olympic Games, 2 FIS World Championships, 2 ISAF World Sailing Championships and the 35th America’s Cup. His credits include “Ski Bum, the Warren Miller Story and his latest documentary features legendary UK footballer, Clyde Best.

Charlotte Percle

DIRECTOR, PRODUCER

Dancing between the world of action sports and documentaries, Charlotte has
had a hand in some of the world’s biggest ski movies & action sports events as of late— from TGR’s annual ski film to Red Bull Rampage, Charlotte has worked on everything from feature length films to same-day event coverage with clients like Red Bull, The North Face, Teton Gravity Research, the Freeride World Tour, and many more.

Tom Grissom

PRODUCER

After graduating film school from UCLA, Grissom embarked on a world-wide journey of making action sports films.  First with the legendary Warren Miller Entertainment Company in which he captured classic footage of the top extreme skiers of the 1980’s 90’s in places like Turkey, Alaska, Canada and beyond.  Known for his skiing skills, he carried the POV camera down the hardest downhill runs at Olympics and World Championships for CBS.

In the mid 1990’s major brands came calling for his talents from Jeep, Adidas, Nike and others for their television commercials and brands.    Grissom has been on the highest peaks and inside boardrooms with his signature attention to detail and flare for capturing the moment and emotions of athletes, brands and corporate executives.