what this film have be it realism and you really do get the feeling screenwriter james slater have be do his homework on the subject of downhill ski while director michael ritchie shoot the movie in a fly on the wall documentary style . however the problem be unless you ` re a big fan of the sport there not a lot in downhill racer to grab your attention . before anyone ask why i watch it and i do so because it feature the great gene hackman in an early role but that not really a good enough reason for watching .