{{short description|1997 comedy film about snowboarding}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = Snowboard Academy | image = Snowboard_Academy.jpg | writer = Rudy Rupak<br />James Salisko | starring = {{plain list| * Corey Haim * Jim Varney * Brigitte Nielsen * Joe Flaherty }} | director = John Shepphird | producer = Rudy Rupak | distributor = Columbia TriStar Home Video | released = {{film date|1997|10|28}} | runtime = 88 min | music = Ross Vannelli | language = English | budget = | gross = }}
'''''Snowboard Academy''''' is a 1997 independent slapstick comedy film directed by John Shepphird and starring Corey Haim, Jim Varney and Brigitte Nielsen.
==Plot== A competition is held between two brothers on their father's ski slopes; one is a skier, the other a snowboarder. The competition would determine if snowboarders could be allowed to be a part the ski patrol. Into the scene arrives Rudy James who stumbles his way into a job as ski patrol, entertainment host, and jack of all trades. What was cut out of the film was that Rudy James was hired by Mimi to ineptly sabotage the ski hill so that she could win it in a divorce proceeding. The two brothers discover her plot to damage their father's ski hill.
== Locations == ''Snowboard Academy'' was shot on location in Chantecler Ski Resorts, which is part of the Laurentides in the city of Sainte-Adele, Quebec. Shooting lasted 20 days. Additional stunt footage was shot in Squaw Valley Ski Resort, California.<ref name="Senn"/> Stunts were shot and coordinated by Michael Roban.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
In a 2005 interview, the lead actor Corey Haim reminisced that the filming of Snowboard Academy was the "hardest to hit my mark on".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Bierly |first1=Mandi |title=Remembering Corey Haim |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/03/10/corey-haim-memoriam/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=10 March 2010 |access-date=11 February 2023 |archive-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211084333/https://ew.com/article/2010/03/10/corey-haim-memoriam/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Reception == ''Snowboard Academy'' is one of the first films to feature snowboarding, which at that time was a burgeoning craze.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heath |first1=Paul |title=Best Sports Movies to Watch This Winter |url=https://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2023/01/03/best-sports-movies-to-watch-this-winter/ |website=The Hollywood News |date=3 January 2023 |access-date=11 February 2023 |archive-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211084334/https://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2023/01/03/best-sports-movies-to-watch-this-winter/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The movie was not released to general critical acclaim, with reviews best summarised by TV Guide, who stated the film is a "limp ski resort comedy".<ref>{{cite web |title=Snowboard Academy Reviews |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/snowboard-academy/review/2030102365/ |website=TV Guide |access-date=11 February 2023 |archive-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211084333/https://www.tvguide.com/movies/snowboard-academy/review/2030102365/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A more positive review was published by ''OnSnow'', which stated that it contained "everything a good snowboard movie needs".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Cassi |title=Movie Review of 'Snowboard Academy' |url=https://www.onsnow.co.uk/MovieReviewOfSnowboardAcademy.html |website=OnSnow |date=28 September 2012 |access-date=11 February 2023 |archive-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211165621/https://www.onsnow.co.uk/MovieReviewOfSnowboardAcademy.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, it was panned in the book "Ski Films: A Comprehensive Guide" in a full page review that gave the film two stars, and described the film as "Ernest goes skiing."<ref name="Senn">{{cite book |last1=Senn |first1=Brian |title=Ski Films: A Comprehensive Guide |date=2022 |publisher=McFarland |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |isbn=9781476672199 |page=201}}</ref> Scott Weinberg of eFilmCritic panned the film's "pathetically broad humor and amazingly atrocious filmmaking technique."<ref name="weinberg">{{cite web |last1=Weinberg |first1=Scott |title=Snowboard Academy |url=http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=9585&reviewer=128 |website=eFilmCritic |access-date=17 February 2023 |archive-date=21 September 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040921130742/http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=9585&reviewer=128 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Snowboard Academy}} Category:1996 films Category:1996 comedy films Category:1996 American films Category:1996 English-language films Category:1990s teen comedy films Category:American skiing films Category:American teen comedy films Category:English-language teen comedy films Category:Snowboarding films