SALT LAKE CITY, UT – September 29, 2026 – The world premiere of the Girl Winter Film Tour in Salt Lake City last weekend marked a pivotal moment for the ski industry, transcending the traditional role of ski films as mere escapism. Presented by Moonrise, a pioneering women-led creative studio, the sold-out event offered a multifaceted exploration of women’s experiences in skiing, challenging long-held conventions and forging a path toward a more inclusive future for the sport. Unlike past cinematic showcases that primarily focused on adrenaline-fueled feats, this tour’s curated selection of five films aimed to foster a deeper connection to the sport and one’s identity within it.
The evening, held despite unseasonably warm 80-degree temperatures outside the venue, ignited a palpable desire to ski among attendees. However, the profound impact extended beyond the simple urge to hit the slopes. Attendees reported leaving the theater not with a desire to escape the complexities of the world, but rather to embrace and celebrate what it means to be a woman in the contemporary landscape, both on and off the mountain. This paradigm shift—from escapism to empowerment—underscores the tour’s innovative approach to storytelling in action sports.
A New Lens on Ski Culture: Beyond the Extreme
For decades, the ski film genre has largely adhered to a formula emphasizing audacious jumps, breathtaking lines, and a relentless pursuit of bigger, faster, and more extreme feats. While these elements undoubtedly inspire, they often presented a narrow, aspirational vision of skiing, predominantly featuring male athletes. The Girl Winter Film Tour, however, deliberately broadens this lens, reflecting a growing movement within the outdoor industry to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The tour’s lineup showcased a spectrum of narratives, from short films to the feature-length "Winter Elements," Moonrise’s ambitious two-year production. Each film contributed to a collective statement that progression in skiing is not solely defined by physical prowess but also by personal growth, community, artistic expression, and professional dedication. This nuanced portrayal resonated deeply with an audience hungry for authentic representation.
The Films: A Tapestry of Female Experience
The evening commenced with "VIVID," a short film that initially appeared to follow the classic recipe: hard-charging athletes, helicopter access, drone cinematography, and formidable terrain at Colorado’s Silverton Mountain. Yet, "VIVID" diverged from the norm when uncooperative snow conditions limited the opportunities for monumental ski feats. Instead of masking this reality, the film candidly showcased the camaraderie and sheer joy of women skiing together, embracing the imperfections of a day in the mountains. Athletes Sierra Schlag, Devin Logan, Nicole Cordingley, and Jenna Dramise demonstrated that the intrinsic value of a ski day often lies in shared experiences and laughter, rather than exclusively in heroic accomplishments. This deliberate choice to prioritize authentic connection over manufactured grandeur was a powerful statement in itself, validating the everyday experiences of countless skiers.
Following "VIVID" was "Theory of Butter," an unconventional, Wes Anderson-esque short film. This piece chronicled two women embarking on a multi-modal journey—by bike, raft, and ski—through Southern Colorado’s San Juan Mountains in pursuit of the elusive "Butta." Its abstract and whimsical nature proved that artistic expression within the ski film genre need not be confined to traditional action sequences. The inclusion of such a distinctively styled film underscored a crucial tenet of the tour: women are empowered to create art that doesn’t necessarily cater to universal taste, a freedom long afforded to male creators. This artistic latitude signals a maturing of the genre, where diverse creative voices are not just tolerated but celebrated.
The theme of pushing boundaries, both physical and emotional, continued with "Biscuits." This film followed Nat Segal and Erin Spong over two seasons as they strived to enhance their skiing abilities in more challenging terrain. Beyond the physical demands, "Biscuits" delved into the often-unspoken mental challenges associated with progression in professional skiing. The athletes openly discussed the importance of mentorship, the business complexities of a professional career, and the frustrations of skiing while navigating physiological realities such as menstrual cycles, exhaustion, and emotional fluctuations. Such candid discussions about the intersection of personal life and athletic pursuit offer a vital, relatable perspective that has historically been absent from mainstream ski films.
Contrasting with these narratives of personal journey, "Rapid Fire" showcased Mali Noyes’s extraordinary athletic achievement: successfully skiing all 93 lines in Andrew McLean’s renowned "The Chuting Gallery" in a record-breaking 47 days, significantly surpassing the previous record of five months. Noyes’s project was a classic Type 2-fun sufferfest, an epic testament to speed, endurance, and sheer willpower. While embodying the "longer, better, faster, stronger" ethos often associated with traditional ski films, Noyes’s story was presented within the broader context of female achievement and determination, proving that women are not only redefining the narrative but also dominating the traditional benchmarks.
"Winter Elements": A Comprehensive Look at Women in the Industry
The tour’s centerpiece, the feature-length film "Winter Elements," served as a comprehensive exploration of women’s roles across the entire ski industry. Produced over two years by Moonrise, the film intentionally opened with the story of a transgender woman who serves as a cat driver at a small ski area in Pennsylvania. This powerful and deliberate choice immediately set a tone of radical inclusivity, signaling that the film would transcend conventional definitions of "woman in skiing."
From this poignant introduction, "Winter Elements" systematically widened its lens, showcasing the diverse contributions of women as photographers, ski patrollers, product developers, ski racers, climate advocates, avalanche forecasters, and more. The film meticulously illustrated that there is no singular "correct" way to be a woman in the sport. Instead, it painted a vibrant mosaic of identities and professions, reinforcing the message that women in skiing are multifaceted and indispensable. They can be elite athletes breaking records, individuals grappling with the physical demands of their bodies, or the essential professionals who ensure the safety, enjoyment, and sustainability of the sport. The film underscored that women can be strong and vulnerable, funny and emotional, transgender or cisgender, and occupy any role from the person dropping into a line to the one filming it, grooming the terrain, or analyzing the snowpack.
The Evolution of Representation: A Historical Context
The ski industry, like many adventure sports, has a historical trajectory marked by male dominance in media and leadership roles. For decades, images of women in ski films often relegated them to supporting roles or emphasized aesthetics over athleticism. However, the last 15-20 years have seen a gradual but persistent shift. Advocacy groups, individual athletes, and independent production houses have increasingly championed greater representation and authentic storytelling for women.
According to recent data from the Outdoor Industry Association, female participation in winter sports has steadily climbed, with women now constituting approximately 43% of active skiers and snowboarders in North America. This demographic shift has fueled a growing demand for media content that reflects their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. The Girl Winter Film Tour directly addresses this demand, offering content that resonates with a significant and expanding segment of the market.
Iz La Motte, a producer with Moonrise, succinctly articulated the tour’s foundational principle on stage: "Women have been in these roles. They belong in these roles. And they will continue to be in these roles." The critical difference, as highlighted by the premiere, was the unprecedented opportunity to see these diverse women not only performing their roles but also having their stories amplified on the big screen, often captured by women behind the camera as well. This reciprocal representation, both on-screen and behind the scenes, signifies a profound and systemic shift.
Broader Impact and Implications for the Ski Community
The sold-out Salt Lake City premiere, attended by a diverse audience of women and men, underscored that the Girl Winter Film Tour is far from a niche "women in skiing" event. It represents a broader community hunger for more diverse, inclusive, and authentic narratives within the sport. This widespread appeal suggests a significant market validation for content that transcends traditional gendered stereotypes and offers a more holistic view of the skiing experience.
The tour’s ambitious schedule, with approximately 50 stops across North America through early December 2026, further illustrates the confidence in its widespread resonance and commercial viability. This extensive reach is poised to expose tens of thousands of attendees to a fresh perspective on skiing, potentially influencing future content creation, advertising strategies, and even product development within the industry.
The impact of such initiatives extends beyond entertainment. By showcasing a wider array of identities, experiences, ages, races, body types, and relationships to the sport, the Girl Winter Film Tour is actively shaping a more inclusive perception of who "belongs" in skiing. This expansion of identity is crucial for fostering greater participation, attracting new demographics, and ensuring the long-term vitality of winter sports.
Looking back 15 years, the landscape for women in the ski industry was notably different. Trailblazers like skier Rachael Burks and photographer Re Wikstrom, whose two-decade friendship and professional partnership were featured in "Winter Elements," navigated an industry that offered fewer platforms for diverse female voices. The success of the Girl Winter Film Tour suggests that the seeds planted by these pioneers are now flourishing, creating a more fertile ground for future generations.
The Salt Lake City premiere felt like more than just a successful event; it felt like a convincing glimpse into the future of skiing. It’s a future where progression isn’t just about athletic feats but also about expanding who gets to be seen, whose stories are told, and what parts of their experience are deemed worthy of celebration. This is the true progression—a move towards a more equitable, representative, and vibrant ski community for all.
The Girl Winter Film Tour continues its journey across North America, with upcoming stops in major cities including Denver, San Francisco, Seattle, and New York City. For schedule details and ticket purchases, please visit the official tour website.
