By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
For once, the physical depletion from your 100-mile run will not leave you bedridden for a week; the exhilaration of your back flip off a snowy back-country cliff won’t leave a leg healing at an awkward angle; and that bike descent off a bus-sized boulder won’t require Humpty Dumpty’s medical crew of King’s horses and men.
On Friday, February 22, you can live those experiences vicariously, watching world class – or everyday – athletes do them, as the Banff Film Festival returns to Sitka.
“Having it in the winter time is really nice because everybody is in kind of a funk this time of year,” said Dawn Johnson, one of the organizers. “It gets you excited about adventuring again and getting back outside now that summer is slowly on its way.”
The two-hour selection of epic outdoor adventure films at the Performing Arts Center are sure to revitalize viewers’ winter-depleted Vitamin D.
A movie still from “Rogue Elements: Corbet’s Couloir” (Photo by Rogue Elements Film)
This is the sixth year the Hames Center has sponsored the Banff Festival, and their local film selection committee promises an evening filled with everything but the aroma of Ben Gay on fatigued muscle.
The committee met over the past months to review a multitude of films, by description, screening or viewing a trailer, and selected nine for the festival, Johnson explained.
“Then we put together a program that we feel suits Sitka the best and would interest Sitka and has a nice, wide variety,” she said.
This year’s festival will contain roughly two hours of film, with an intermission and raffle prizes.
Prizes are contributed by Russell’s, Work And Rugged Gear and Yellow Jersey Cycles. There will be prizes with such brand names as Yeti, Cliff, Mountain House, Buff, Peitzel, and Deuter.
Dave Miller, who’s been designated a “Road Warrior” by the Alberta, Canada,-based festival,” will emcee the evening and add commentary on his own adventures.
“This is actually my retirement gig,” Miller said. “My top sport now is skiing. As a young guy I used to do quite a bit of rock climbing and mountaineering. Now my wife and I are more into just bagging peaks and scrambling, not technical climbing these days as much.”
Miller has lived in Banff the past 15 years.
“I have always found the mountains are where I go to recharge,” he said. “The one great thing about our tours and festivals is definitely the like-minded people, people who like to get outside, mostly on self-powered pursuits. Hopefully people will get the jokes if I tell a joke.”
The film selection committee didn’t want to release the titles of the films so as to keep the mystery of the evening intact, much like what one would expect when venturing on their own outside hike, run, bike, ski, or traverse.
“The inspiration that the films provide is something that I think will be really fun for the community,” Johnson said. “I know I always leave feeling inspired and wanting to go conquer every mountain in Sitka. The night is high energy. We have an awesome variety of films this year, all kinds of different demographics and age ranges.”
Johnson said one film is about 11-year-old skier Kai Jones, who does back flips and other aerial tricks in outdoor locations from Idaho to Wyoming and beyond.
“We have another film with a 9-year-old and about racing horses in Mongolia,” Johnson said. “It’s more of a cultural type piece. So you get a nice variety.”
That piece explains the young boy’s love for racing but also about joining his father on the toughest journey of a nomad’s life when they travel the winter migration.
Another film highlights the adventures of an 82-year-old “badass athlete” and his love of life, survival, and laughter.
“The one with the 82-year old is hilarious,” Johnson said. “That’s one of those kinds that just inspire you to keep going and have epic adventures and to stay positive throughout life. It’s very entertaining. We’ll have a nice mix of skiing and biking films also.”
Miller said it has been the festival’s best closer.
“I love it,” he said. “It seems like in the last few years there has been an ‘old guys’ genre. I hope that it inspires people because a lot of what he says is that we are not too old to get out and do stuff. And of course there are some pro athletes in the mix of films that are pretty inspiring as well. I think this is a really strong show. And to see these films on the big screen really adds to the exhilaration.”
Johnson did say “Rogue Elements: Corbet’s Couloir” is one she particularly liked. The four-minute piece shows that although skiers and snowboarders realize how nerve-racking it can be to enter the infamous CC at Jackson hole, even in the best of conditions, mountain bikers are doing it in icy conditions.
Johnson said she also liked the film “The Mirvinator,” which highlights Mirna Valerio, one of National Geographics’ 2018 Adventurers of the Year. Valerio spreads the message that everyone deserves to explore the outdoors in the bodies they have.
“She is an ultra runner who doesn’t necessarily fit the genre that you would think of an ultra runner being,” Johnson said. “That (film) was actually one that was unanimous among the whole committee to show. It looks at different body types and stereotypes, and breaking down some of those barriers. Especially with the Banff Film Festival linked to Hames, I think that it really goes along with the Hames mission too.”
Tickets are on sale at Hames Center and Old Harbor Books, $20 for adults and $15 for youths and seniors. The proceeds go to benefit the Hames Wellness Fund.
“Hopefully, people leave laughing, smiling and just feeling a little bit more inspired to stay active,” Johnson said.
