West Michigan’s local ski community with ties to Jackson Hole, WY has landed the ski film “Pretty Faces” to make a stop in Grand Rapids, Michigan on its national tour to inspire young female athletes to do more, be more.
“Pretty Faces” is the ski industry’s first-ever crowd-sourced, crowd-funded all-women’s ski movie. Lynsey Dyer, a premier big mountain freeskier and Eddie Bauer athlete, stars in the film and is the visionary behind this project.
“We are on a mission to make skiing and the outdoors look so fun that no girl will ever want to stay inside,” states Dyer. “Through this project and my nonprofit SheJumps, we want young girls to see positive, strong and courageous women pursuing their passions and finding success. We want to show females everywhere: ‘if she can do it, so can I.’”
What began as a Kickstarter campaign to test the interest for such a project has become something much larger. With help from presenting sponsor Eddie Bauer, “Pretty Faces” is the first crowd-sourced, crowd-funded and most successful action sports Kickstarter campaign to date. A project that is sure to shatter the status-quo of women in ski movies, this film is a first of what is hopefully a revolution across the board in action sports.
Jason Dodge, owner of Michigan Ski & Snowboard Report and co-organizer of the event, was an early supporter of the film and the Kickstarter campaign.
“Skiing is a sport still dominated by and geared toward a male audience," he says. "But, the ladies can rip too!” Dodge is enthusiastic about “Pretty Faces” and its inspiration for young girl skiers and athletes.
From an industry perspective, Dodge sees the immense potential for the sport to cultivate a strong core of skier girls. But Dodge is also a dad to a baby skier girl.
“I want my daughter to experience skiing in its purest form and I think the female cast brings that to the table," he says. "There isn't this thug image that's being upheld — It's just skiing and having a great time outside. That's a core cultural piece that I think is missing from mainstream skiing and girls are breathing life back into the sport.”
Funds from the “Pretty Faces” premier will benefit Summer Journeys, Grand Rapids’ youth outdoor leadership program that takes city kids into the backcountry of the Tetons and Yellowstone National Park.
“We have brought over a hundred girls [from Grand Rapids] to the Teton backcountry, and in 2014 we had a greater percentage of girls enrolled in our adventure programs than ever before,” says Dave Buth, director of Summer Journeys.
“There are hundreds of students in Grand Rapids who would love to participate in an adventure education program but struggle to find the money to do so,” explains Buth. “Proceeds from the Pretty Faces film event will provide work study and/or scholarship support for girls from Grand Rapids with demonstrated need so they can participate in a Summer Journeys program.”
The organizers are hopeful to actualize a fundraising goal of $3,000 for the Summer Journeys’ Teton Scholarship Fund through film ticket sales, a silent auction and raffle of awesome ski and snowboard items.
“The event is staffed by volunteers and students and proceeds will go to the scholarship fund, making authentic learning adventures possible for more girls,” says Buth. Mary Free Bed will also sponsor a free ski helmet fitting for attendees as part of the event.
Buth hopes the inspiration from Pretty Faces is powerful for his students. “I hope my students, who annually travel to Jackson Hole and hike, climb, and backpack many of the same trails, routes, and ridgelines Lynsey [Dyer] skis in her films, will soon be meeting up with Lynsey and her colleagues for leadership, adventure, and conservation projects in the Tetons.”
Who: All snow-lovers, female athletes, & Grand Rapids community members
What: Feature Film, “Pretty Faces” PLUS Snowsports vendors as well as a fundraising raffle and silent auction will be part of the evening entertainment. All proceeds benefit Summer Journeys’ Tetons Scholarship Fund.
When: Saturday, January 10, 2015. Doors open at 7:00pm, Showtime at 8:00pm
Where: Wealthy Theatre, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Tickets: $12 at the door, $10 GRCMC members. Available online.
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