TGR Movies, a historical footnote

Was it a dozen years ago already? Anyway, back in 1996 I was doing some fund raising for the Grand Targhee Ski Team.  My friend Glen Gressly, owner of Tony’s Pizza and Pasta in Driggs, told me about a group of young guys over in Jackson who had just finished editing their first ski movie, The Contiuum. Glen, being the generous guy he is and a solid supported of our kids ski program offered to ask these guys, who were calling their company Teton Gravity Research, if they’d be willing to participate in a fund raiser for our ski team. I had previously contacted Warren Miller’s firm about holding a showing of his release for that year in Drigg’s only theater, but the math didn’t work out for a small town like Driggs.

Glen and I thought the Saturday night of Thanksgiving weekend would be a good night to hold a ski movie event in his restaurant because by then people would be looking for a break from turkey leftovers and there would be a fair number of skiers in town; college kids home on break, a few tourists taking advantage of Targhee’s early season skiing, and a new winter’s crop of ski bums.

Glen contacted the TGR crew and they were up for it, so we rented the biggest screen projection TV we could find and held the ski team’s first ever ski movie night fundraiser. Not only did TGR generously allow us to show their new film, but I think all the founding partners of TGR and some of the feature skiers in it, including Tommy Moe,  came over Teton Pass and joined in the party, which was very family oriented affair since we had several dozen young kid ski racers running around. One of whom was high schooler, and future ski movie superstar, Sage Cattabriga, at that time the oldest member of the Targhee Ski Team. I wonder if that night might have been a turning point for Sage in the focus of his skiing interest? He kept on racing, but I know I saw him trying more tricks on his jumps off the cornice that tops the Good, Bad, and Ugly runs at Targhee.

TGR sold copies of The Continuum, one to me that has a bunch of almost of legible autographs on its jacket.

Twelve years have seen a lot of growth for TGR, along with rumors of serious finacial troubles. Even though I  wish the growth in their buisness and technical skills was accomanied by an equal amount of growth in artistry, I’m vary happy for these local guys that have made good.

Oh, and Glen served up a very good dinner to all too. And the team had a lot of fun and made a few bucks..

Tags: Grand Targhee Ski Team, Sage Cattabriga, Ski Movies, Teton Gravity Research, TGR, The Continuum, Tommy Moe
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