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Steamboat Springs — Mark Sullivan found something in Alaska he wants to share with the world: deep, untouched snow; jagged, imposing peaks; vast wilderness and a deeply entrenched skiing and snowboarding culture.

Now, he wants the lower 48 to have a glimpse into the lifestyle.

“Steamboat has a lot of people who are very dedicated to skiing and snowboarding,” Sullivan said. “You have your die-hards, and everyone shares that common dream. It’s a natural progression. You might not be able to hit those big jumps in the park anymore, but Alaska is a way you can keep progressing until you’re 50 or 60 years old if you want.”

Sullivan’s new movie, “Tail­gate Alaska,” offers views into the extreme skiing and snowboarding culture in Valdez, Alaska.

The movie, which documents the annual Tailgate Alaska festival, will premiere in Steamboat Springs tonight at Ghost Ranch Saloon.

Coupled with the movie premiere is a live performance by reggae soul band Salem, comprising band members who also are passionate about snowboarding in Alaska.

The show is free and will start at about 9 p.m.

Sullivan founded the Tailgate Alaska event four years ago to organize what he called the “tribe” of backcountry snowboarding and skiing enthusiasts.

With sunny weather and what are considered some of the best snowboarders in the world ripping up legendary Alaska lines, Sullivan said organizers decided to release a movie documenting the adventure.

“I think the movie kind of portrays the experience,” Sullivan said. “It kind of becomes the epicenter of the world of skiing and snowboarding for those few weeks.”

Three hundred people representing 14 countries descended on Valdez in late March and early April to shred lines of untouched snow via helicopter, snowmobile, snowcat and pure aerobic power.

Athletes including Travis Rice and Olympian Scotty Lago were on hand to experience the riding on Alaska’s peaks.

“The thing that happens automatically is they become humbled,” Sullivan said about the athletes arriving in Valdez. “I don’t care if you live in Jackson Hole, you’ll be humbled by those mountains. They’re big and daunting and right there.”

Aside from soft snow and experienced riders, skiing and snowboarding festivals aren’t complete without rocking beats. The music of Boulder-based Salem was the soundtrack to the festival’s opening party in March and also appears in the movie.

Sullivan said Salem, led by avid snowboarder Todd Anders Johnson, is a natural enhancement of the Tailgate Alaska vision.

“Salem are really passionate about Alaska and riding up there,” Sullivan said. “It just makes sense. Johnson is a passionate and driven individual.”

Johnson, the drummer, lead singer and band founder, said the band’s music has hip-hop and reggae themes and combines sometimes-political messages about environmentalism and preventing climate change.

Salem has played at the King of the Hill snowboarding competition, played at the X Games and provided music for several action sports films.

“I guess it’s the groove there,” he said about his music aligning with the action sports theme. “It doesn’t matter. Since back in the day, there’s been reggae music, but there’s a whole host of music works to line up with action sports. It’s nice that the diversity’s there.”

Johnson, who gets paid to play a show and then wake up and ride the Alaskan backcountry, said the combination of his two passions has been a fantasy come true.

“I’ve had a 5,000-vertical-feet heli day, and it’s pretty much the ultimate,” Johnson said. “To be up there, it’s not just because it’s heli … but to get to that elevation and exposure, it’s my favorite thing to do.”

— To reach Nicole Inglis, call 871-4204 or e-mail ninglis@steamboatpilot.com