Ski and snowboard movies tend to have a lot of men in them. Sure, one or two films a year try to include a segment with mostly or all female athletes. From time to time, there’s even a full film that keeps women at the center of the story and action, like Nexus, Advice for Girls, or Here, Hold My Kid.
But it’s rare to see more than one femme-forward flick on any film tour’s lineup on any given year — let alone six. But that’s exactly what the Girl Winter Film Tour is bringing to 15+ towns across the U.S. this fall and winter.
In partnership with the Boulder, Colo.-based ski brand Stio, Girl Winter is bringing a collection of six short films packed with rad skiing and storytelling to towns and cities from Glenwood Springs, Colo., to Anchorage, Alaska, and Boston.
“Representation is so important for the next generation to believe that they can build a more diverse and equitable snow community,” said Sierra Schlag, an athlete, film producer, and one of the creators of the Girl Winter Film Tour. “Our hope is to give that representation to our audience while also showing the many different mediums and ways women can show up as professional athletes in the snow industry instead of the prescribed box we usually think of when it comes to women skiers and riders.”
Girl Winter Film Tour: Short Films ‘With Range’
Alongside Schlag, the Girl Winter Film Tour is a creation of Iz La Motte, Sara Beam Robbins, and Katie Cooney. It’s the same creative team behind Warren Miller’s 2023 Advice for Girls. Following the overwhelmingly positive reaction to that movie, this new tour aims to raise the bar even higher.
“We saw so much success in our film tour with Advice for Girls last year that we wanted to continue building out space for women and femme-centric films,” Schlag said. “We had so many people come up to us last fall saying that they could finally see themselves in a ski movie.”
Similarly to ski film tours like Warren Miller’s, athletes from the films will attend the viewing events to do Q&As, sign movie posters, watch the films, and share the stoke.
The name “Girl Winter” is a play on the term “girl dinner,” according to a press release on the tour.
“Filled with yummy small bites and your favorite snacks, we wanted this film tour to reflect the dinners we love so much — short films with range,” it stated.
Films & Event Locations
Films like Nisei explore the biracial experience of pro skier and Japanese-American Sierra Schlag, whose name you probably recognize by now. Then, in Kindred, experience the bond pro athletes can build through the spirit of competition and collaboration with Olympic ski team members Devin Logan and Caroline Claire.
Erin Spong stars in Consonance, a film that delves into balance and flow. Jac Pollard makes an amazing and triumphant return to freeride skiing after a serious traumatic brain injury in Shifting Terrain. Amie Engerbretson gets deep in Blue Hour — not only in powder but also in her artistic reflections on dreams.
The final film added to the lineup is The Beginning, which highlights Alenka Mali’s journey to become the first snowboard base-jumper.
There are 15 initial stops listed on Girl Winter’s webpage for tickets as of this writing. Girl Winter noted that more stops will be added — so keep your eyes open even if you don’t see a stop listed near you yet.
Doors open at 6 p.m., and films start at 6:30 p.m. at every event.
- October 26: Jackson, Wyo.; Jackson Hole High School
- October 28: Park City, Utah; Jim Santy Auditorium
- November 6: Crested Butte, Colo.; Majestic Theatre
- November 7: Boston, Mass.; Regent Theatre
- November 8: Glenwood Springs, Colo.; Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley
- November 9: Fort Collins, Colo.; Odell Brewing
- November 11: Burlington, Vt.; Main Street Landing
- November 12: Boulder, Colo.; Sanitas Brewing
- November 13: Denver, Colo.; Oriental Theater
- November 16: Victor, Idaho; Pierre’s Theatre
- November 18: Pocatello, Idaho; Purpose Center
- November 18: Bend, Ore.; Volcanic Theatre Pub
Events With Dates TBD (After Nov. 18)
- Tahoe, California
- Southern Vermont
- Anchorage, Alaska
Representation: Slopes to Screen
Female skiers and riders represent half of all skiers and riders. But you wouldn’t guess that if all you watched were ski and snowboard movies. There is an imbalance in the representation of pro athletes on the silver screen. That’s why, in recent years, movies like Advice For Girls and events like Girl Winter are becoming more prevalent. There is a hunger for more accurate (read: equal) representation in these kinds of sports movies.
Schlag and the other creators of Girl Winter are hoping to change that. This isn’t just a ski movie tour with a lineup of compelling short films — it’s an all-out celebration of women in snowsports.
“The film tour not only highlights the talents and creativity of these athletes and filmmakers but also the unique perspective they bring to the sport,” Liz Barrett, brand director at Stio, said in a press release. “This event is a party for all of us ladies who love getting outside together.”
