Footage of a helicopter dropping a skier atop a precariously steep mountain is a staple in the ski movie industry. But you won’t see such shots in Presence: 40 Days in Greenland. That’s because this expedition of professional skiers from Japan powers itself on the legs, arms and determination of its members. The crew kayaks through the glassy waters of Greenland’s remote and lovely fjord country, seeking lines down the towering mountains that rise from the waters. When they find what they’re looking for, they haul themselves up steep, rugged crags and drop from the tops in quicksilver descents. What these skiers find is that the time, planning and effort that goes into every brutal step to the top just makes each line skied more precious.
—Katie Klingsporn