U.S. Downhill and Nor-Am Slalom Champion Kaylin Richardson grew up watching Warren Miller ski films, so being one of the featured athletes in the production company's 63rd annual release "Flow State" is an honor.

"I love the films they do," Richardson said during an interview with The Park Record. "It was a tradition to watch the films in the fall."

Furthermore, the movie marks the skier's debut in any Miller flick.

"It's the one skiing production house that people, who are not part of the skiing community, have heard of," Richardson said. "Just to be a part of that legacy is so cool. It's a dream come true, and whether or not I'm in another Warren Miller movie doesn't really matter."

Warren Miller's "Flow State" will have its world premiere on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19 and 20, in Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City. From there the film will be presented at the XanGo Grand Theatre at the SCERA Shell in Orem and Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden on Oct. 23 and 25. Park City will host a screening at the Eccles Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 26 and 27.

The film, which is titled after a sensation where the faster things move, the slower time passes, takes viewers on a tour to Alaska, Japan, Colorado, California, Switzerland, Austria, Norway and Park City's Canyons Resort.

So it's fitting that Richardson, who is the resort's spokeswoman and VIP mountain guide, is among the five athletes showing off their skills in the Canyons' segment.

"Canyons asked if I could be in the film," Richardson said with a smile. "I was only supposed to film with them for a couple of days, but me and the cinematographer Chris Patterson, hit it off.

"I actually changed plans because I was supposed to go out of town, but the producer Josh Haskins asked if I would like to stay and continue filming and, of course, I stuck around," she said. "I think they liked that I was an aggressive skier."

The experience proved beneficial to both the skier and filmmakers because Richardson knew the terrain.

"When we scouted around, Chris would ask me where he could still get good light toward the end of the day or where there may still be some good powder," Richardson said. "It was nice to be able to be guide as well. It was also fun because I know the area and love it so much."

Among the other athletes, which include snowboarders Cooper Hoffmeister and Branden Doyon, were Richardson's fellow skiers Blake Nyman, Keely Kelleher and Julian Carr.

"The one shot that really sticks out in my mind was done on the first day," Richardson said. "It was just Julian, Blake and myself. The resort just had a new blanket of powder, and since last season wasn't the best season for snow, we thought this might be the only day we'd get some good powder shots."

Richardson's run, which is through a pristine blanket of powder, became the opening scene in the film's trailer.

"I asked what they wanted and I nailed it," Richardson said. "That was my introduction to a ski-film shot, and I have to thank Canyons for getting me into the film."

The crew and skiers shot for 10 days in March, and Richardson said she learned to adapt to the filming demands.

"There is definitely a learning curve when making a movie," she said. "When you come from a racing background, you're used to having to perform, but you've inspected the route and all that.

"There were times when I would have to ask where they wanted me to be on the slope and when they're 100 feet below me and I'm yelling or on the radio, it's definitely a different animal."

While there were plenty of great runs and shots, Richardson experienced some disappointments as well.

"There were also times when they didn't get the shot when I was two feet too far to the right," she said. "I was really bummed one day because there as was a super shot that he wanted and I just boned it. I slid on my butt for the entire turn and was so disgusted with myself. But Chris was great to work with. He would tell us what he wanted and if we didn't get it, he would always be positive. He told me that day, 'Don't worry. There will always be another shot.'"

Another thing Richardson had to get used to was the idle time she had between takes.

"People tend to think shooting film is glamorous, but there is a lot of sitting around while the crew sets up a shot or while we waited for another athlete to show up," she said. "But I couldn't have asked for three better people to ski with, because they are all my awesome friends. I think if we were stuck with someone we didn't get on with, the shoot would have been more tedious."

The skiers and crew would hit the slopes early mornings and stay until dark.

"We would start even before the lifts would open to the public, and then ski until, in some cases, after last chair," Richardson said.

The crews also tackled some heliskiing shots.

"We also did a couple of days with the Wasatch Powder Birds," Richardson said. "It's always a struggle with snow, especially because of the conditions last year, but when you get into a helicopter, it doesn't matter what the conditions are, because it's just an awesome experience.

"I think they appreciated that Keely and I were both racers and looked pretty dynamic when we ski," she said.

At one point during the shoot, the skiers and crew took a 1½-week break from shooting. It just so happened during that time, Richardson competed in the Snowbird Free Skiing World Tour North American Championship and won.

"That was fun and a big surprise, because I always wanted to participate in a free ski competition, because I think they're rad," she said. "So, when I came back to the shoot, I had that under my belt. The timing worked out perfectly."

Richardson began skiing while she was a child living just outside Minneapolis, Minn.

"I have two older brothers, and much to their chagrin, I was a tag-along my whole life," she said. "When they started ski racing, I followed suit."

Richardson, now 28, found she had a natural talent for skiing and moved up the ranks.

"I made the U.S. Ski Team when I was 15 and then kept on skiing," she said. "I spent my first summer in Park City when I was 16, and fell in love with it right away."

After winning a few events, including the 2007 National Downhill and Combined Championships and repeating a win in the 2009 National Downhill, Richardson competed in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, and placed No. 17.

"I retired from ski racing in 2010 and the next season, I won the most amazing contest ever, called the Canyons Ultimate Mountain Gig and I haven't left since," she said.

Richardson became Canyons VIP guide through the contest.

"I've always loved free skiing, but I never knew how much I would love it after my competitive career," she said. "A lot of racers, once they're done racing, will hang up their skis for a couple of years. Some may not even go back to it. But I've always enjoyed it and fell in love with the Wasatch Range and decided to make this my home."

Richardson is looking forward to her appearances during the film screenings, and hopes to be a part of other events.

"I was on tour for the World Cup for seven years and while that was fun, I would love to do more filming," she said. "It's fun to do the sport I love for a different outlet, and the fun thing I like about skiing the most is sharing it with people."

Warren Miller's "Flow State" will have its world premiere on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19 and 20, in Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City. From there the film will be presented at the XanGo Grand Theatre at the SCERA Shell in Orem and Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden on Oct. 23 and 25. Park City will host screenings at the Eccles Center for the Performing Arts, 1750 Kearns Blvd. on Oct. 26 and 27. Park City's screenings will start at 8 p.m. on Oct. 26, and at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Oct. 27. Tickets for the Park City screenings are $20 and available by visiting www.ecclescenter.org.