The East Lansing High School Ski Team is sliding a cinematic treat into town guaranteed to lift the sprits of outdoor enthusiasts for the colder half of the year.

At 7 p.m. on Friday at the high school's auditorium, 509 Burcham Drive, the ski team will be showing "Higher Ground," a film by famed winter sport documentary director Warren Miller. For five decades, Miller has been making ski films that provide a catalyst for skiers getting ready for the upcoming winter sport season.

The movie has some of the best skiers and snowboarders doing their thing in some of the most beautiful locations

nature has to offer. The filming locations range from Heavenly, Calif. to Engelberg, Switzerland with all kinds of other winter wonderlands captured in between.

The cast includes the six-time consecutive World Cup Champion skier, Jeremy Bloom and 86-year-old skier Klaus Obermeyer, Sr., among many other world class skiers and snowboarders.

Hugh Potter, ski coach at East Lansing High School and organizer of the event, said he has been watching Miller's movies his whole life to pump himself up for the ski season.

"Ever since I was a little kid I've skied and every year we used to watch the Warren Miller film to get excited for the ski season."

East Lansing High has room for around 700 folks in the auditorium, and the cost for the one-time event will be $10 for students and $15 for adults. This is the team's third year showing a Miller film and the first time at the school's auditorium. Proceeds go toward a fundraiser for the ski team.

An added incentive for patrons will be the variety of giveaways — including free lift tickets at Caberfae Peaks, Shanty Creek and Boyne Mountain ski resorts that come with a ticket purchase. Some of the local businesses giving away goodies are Big Ten Burrito, The Grand Wazoo Records, Johnny Rockets, Beyond the Wall, McAlister's Deli and other local establishments.

The ski team is also providing a chance to win a four-day, three-night stay at Steamboat Ski & Resort in Steamboat, Colo.

Potter said it has been difficult to fund the team with a dwindling budget in the district.

"The team is constantly traveling to Mt. Brighton during the months of January and February, and travel costs start to add up," Potter said. "East Lansing Schools have been repeatedly lowering the budget over the last couple of years and cutting funding for many programs like the ski team."

For more information about "Higher Ground" and other Warren Miller films, visit www.warrenmiller.com.