There’s a move afoot in skiing and riding, and it’s driven by ladies. Women have always punctuated the narrative of backcountry skiing, but their supporting role in the barrage of slow-mo ski porn dominating the ski film industry has more than a few ladies fed up. Sandra Lahnsteiner is one of them. Her latest film, Pure, is an all-female ski movie that joins a growing portfolio of ski media featuring women rather than eclipsing them.
A backcountry skier and World Cup race coach turned premier ski-film producer, Lahsteiner knows a thing or two about pushing the limit. Her production company, Shades of Winter, has already churned out three chick flicks (As We Are, Shukran Morocco and Shades of Winter), and the Austrian is not alone on her crusade. Ladies-only ski camps, clubs and events are popping up everywhere. Freerider Lynsey Dyer, whose SheJumps organization encourages women to get outdoors in any mode possible, has her own all-female ski film, Pretty Faces debuted last week and Backcountry’s January issue was dedicated to women who charge.
On the eve of Pure’s release, Backcountry caught up with Lahnsteiner to talk powder, pillows and production.
Backcountry: What was the inspiration behind Pure?
Sandra Lahnsteiner: I love to see an idea come to life and I love creative work in the mountains with filmers, photographers and athletes. With Pure we wanted to reach the next level of movie making. I again wanted to showcase the best female action but carried by a smart little story that inspires. Everyday experience was my personal inspiration—all these feelings we go through daily in life and in skiing.
BCM: Of the locations you skied in for the film, which was your favorite?
SL: I love tree skiing in Japan—free-mind skiing in deep pow with low consequences. But I also loved to challenge myself on the steep spines in the outstanding surroundings of Haines, Alaska.
BCM: What aspects of this movie get you particularly excited?
SL: Everything! First the skiing. Second, and I would say as important as the ski performance itself, the cinematography. Mario Feil and Mathias Bergmann and all our additional filmers did an amazing job in capturing the moments on and off the mountains. I love their work. And third, my goal was to create a message with this movie. You all out there watching will have to tell me if we did that right.
Melissa Presslaber Fletschhorn preps for her run during the filming of Pure. [Photo] Sebastian Marko
SL: The most difficult thing is the fast switch between being a producer and an athlete on a trip. I might sit together with the media crew and guide to discuss things while having responsibility for the budget, but I need to be a pure athlete once I am on top of my line.
BCM: Are there other films, inside or outside the ski industry, that have influenced your approach to filming Pure?
SL: Well, we all want to reach the next level, like SherpasCinema, Sweetgrass and Fieldproductions. But the time for pure ski porn movies is kinda over. People want more than just the most impressive ski action.
Sandra Lahsteiner while working on Pure. [Photo] Mario Feil
BCM: What’s your opinion on the portrayal of female athletes in the media? How are you trying to change that portrayal?
SL: As Shades of Winter movies feature female athletes, I am aware that we are role models for other girls. Well, at least I hope so—I think the important message to tell is not (only) that “girls can rip,” but more that we can do our own things and we earned the spot in the industry by performance and not because we look cute.
Pure will be available on iTunes this month.
Where are all the female tele skiers!!!!