Here’s a handful of short  snow flicks featuring badass women to inspire you for upcoming powder days and winter adventures. Now that it’s pitch black at 5:00 PM, cozy up and hit play as a reminder of why winter is so epic. Each of these women-centric films feel very relevant and reflective of today showcasing vulernability, radical narratives, or addressing issues such as mental health or identity. It’s pretty great to see so many creative projects highlighting women athletes and in many cases, produced by women creatives. Several of these films are currently touring film festivals, so the entire films are not available online yet.

LEARNING TO DROWN

Professional Snowboarder Jess Kimura is synonymous with grit and going broke. Whatever she does, she’s in 100%. Heart and Soul. In 2012, Jess at the top of her game, receiving numerous accolades and known for delivering insane edits. She was listed in ESPN’s Top 50 Most Influential People in Action Sports. Just as Jess was peaking, she lost her partner in a tragic accident, shattering her world. Learning to Drown is Jess’s journey of searching for purpose. It’s a snowboard film of the modern-era, touching on mental health, heartbreak, self-destruction, and the rawness of being human. Jess Kimura is a legend. Full Film Release TBD

BOOTS TO BRIM

A few winters back Amie and her dad were showing off their dance moves at the Cowboy bar in Jackson, WY. Their footwork got fancy as they started throwing inverted dance moves. Within moments the bouncer promptly kicked them out saying “No boots over the brim!” A film concept was born that day. Boots Over Brim follows Amie Engerbretson, a professional skier and classically trained dancer, as she moves between a dreamy western dance scene and skiing epic lines in Wyoming, Nevada, and Alaska. Breaking all the rules of a classic ski film, Boots Over Brim pairs two of Amie’s great loves with a soundtrack exclusively set to the electrifying country music of Paul Cauthen. The final dance scenes are with her father. Provocative and fun, this is a quick entertaining watch.

Full Film Available (7 min)

PASSAGE

Skiing is in Tatum Monod’s blood. In Passage, Monod traces her family back three generations from the Alps in the 1900s to the present-day Canadian Rockies. Stalled with injuries and questioning skiing, Tatum questions the reasons she skis . With footage of her and her dad tackling backcountry lines together to footage of her hometown ski crew that clearly just love being the mountains, Passage is a story of coming home and family. Tatum also helped direct and write the film.

Full Film HERE (18 min) *

THE APPROACH

An action-driven ski and snowboard film elevating people of color, women and adaptive athletes. This film uplifts new voices and faces in the snow industry. It’s a classic film in the sense that it’s full of gratuitous action shots and big lines, but choosing to highlight this cast is revolutionary. Cheers to the Approach for truly changing the narrative and showing that winter shredding is for everyone to enjoy. Featuring Brooklyn Bell, Ingrid Backstrom, Leanne Pelosi, Vasu Sojitra, Emilé Zynobia, Sophia Rouches, Anna Soens, Marie-France Roy and more.

Full Film Available( 35 min)

NOT ALONE

The film Not Alone documents Arc’teryx athlete Sarah Hueniken’s intense journey from digging her close friend out of a fatal avalanche to finding new reasons to live and love again. How do you move forward after losing a friend throws your career as a guide and belief in yourself into question? The feelings and depth to this look heavy but important in an industry that celebrates risk and what we can and can’t control. Incredible cinematography, athleticism, and vulnerability make this film a must watch. Full Film Release TBD.

FABRIC

A five-part documentary covering forward-thinking changemakers in action sports. Each episode is themed: Activism, Knowledge, Adaptation, Cultural Heritage, and Community, showcases a group of athletes, artists, and activists across snowboarding, surfing and skateboarding who are leveraging sport for fundamental change. Subjects include artist Hannay Eddy, snowboarder Marie France Roy, non-profit Skate Like A Girl and sustainable brand Suay Sewshop and many more. Fabric will leave you inspired to do more. Episodes streaming on evo.com. Check Our Fabric for updates.

PRECIOUS LEADER WOMAN

Spencer O'Brien was on her way to becoming the best female snowboarder in the world when Rheumatoid arthritis set in. Forced to return home, she rediscovered her First Nations identity. Full Film Release TBD

 Also, if you haven’t watched it yet, The Alpinist on Netflix is amazing. It follows the life of free-spirit Marc-Andre Leclerc and his solo mountaineering adventures.