"Female Ski Movie Debut": Introduction to the First Women-Exclusive Ski Film
In the world of ski movies, the film "Advice for Girls" is making waves by focusing solely on female skiers, aiming to challenge the historic underrepresentation of women in a traditionally male-dominated field. This groundbreaking film, which had its premiere at the Roxy theater in Missoula on the 6th and 7th of December, showcases a diverse range of female athletes, from seasoned pros like Devin Logan, Amie Engerbretson, and Lynsey Dyer to up-and-coming talents such as Rylee Watson, Caroline Brokaw, and Autumn Evanko.
The film is significant in its mission to bring attention to the problematic ratio of male to female skiers in the industry. By exclusively featuring female athletes, it promotes empowerment, encourages female participation, and helps reshape the narrative around skiing culture and gender roles.
One of the key aspects of "Advice for Girls" is the camaraderie and support among the female skiers. Scenes of women helping and inspiring each other are prevalent throughout the film, fostering a sense of community and solidarity.
The film also addresses the issue of not receiving credit or recognition in the ski industry, a challenge faced by many female athletes. It opens with a clip of filmmaker Addy Jacobsen reading a poem she wrote early in her ski career, underscoring the struggles and triumphs of women in the industry.
The "token female" pattern, where one woman in a mostly male cast gets minimal camera time, is a common occurrence in many famous ski movies over time. "Advice for Girls" breaks this mold, featuring an entirely female cast and crew, making it the first ski movie to do so.
The film includes a group party run with most of the cast and some random female skiers at Snowbird in Utah, as well as big cliff lines and a sick park edit mainly featuring Logan, the first ever US women's slopestyle Olympic medalist. The film also emphasises deep powder shots from the 2022-2023 record-breaking snow season.
The impact of such films extends beyond the ski community, contributing to shifting cultural perceptions around women’s capabilities and roles in skiing and the outdoors, helping address broader gender disparity issues within the sport and industry.
In a fitting finale, Evanko performs a backflip off a cliff in one of the film's final scenes, symbolising the empowerment and confidence that the film seeks to instil in its audience. "Advice for Girls" hopes to spur a vital change in the ski industry and get female skiers the representation and screen-time they deserve in future films.
Many attendees at the Missoula premiere dressed in costumes, including sparkly face paint and pink fluffy boas, adding to the festive atmosphere and celebration of women in skiing. The Missoula ski community, particularly women and girls, had a strong showing, demonstrating the film's resonance and impact.
As the ski industry continues to strive for greater gender balance and equality, "Advice for Girls" serves as an important cultural and media tool, challenging the male dominance of ski films and helping drive the conversation and action towards a more inclusive future.
- The Missoula ski community, particularly women and girls, embraced the groundbreaking film "Advice for Girls," showcasing their solidarity during its premiere by dressing in fitting costumes.
- In an ideal home-and-garden setting, one can envision viewing "Advice for Girls" after a day of outdoor-living activities, such as sports like football, and savoring the empowering message it brings to the table.
- To help reshape the narrative around gender roles in the sports world, one could organize a community gathering focusing on the film "Advice for Girls," discussing its impact on female representation in skiing and beyond, possibly complementing the event with a fun game of football.
