Chris Anthony has worn a lot of hats during his quarter century as a professional skier. But the Warren Miller movie star’s most indelible role is in the classroom. For 15 years, the sunburned redhead has visited with students across the country, using video clips and lessons from a life on skis as teaching tools aimed at inspiring kids to get outside and pursue their dreams.
Now the skiing superstar’s nascent nonprofit — the Chris Anthony Youth Initiative Project — is taking his classroom message to heart, aiming for the lofty goal of reaching 10,000 kids this fall and delivering scholarships to those in need.
He’s kick-starting the ambitious outreach effort with “An Evening of Inspiration” on Oct. 13 at the Bluebird Theater. He even got Gov. John Hickenlooper to proclaim Oct. 13 a “Day of Inspiration,” saying the state “appreciates efforts to inspire and encourage our youth to set, reach and achieve their dreams.”
Anthony is a veteran of classroom presentations. He has worked with Colorado Ski Country, Vail Resorts, SOS Outreach and the Anschutz Foundation over the years to ferry his presentation to inner-city, suburban and mountain schools. “I want to reach as many kids as possible,” said the 48-year-old. “I want to let kids know there are many paths to success and they can use whatever talents they have to reach their goals. The idea is to inspire and motivate kids to go out and find their niche.”
Anthony has long used his ski videos as tools to both teach and inspire kids. He’s got a video of slalom skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin that teaches geometry and physics. The 2012 “Climb To Glory” film, which stars Anthony and traces the legacy of the 10th Mountain Division Ski Troopers who helped establish the U.S. ski industry after World War II, has become a classroom history lesson. Anthony plans to show “Climb to Glory” to 10,000 kids while he tours with Warren Miller Entertainment this fall. He’s got avalanche-safety videos and other snow-safety programs on tap for students in mountain communities.
“We should be educating our kids in the mountains about both the opportunities and dangers in the backcountry. We have an opportunity here to create more awareness,” he said.
For last year’s inaugural “Inspire” event funding his just-formed foundation, Anthony showed “Climb to Glory” at the Bluebird Theater, raising enough money to push his outreach programs into 30 schools, reaching 2,500 kids.
This year’s event will feature pro skiers Mike Douglas, Jess McMillan, Ingrid Backstrom and Chris Davenport sharing the enlightening lessons they’ve learned in the mountains. (Each of the athletes will be able to return to their home community with a scholarship for a local student.)
“This becomes a channel for them to give back,” Anthony said.
Anthony has enlisted Devin Urioste to spin tunes. The DJ is from Denver’s Youth on Record program, which employs local musicians to mentor at-risk kids. Elephant Revival violinist Bridget Law will join Bonfire Dub frontman Scotty Stoughton for more music.
Jackson Hole pro skier — and star of the upcoming Warren Miller movie “No Turning Back” — McMillan will teach a Pilates classes the day before the event at Cherry Creek’s Pura Vida fitness club. Law is offering a free kids’ music workshop in a facility provided by the Anschutz Foundation.
“Everyone is just jumping in with all this energy,” Anthony said. “The idea is that everyone can tie into this. Everyone can offer something.”
Jason Blevins: 303-954-1374, jblevins@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jasonblevins
A NIGHT OF INSPIRATION Bluebird Theater, Oct. 13, General-admission tickets are $20 via axs.com.
