Girl Winter: The Film Tour That’s Redefining Ski Culture
Last night, I walked up to the Tahoe City showing of Girl Winter—one of two sold-out screenings in town—and I knew it was something special. Outside, a group of women and young girls hovered around a table to have glitter brushed across their cheeks. Sequins caught the light. Retro ski-girl fits (think neon jackets and faux-fur headbands) set the scene for that kind of joyful, unapologetic flair only found in a ski town towards the end of fall. The vibe alone could’ve been the show.
But inside, the energy was even bigger.
Girl Winter isn’t your typical ski film tour— not in feel, and definitely not in intention. And maybe that’s why it’s selling out theaters across the country.
Born from a desire to shift the ski-film landscape into something more representative and deeply welcoming, Girl Winter Film Tour is the brainchild of a four-woman team whose combined creative power, athletic talent, and storytelling expertise could fill a mountain range. What they’ve created is more than a film tour. It’s a movement.
Girl Winter attendees at the merch table, Photo: Katie Cooney
Where It All Began: A Spark, a Gap, and a Vision
Fall after fall, the Girl Winter team noticed the same thing at ski film premieres: incredible stoke, but a lack of diversity. Thus, a spark ignited in their sparkly brains.
“We noticed a lack of representation in the films we watched each fall. We wanted to change that,” says Sara Beam Robbins, one of the filmmakers and team members behind Girl Winter. “Our goal is to bring diversity, representation, and a range of storytelling to the ski film premiere season.”
That purpose birthed Girl Winter: a home for women, gender-diverse athletes, and creators who rarely get a seat at the table in an industry that’s historically focused on one type of storyteller and athlete.
The Power Team Behind the Tour
Girl Winter is run by a small, powerhouse group of creators:
Sierra Schlag
Sierra Schlag – Brand Director
A Japanese-American professional skier and storyteller based in Carbondale, Sierra grew up competing in moguls before shifting into big mountain and backcountry terrain. Her mission is rooted in equity—using storytelling and community activation to reshape what’s possible in the ski world.
Iz La Motte – Program Director
A documentary filmmaker and adventure photographer, Iz splits her time between Utah’s Wasatch Range and her off-grid Vermont cabin. She’s built her career around uncovering human stories with honesty and emotional truth, believing everyone has a story worth sharing.
Iz La Motte
Sara Beam Robbins
Sara Beam Robbins – Program Director
Co-founder of The Road West Traveled and director of the first-ever 100% women ski film Advice for Girls. Sara’s work exists at the intersection of creativity, community, and impact—uplifting underrepresented voices and expanding what’s possible in outdoor storytelling.
Katie Cooney – Creative Director
A multi-hyphenate creative from Driggs, Idaho, Katie’s art stems from personality, color, and story. She works across mediums—from film to baselayer designs—always focused on expression, equity, and conservation.
Together, the four of them run a nationwide film tour that feels more like a community than an event.
Girl Winter on Tour, Photo: Katie Cooney
A New Kind of Ski Story
Okay okay, we all love watching nonstop heli-accessed cliff hucks in BC and pillow lines that could swallow you whole in Japan. Girl Winter is here to push back against the idea that ski films can only look one way, and to show that the stories of underrepresented communities are just as central to this industry as any other.
“There hasn't been a whole lot of room for women to show up in any other way than the ‘token woman,’” La Motte said. “We welcome all kinds of femme-forward stories.”
Instead of relying solely on adrenaline-focused films, Girl Winter focuses on narrative—pulling back the curtain to showcase what it means to be outside of a ski-film's classic demographic: the joy, the fear, the grit, the progress, the community, the identity, the humor, the creativity.
Schlag added, “We hope the audience feels like we’re turning a page in the outdoor industry for the better.”
From the reaction I witnessed in Tahoe last night, they are.
From the film That One Friend
The Response: “How can I?”
One thing the team hears again and again is how meaningful these films are to watch.
“Finally, someone says they can see themselves or relate to a story,” Beam Robbins said. “People don’t just leave entertained—they feel empowered to take up space.”
When the films ended, a Q&A had women asking how they can begin filming their own stories and what it takes to be considered for the next Girl Winter Film Tour. Would they have asked these questions at a male-dominated ski film tour? Who knows. But that was the energy in the theater last night, and the kind of impact this type of event can have.
Cooney described this perfectly:
“The buzz when the lights come up ranges from excitement to deep reflection. Bringing storytelling back into pre-season gatherings lets people interact with what skiing means to them and their community.”
From the film Dear Superhero
A Community Effort—Literally
People might be surprised to learn that Girl Winter is run by a team of four for most of the year. During tour season, they loop in a social content producer, an event coordinator, and then rely on an army of volunteers across North America (friends, fans, ski-town locals) to help with posters, ticket checks, sparkle tables, merch, and more.
“We couldn’t do it without them,” Cooney said. “Their support shows how much people believe in this kind of community-building experience.”
Schlag and Beam Robbins, who led the Tahoe City stop of the Girl Winter tour last night, even prompted the audience to give ourselves a round of applause for simply showing up. I’m pretty sure that was a first for me at a ski-film screening.
It’s the clearest reminder that a cultural shift doesn’t happen through one big action—but through many people showing up again and again.
Stoke on the tour, Photo: Katie Cooney
What’s Next: Winter Elements + Future Dreams
The team is already working on a new feature-length film called Winter Elements, set to premiere with their 2026 tour.
Iz described it as “Interconnected narratives about the roles women play across the ski industry’s ecosystem.”
They’re currently running a Kickstarter to ensure every woman in front of and behind the camera gets paid for her work—continuing their mission to invest directly in women storytellers. If you are interested in donating to the Kickstarter, you can here.
Looking ahead, Sierra is hopeful:
“We want equal representation and pay for women, gender-diverse, BIPOC, and underrepresented folks. Our sold-out shows prove the audience is hungry for this.”
From the film Queen of the Catskills, Image: Jamie-Kennard
Leaving With Sparkles—Inside and Out
When I left the theater in Tahoe, I still had a few flecks of glitter on my cheek. But the bigger shimmer was the one Girl Winter leaves on your psyche. The films celebrate skill and strength, yes—but also vulnerability, identity, humor, community, and the simple joy of seeing yourself in a story.
It felt like the ski culture I want to live in.
One where everyone is invited.
One where stories aren’t filtered through the same lens.
One where we expand the definition of what strength and belonging look like.
One where women and gender-diverse athletes aren’t the side characters—they’re the authors.
Girl Winter isn’t just redefining ski film tours.
It’s redefining winter.