One of the things that makes James Bond films so iconic and memorable is the use of amazing scenery from settings around the world. This is often displayed best during the spy’s ski scenes, which are a common trope in a 007 adventure.
If you want to ski some of the same slopes as the MI6 agent, you can visit them in real life. There are a few that stand out thanks to the epic scenes they feature in on screen.
Skiing Among Many Common Bond Tropes
There are various things that add up to make a great Bond movie, with 007 having many tropes famously associated with him. One of the spy’s most common interests is casino gambling, and the inclusion of high stakes scenes is designed to appeal to people who enjoy playing games like live roulette online. Indeed, those who play the famous wheel will know that there’s even a betting strategy named after Ian Fleming’s character.
Skiing is also something that has appeared in numerous Bond films. It’s there to provide viewers with escapism and to remind them of their favourite skiing holidays. Anyone who has been skiing before finds it easy to put themselves in 007’s shoes as he bombs down some of the most idyllic slopes in the world.
The Best Skiing Scenes and Where They Were Filmed
There have been a few highly memorable skiing scenes in Bond films over the years, with George Lazenby’s character’s race down the slopes of Switzerland’s Schilthorn up there with the best of them. That epic display of skiing agility was in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service in 1969, and is still remembered for its high-octane action. The revolving Piz Gloria restaurant at the top of the mountain is also one of the franchise’s most iconic hideouts.
Roger Moore’s skiing scene at the beginning of The Spy Who Loved Me in 1977 is another one for the history books. That opening stunt famously culminated with the Union Jack parachute and stunning views of the surrounding landscape. It took place on Mount Asgard in Canada, but most of the actual skiing parts were filmed in St. Moritz in Switzerland.
When Was the Last Time Bond Skied?
Although skiing is something that Bond is associated with, Daniel Craig didn’t ski in any films during his tenure as the slick spy. In fact, to find the last time Bond expertly zigzagged down a snowy slope, you’d need to look all the way back to The World is Not Enough in 1999.
In that film, Pierce Brosnan’s Bond faced a dramatic chase in the French Alps near Chamonix. However, many sequences were filmed in Courchevel. Craig was seen in the snow in Spectre, but he opted for a snowmobile instead of skis for the chase scene in that offering.
If you want to ski like Bond, you could try out some of the slopes that were famously included in the Eon Productions movies. There are loads of options for you to choose from, and it’s undeniably fun imagining that you’re being chased by terrorists while you ski.
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©CourchevelTourisme-hiver-domaineskiable-0718-05Sauvetage Hélicoptère
