First descent terje haakonsen family

Should be a treat for snowboarding fans, but not for the rest of us

The best thing about "First Descent" is that it lives up to its promise from the trailer of "no wires", "no special effects", and "no stunt doubles".

Unfortunately, although this snowboarding documentary is occasionally thrilling, it only skims the surface of its subject matter and manages to wear out its welcome by the time the end credits roll.

The primary fault of "First Descent" is that it is two movies in one, and neither is given enough time.

First descent terje haakonsen family

The first is a history of the sport since its conception. Intercut with this is the story of five snowboarders (Shawn Farmer, Terje Haakonsen, Nick Perata, Hannah Teter, and Shaun White) on a trip to Alaska to board down untouched powder in the Alaskan mountains (these rides are called "first descents").

Thankfully, despite the fact that the movie is produced by MD Films,