Red Mountain Ski Team hosts annual movie night at Charles Bailey Theatre to kick off season
By Writer's Block Solutions
Whether or not the rumoured Super El Niño delivers, ski season in the Kootenays starts Nov. 7 with Team GIVE’R Freeride Club’s fourth annual movie night. Returning to the Bailey Theatre in Trail, this signature fundraiser features The Way Out, the newest film from Matchstick Productions, and a night of pizza, prizes, and poster signings with local pro skiers featured in the film. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with the film starting at 5:30 p.m.
“This event is the official kickoff to ski season,” says Ryan Lachapelle, Team GIVE’R executive director and founder. “It’s a chance to build the hype, showcase our team and bring the community together before winter gets underway.”
More than 600 people attended last year’s screening, and the event keeps growing. This year there will
also be Team GIVE’R merchandise, raffle tickets, and a silent auction.
Now in its fourth season, Team GIVE’R is a non-profit youth competitive freeski team training out of
Red Mountain. The club has grown to 55 athletes, with roughly 15 new to the program this season.
“One of the most rewarding parts of this program is watching these kids grow up and seeing how much
they progress, both as skiers and as people,” says Lachapelle. “I feel like I’m a bit of an Uncle Ryan to
a lot of them, and that’s truly an honour.”
To keep pace with that growth, the club welcomes a new technical director this season. The new
director is a Level 4 ski instructor, coach, and freeride skier, and will help guide the club’s continued
development while the team focuses on a handful of key competitions.
“We want to build that team camaraderie, spirit, and energy that we’re known for,” says Lachapelle.
“Our goal is simple: a safe, successful, and fun season.”
But for Lachapelle, the work is also in honour of his best friend, the late Kenneth McAlpine.
“Losing Kenneth was a tragedy, and he continues to fuel my passion to make Team GIVE’R the best possible
ski team I can,” he says. “Skiing brings people together, creates lifelong friendships, and takes you to
some incredible places. I want to pass that on to the next generation.”
The Way Out is Matchstick Productions’ 34th annual ski film, exploring what keeps skiers hooked on
the lifestyle. Filmed from Alaska and Japan to the Swiss Alps and B.C.’s heli-skiing terrain, it features
Mark Abma, Chris Rubens, Logan Pehota, Marcus Goguen, Lucy Leishman and more.
“I’ve been watching Matchstick films since I was a kid, and they’ve always been my favourite,” says
Lachapelle. “With the support of our partners at The North Face, we’re stoked to bring this event back
to the community for the fourth year running.”
As for the Super El Niño?
“The last one in 2015/16 was my first year in Rossland and one of the best seasons I’ve experienced,”
says Lachapelle. “Hopefully the snow gods deliver the goods. Until then, just GIVE’R!”
Tickets are $20 and available: https://purchase.trail-arts.com/online/b_otix?cboPerformances=331&cboEvent=180.
For more information, visit teamgiver.ca or follow @teamgiver on social media.
