https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/402dc1f7-3c1b-4a59-8215-58f34880aa3e Help us preserve, scan and post more rare and endangered films on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddem5RlB3bQe99wyY49g0g/join Website: www.PeriscopeFilm.com This film produced by Rodney Jacobs and Freewheelin' Films (https://freewheelinfilms.net/) "Pro Spree / The Story of World Pro Skiing" covers the opening of the 1978-79 World Pro Skiing season with the prestigious $80,000 Budweiser Pro Spree in Aspen, Colorado. It was presented by Budweiser. Host Bob Biatti introduces the top athletes in the sport, including defending world champion Andre Arnold, veteran Josef Odermatt, comeback hopeful Hank Kashiwa, and others. The competition unfolds over three disciplines: downhill, giant slalom, and slalom. Walter Tresch wins the downhill event with a precise run, while Andre Arnold dominates the giant slalom and slalom, defeating strong competitors like Odmat and Cashwa. With consistent top finishes, Arnold emerges as the overall leader and favorite to retain his World Pro Skiing Championship title. The film also highlights the sport’s rapid growth since 1970, with expanded prize money and participation from over 1,200 professional racers. 0:00 – Main titles. Host Bob Biatti introduces professional ski racing as a global, high-stakes sport combining speed, skill, and courage. 1:04 – Explanation of how slalom and giant slalom races work, emphasizing the pressure of two-run formats and head-to-head competition. 1:32 – The season begins with the $80,000 Budweiser Pro Spree in Aspen, Colorado – the richest pro ski event at the time. 1:56 – Introduction of key racers including Andre Arnold (defending champion), Josef Odermatt (seasoned contender), Hank Kashiwa (comeback from injury), Tyler Palmer, Werner Bliner, Jim “Jungle Jim” Hunter, and Walter Tresch. 3:49 – Race structure is compared to a tennis ladder, with 32 qualifiers narrowing to a single winner. 4:05 – Start technique is crucial in pro racing, often determining the winner by hundredths of a second. 4:19 – Jumps are a defining feature of pro skiing, challenging racers’ control and offering spectators thrilling visuals. 5:38 – The downhill event begins at Buttermilk Mountain. 32 racers qualify; top 16 advance to the final run. 6:22 – Jim Hunter clocks 57.366 in his second run and takes the lead. 7:31 – Andre Arnold struggles and finishes with 58.000, failing to take the lead. 8:18 – Swiss skier Walter Tresch delivers a strong performance and wins the downhill event with 57.235, earning $5,750. 9:34 – Attention shifts to the Giant Slalom at Aspen Highlands. Andre Arnold dominates the elimination rounds. 10:00 – In the final, Arnold defeats Joseph Odmat with a strong first run, gaining a 0.618 second lead. 10:43 – In the second run, Odmat wins but not by enough to overcome Arnold’s earlier margin. Arnold wins the Giant Slalom and $6,750. 11:45 – The slalom event begins back at Buttermilk with strong competition and unpredictable upsets. 12:20 – Hank Cashwa shows impressive focus and advances to the finals to face Andre Arnold. 12:34 – In the first slalom run, Arnold edges out Cashwa by 0.568 seconds. 13:16 – In the second run, Cashwa gets a strong start but Arnold maintains the lead and wins the slalom event and another $6,750. 14:00 – Andre Arnold wins the combined title, taking slalom, giant slalom, and finishing 5th in the downhill — putting him far ahead in the season standings. 14:20 – Background on the growth of World Pro Skiing since 1970, now involving 1,200 pro racers and much larger prize pools. 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