Climbing Gym Brings Women’s Adventure Film Tour to Nelson
By Contributor
The Kootenay Climbing Association, the non-profit behind the Cube Climbing Centre, is screening the 2024 Women’s Adventure Film Tour on Friday, May 10th at the Nelson United Church.
The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for a film start time of 7 p.m.
The screening is a fundraiser to build a bigger, better climbing centre in Nelson. It includes a silent auction during intermission with nearly $10,000 worth of donated gear, apparel, and gift certificates from outdoor brands and local businesses.
Tickets are $22, and available online through Eventbrite.
Tickets sold out in advance last year and the Kootenay Climbing Association expects that it will be the same this year.
The Australia-based Women’s Adventure Film Tour (WAFT) celebrates inspiring women doing extraordinary things in the name of adventure.
The 2024 lineup includes eight carefully curated films that take viewers all over the world, across a variety of outdoor pursuits including climbing, skiing, cycling, fly-fishing, running, aerial dance, and freediving.
“I love this film tour because it’s so real and relatable,” says Rebeckah Hornung, Operations Director at Whitewater Ski Resort.
“It’s about everyday women getting out there and pushing their personal limits.”
Whitewater Ski Resort is the primary sponsor for the Nelson screening of WAFT.
“We’re thrilled that Whitewater wanted to partner with us to bring this amazing film festival to town,” says Jayme Moye, Vice President of the Kootenay Climbing Association. “It enables us to put a larger portion of the money collected from ticket sales toward building the new climbing centre.”
New for this year, the Kootenay Climbing Association is including a silent auction during intermission to raise additional funds.
Moye says the organization has amassed an incredible array of donated items for the auction including a two-person tent from MEC, a climbing backpack from Arc’teryx, and an $800 handmade puffer jacket from boutique mountaineering brand Ostrya.
“We’re up to almost $10,000 worth of donated items and they’re still coming in,” says Moye.
She attributes companies’ enthusiasm to donate to the skyrocketing popularity of climbing and mountain sports in general, as well as the natural fit between Nelson and a bigger, better climbing facility.
“It’s going to be sustainably built using local materials, and we’ll finally have enough room to be able to accommodate all the people who want to climb—from brand new beginners to professional climbers,” Moye says.
“Plus, it provides a fun and unique option for after-school child care, which we need more of in Nelson, and it’s a great alternative to recreating outdoors during times of smoky skies, extreme heat, or heavy rain.”
The trailer for the WAFT can be viewed at this link.
