The signature image of the annual Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival represents the best in mountain adventure photography from around the world.

Each year the call is put out to photographers and creatives from around the world. Each year the Banff Centre receives a diverse range of mountain and adventure images. After all of the entries have been received, one image is then selected to represent the Festival in Banff and around the world in over 45 countries on the World Tour (including us here in Australia!), and is featured in our poster and our marketing materials.

This year, the annual Festival (45 years strong in Banff!) and World Tour will be represented by Christian Pondella’s image of Hilaree Nelson and Jim Morrison venturing into the Sierra Nevada backcountry for some outlandish ski touring about 14, 000 ft (4,267m or 4.2km).

The Story Behind The Photographer

Christian Pondella is likely a familiar name to many of you outdoor adventurers, his much celebrated work can be found in publications, online and in exhibitions worldwide.  One of the elements that makes Christian’s work truly distinctive in a competitive field is his ability to get up close, personal, and often way, way out there with his subjects.

An accomplished ice climber, rock climber, ski mountaineer and extreme athlete in his own right, he is always a fundamental part of the team on whatever adventure he’s shooting—including having to move faster and carry significantly more weight than anyone else—giving him a unique and intimate perspective at the cutting edge of human endeavour.

Pondella is based in Mammoth Lakes, California and has made the Eastern Sierra his home for nearly 30 years. As a child growing up in Los Angeles, his family would take several ski trips to Mammoth each winter which fuelled his thirst for skiing and the outdoors. Christian moved to Colorado during his college years to be close to the mountains and it was during this time he discovered is love for photography.

Combining his passions for photography and the mountains, Christian developed his skills in backcountry skiing, mountaineering, and loved documenting these adventures with his camera. Eventually, he was able to turn photography and skiing into a job which has taken him on a life long journey and has given him the opportunity to photograph and document skiing on six continents. His career has transcended into shooting all genres of adventure sports, but skiing is what he is most passionate about.

Often asked, “What is your favourite subject to photograph?” The answer is simple, “Powder skiing, if I am photographing powder skiing, that means I am skiing powder!”

The Story Behind The Shot

In April of 2018, Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson were training full steam ahead for their upcoming expedition to Lhotse. Jim and Christian Pondella planned a week-long trip to the east side of the Sierras. Unfortunately, just before they started there was a massive wet storm that rained at the highest elevations and then, the next day, the temperatures plummeted and the mountains froze solid. They decided to head out regardless as skiing bullet proof, terrifying ice was probably better training than skiing powder, albeit not nearly as fun. The conditions were actually great for climbing so they just kept going up until they couldn’t go any higher. They passed by the main couloir they’d originally wanted to ski because it was destroyed by the previous days’ rain. They ended up descending a more mellow route that stared from higher on the ridge but it was definitely still a no fall zone as any mistake would’ve resulted in a fall to the bottom on ice.

In the background is a high 13’er named Mt. Emerson.

Grab your tickets to the 45th annual Banff Mountain Film Festival, special World Tour program,

hitting Australia in 2021 and touring exclusively in April and May!

ICE CLIMBING, IN KENTUCKY?? PACK YOUR BAGS, LET’S GO!!

This adventure documentary takes you on a bourbon-fuelled ride, deep into the bushy hollers of Appalachia with a crew of harmless misfits as they race to search out and climb new ice routes before they’re gone. In the Banff Mountain Film Festival film, Gone Tomorrow: Kentucky Ice Climbing you’ll see that the filmmaker and crew had one hell of a time capturing this time honoured winter tradition and learn more about the history of bootleg ice climbing in the area.

The filmmaker, Mike Wilkinson, recalls, “As I realized that climbing ice in Kentucky was such a fleeting and rare activity, documenting it with photos and videos became an obsession, second only to my desire to climb what we were finding. This blossomed into an idea for a short film, which grew into something even larger once we started filming interviews.”

Mike continues, “The story starts and ends in Kentucky, but filming took us all the way to Washington and Colorado to chase down some of the original Kentucky ice climbers, and their stories will make your palms sweat as much as they will make you roar with laughter.”

The evolution of ice climbing in Kentucky, started well before any of the current generation of climbers knew those icy climbs existed… but it certainly attracts the same kind of fun loving, risk taking, larrikin-type of person.

The stories that the OG climbers have to share about the ice freezing in never before seen formations, sketchy climbs and even sketchier gear, is exactly the stuff that spurs on these young guns to keep searching, keep hunting and keep climbing! These ice climbs are here today, gone tomorrow, so you really have to get out there and do it before it all melts away.

The ice climbs in Kentucky are elusive and exclusive too. They are hard to get to! Driving, hiking, kayaking and slip sliding around, these frozen waterfalls require effort to get started! Nearly every winter for just a brief moment, there exists more frozen waterfalls than anywhere else in the lower 48, maybe even the whole world. Which sometimes seems hard to believe, when you remember that we’re in Kentucky!

For the last 40+ years, small groups of dedicated adventurers have been searching out and climbing these fleeting ice sculptures with a determined passion, because they know if it’s climbable today, it’ll probably be gone tomorrow.

TRAILBLAZER, PIONEER, ADVENTURER, MOUNTAIN CLIMBER, POLAR EXPLORER, WRITER & MOTHER

Myrtle Simpson is a name you won’t see in too many history books, despite her long standing history as pioneer in the outdoors. Her adventures were remarkable for many reasons, including the fact that she was doing them during a time in which it was expected that women would stay at home to keep house and mind their children. Myrtle wasn’t convinced that was the best for her, or her children… so whenever she could, she brought them along for the adventures too! She remarks, “the happiest I have ever been was in a little tent with the kids. When you hear people wailing now about how bad everything is, I would say: ‘Take your family and go camping.’”

A rich life of experience and unforgettable expeditions is exactly what Myrtle has lived. She is still adamant that she won’t change her active lifestyle and you can’t help but believe her when you still see her out on the slopes each winter, even now in her ninth decade of life. In her own words, “It is the very best sport for the elderly – the lift takes you up and all you have to do is ski down.”

In 2017, Myrtle Simpson was awarded the Polar Medal for services in the Arctic, from Prince William at Buckingham Palace, over 50 years after she became the first women to ski across Greenland in an unsupported expedition with four others. An accomplishment well deserving of the award.

Myrtle’s life is extraordinary, but don’t expect to hear that from her! Named by National Geographic as one of four women who “defied expectations and explored the world”, her life has taken her around the world from Spitsbergen to Greenland, from the Scottish Highlands to New Zealand, from the high Arctic to Peru. Myrtle and her husband, Hugh, have always made a point of taking their children with them as they pursued their work and passion  – expeditions, research and adventure. “We thought our kids had a much better time coming with us rather than us leaving them behind.” Myrtle remarks.

Remembering one particular expedition, where things didn’t go as planned,  “We took the kids as far as we could which was the most northerly school in Canada and Rory, our youngest child was just months old”. The year was 1969 and Myrtle, Hugh and fellow expeditioner Roger Tuft set out to read the North Pole. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to. Myrtle explains, “It was frightful to begin with – the ice was churned up and we were going about three miles a day. Then things got better but the radio went on fire. We argued for two days and three nights. In the end we chucked it in and turned around and we went and picked up the kids.”

Whatever the task or interest at hand, Myrtle has blazed her own trail. She has faced criticism for some of her decisions but firmly stood by her choices and set out to prove the naysayers wrong, perhaps also proving that you can have it all.

Myrtle has experienced places more people only ever dream about, she has reached heights many will never climb and been on expeditions where their eyes are possibly the first to ever gaze upon these remote corners of the earth. Throughout all these experiences she was raising children, writing 13 books, collection specimens for museum botanical collections and taking time to enjoy life.

Today, she is still adventuring, competing, writing and spending time with her family. For a woman who has accomplished so much, when so many said she couldn’t or shouldn’t, there is still so much life to live!

ARE YOU READY FOR AN ADVENTURE… WITH A ONE-YEAR-OLD??

You might already be familiar with one of the Jonesy’s… Justin, to be specific. He’s the ‘Jonesy’ half of ‘Cas & Jonesy’ and has been adventuring his whole life. These teen sensations set the pace for NEW adventure and giving things a go, no matter what your age or experience.

Whether it’s trekking through the snow or moving across oceans in kayaks, Justin’s always up for an adventure. Since those days of teenage adventuring, Justin has continued to adventure, only this time, it’s with his wife, Lauren.

When the idea came up to take their, then one-year-old daughter Morgan on an adventure with them. Neither Justin nor Lauren could’ve anticipated what would come, when undertaking a 1,800 km walk across the Outback. But if anyone can get through it, it’s the Jonesy’s!!

In addition to the film of their trip, Lauren kept an account of their experiences and in a time when COVID has put a halt to many opportunities to adventure, her account sounds truly idyllic… flies and all… they were in the outback and experiencing everything that the land had to offer, the good and the bad, the hard and the reward.

“There was no-one around us for hundreds of miles – beside the flies swarming my face. … My 16-month-old daughter, Morgan, was toddling by my side as I finished setting up the tent, happily picking up rocks and exploring the Mars-like surroundings. In that moment I realised I had found a new sense of contentment, happiness and self-reliance that had eluded me my whole adult life up until that point, or maybe I had just never slowed down enough to recognise it.

Our adventure hadn’t always felt this idyllic. The reality, until then, was often far from it. When we decided to walk 1,800km, roughly halfway across Australia, through the outback, with a toddler in tow, I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I had no idea how hard, yet life-altering it would be.”

Since that incredible journey, the Jonesys have been on an adventure of another kind… and in some ways, this adventure requires more endurance, adaptability and stamina than the adventures you meticulously plan.

They welcomed another daughter to their family (named, Dylan), recently moved to Tasmania (hello farm life!), been ISO-baking and starting a new adventure initiative (Adventure Thinking LIVE) amongst all that life inevitably brings on its own.

The Jonesy’s are a perfect example of putting the WHY behind all that you do. When they decided that they wanted to find a different way to live, to walk their own path through life, be it the outback or at home, they wanted to keep adventure at the heart of everything they do as individuals and as a family.

If it’s a matter of keeping up with the Joneses or keeping up with the Jonesy’s?? I pick the Jonesy’s!!

A WEE BIKE RIDE AROUND SCOTLAND WITH DANNY MACASKILL

If you asked Danny MacAskill to babysit your child, would you expect anything less than a cross country expedition, over mountains, over lakes, popping wheelies and doing flips…

Well that’s exactly what happened when Danny babysat Daisy the best way he knew how – by taking her on a bike ride! The Banff Mountain Film Festival film, ‘Danny Daycare’ is action packed because how can it not be, when you’ve got an impressive stunt man on a bike!

Danny MacAskill is a Scottish trials cyclist who rose to fame in April 2009 and uploaded a street trials video to YouTube. The five-and-a-half-minute clip was filed and directed by his flatmate at the time and featured MacAskill performing a series of bike stunts that went on to stun the world. Before long the video has garnered hundreds of thousands of views and it was clear that the then 23-year-old’s life would never be the same.

That original YouTube video he uploaded in 2009 has since had more the 35 million views and MacAskill has been riding the wave of popularity for his stunts. He’s a Banff Mountain Film Festival favourite and it’s easy to see why.

As soon as Danny gets on a bike, you know you’re in for an adventure. With thrills, spills and tricks galore, his filmography style showcases those skills perfectly!

The success of his YouTube videos and quick rise to fame, saw Danny quit his day job as a bicycle mechanic. Since then, he spends his time focusing on riding his bike, collaborating on projects, going viral with some insane trick and traveling the world inspiring others with his two-wheeled tricks in beautiful locations.

CHANGING UP A MORNING ROUTINE IN THE FRENCH ALPS

Richard Permin is not your average skier. In the Banff Mountain Film Festival film, Good Morning, we see Richard expertly navigate the rooftops of Avoriaz (in the French Alps) to get his morning baguette. At only 4 minutes long, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a ‘quick’ shoot. However, this particular film project took around 3 years from start to finish!

Filmmaker, Maxime Moulin explains, “We started this project in January 2016. But on the second day of the shoot, Richard got severely injured and broke his two heels.” In fairness, the project is ambitious and to make it look so effortless, it’s a bit more difficult than it looks to ski those roofs, even for an accomplished and talented sportsman like Richard.

Richard Permin is an exceptional skier. He is part of a new generation of sportsmen who have taken skiing and modernised it in an acrobatic way. Richard started skiing from when he was a young child and at 15, he became a ski instructor. From then he started taking his free time to experiment with the pipe and big air. Since then, he’s competed in contests, been part of films and experimented further with what he enjoys doing – taking it all the way to the backcountry! “Backcountry is my favourite discipline because it really mixes freestyle and freeride. It’s a perfect form of fusion,” Richard says.

Following Richard’s injury, the team sat down and reassessed what they wanted from the film and how they were going to achieve it. The four minutes of footage they ended up with came from 70 days of preparation, filming and post-production work, over the course of 3 years. Accompanied by a killer soundtrack, Bang a Gong (Get it On) by T-Rex, this film turned out better than they originally imagined.

In regards to the objective of the film, Maxime tells us, “The Good Morning project was launched three years ago. Riding roofs has never really been achieved. We chose Avoriaz for its unique aesthetic architecture. Our ambition was to film lines drawn by man’s hand in an unnatural setting.” When you watch the film, you can’t help but notice the beautiful way in which skiing those snow-laden rooftops allow Richard and Maxime to play with the idea of a those simple habits that we all go through every morning. In this case, it’s taken to the next level, literally!

After the injury Richard sustained the second day of shooting, it took 2 months in a wheelchair, several long months of rehabilitation and after a whole year in total, he was back in his skis and filming could resume.

Maxime reflects on that first day back on the shoot, “For me, the first best day of the shoot was when Richard skied again the roof where he got injured 2 years ago, and stomp it. To me it was like seeing someone reborn. After this big step, Richard was able, and more free in his head to ski all the other spots he had in mind.”

An absolutely incredible result, considering the shoot started out with a devastating injury. When you watch Good Morning, it will be more magical, more amazing and more impressive as you reflect on the journey that it took for everyone involved, especially, Richard… and you might find yourself craving a fresh baguette!

LIVING LIFE LARGE AT 82? “NO PROBLEM!”

Jacques Houot (pronouced ‘oooo ohh’) is an age-defying athlete. Some are even convinced that he’s found the fountain of youth! In the Banff Mountain Film Festival film, The Frenchy, we see 82-year-old Jacques live life with no thoughts of slowing down! In fact, I don’t think he knows how!

In the film, we see Jacques continuing to compete as a ski racer, a downhill mountain bike rider and a backcountry mountain bike rider. Medals adorn the walls of his room, and stories are abundant.

As we hear about his life story and the many different situations he’s found himself in, it’s astounding that he’s managed to reach the age he is and with the health and ability he has. Be it cancer, gun point, a heart attack, avalanches, drowning, the list goes on! None of that though, has dulled his enthusiasm for life, that infectious laugh he has or taken away his trademark saying, “no problem!”

At last count he has had around 23 or maybe 24 near-death experiences, one of the most publicised being when he was 22 years old and he accidentally drove his car off a bridge! Yikes! He still has the newspaper clipping from the accident and remembers the story well, all these years later. Like most of Jacques life, there isn’t much he’s done that you’d soon he able to forget.

Michelle Smith, the filmmaker of ‘The Frenchy’, recalls first meeting Jacques, “…while filming a cyclocross race. He couldn’t get enough of the camera and immediately started telling hilarious stories about all of his close calls on camera with no prompting. When I got home and looked through my footage I realised I had nothing by footage of Jacques. I knew a film star was born and I had to make a film about him. I asked if we could make a short film about him. His response – NO PROBLEM with a huge smile and laugh.” Now knowing a little about Jacques from the film, she subsequently made, could there have been any other answer given, except “no problem”? I don’t think so!

When making the film, Michelle didn’t realise that she would soon gain a best friend. “He lived two blocks away from me at the time, and he would stop by any hour of the day – knock and then just walk right in on his own terms. He would come in and go on to us during his visits about all the latest news in bike and ski races, his own personal day to day stories and retelling all of his close call stories… He also taught my four year old all “cuss” words.”

From his birth place in France, to his now home in Colorado, USA, Jacques is a man who doesn’t let circumstance dictate his opportunity. He keeps pushing forward, trying new things, exploring new places and finding his home wherever he goes. As a testament to his endurance and the perfect example of his optimism, Michelle tells, “During one video shot, there was a massive thunderstorm coming in. We had to get off the mountain quickly. I liked off very quickly, terrified, with thunder and lightning all around me. Jacques was not phased. He proceeded to take his time and ride his mountain bike down the mountain in the torrential rain, mud and lightning. He fell badly at one point – hit his face on the ground, face covered in blood, broken helmet – and he just said no problem and kept on biking down.”

Jacques is the kind of human that’s so needed in our world. He’s engaging, friendly, warm and still has that twinkle in his eye…. And if you had him in your corner encouraging you with a constant ‘no problem’, you might just find yourself tackling your dreams too.

Circumnavigating the globe with Sarah Outen

C.S. Lewis once said “no one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.” For Sarah Outen, years of fear and grief pushed her to an edge she wasn’t sure she’d ever come back from. The fear of slowing down, the fear of bottled up vulnerability, the fear of looking trauma in the eye, all came to a crux for Sarah in 2012 as a tropical storm smashed into her, as she clung to her humanity in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

After her father’s tragic death, UK adventurer Sarah threw herself into adventure, becoming the youngest person to ever row solo across the Indian Ocean at just 24 years old, all whilst wrestling with the confronting reality of navigating one’s early twenties. Her passion for adventure has helped her de-stigmatise her own mental health, find a supportive community and serve as a role model for those struggling. She says “before the journey and even during it I saw myself as a bit of a lone wolf, something of an outsider, afraid of being my full self and showing all the parts of me, even to myself. I have finally come to understand and really deeply know that I need people and community around me in a way that I hadn’t fully appreciated before. I don’t have to do everything on my own anymore.”

Sarah’s thirst certainly wasn’t quenched by her eventful traverse of the Indian Ocean, and embarked on her next expedition, London2London: Via The World. Her route stretched across the globe to the most remote corners of our planet; self-powered on her bike or kayak, she crossed Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America and the Atlantic. Whilst many envision adventure and the outdoors as a vessel to finding peace and understanding, Sarah found the raw mental and physical nature of her journey forced her to confront some of the deep seated trauma she had buried deep inside her. The sheer solitude and magnitude of the punishing task pushed her to the brink of her psyche, yet she found strength in having to let go and embrace the unknown.

In the aptly named film Home, filmmaker Jen Randal craftily weaves Sarah’s 4.5 year odyssey across the world into a heartachingly transformative story of resilience, pain and vulnerability. The 25 000 mile expedition showcases the strength of the human spirit and the power of human connection when all seems lost, capturing the timelessness of travel across a myriad of landscapes and cultures. Jen and Sarah worked together to mould hours of intimate footage captured by Sarah into a snapshot of her journey, piecing together the mundane and the extraordinary into a flick full of heart wrenching vulnerability and tear-jerking relatability.

Sarah highlights the confronting reality of undertaking such an endurance feat following a traumatic life experience, and credits the rawness of her endeavour for her finally finding her way back to herself, back Home. She says “there have been many layers, shifts and cycles to my healing – this is intentional work that cannot be rushed, I have finally come to understand. It has and continues to be a non-linear, messy journey, full of surprises and setbacks – just like my ocean rows were. Just like all of life really. Be brave, be kind, be curious.”

Home is being released in Australia cinemas on Thursday, 1^st October 2020. Screening at Event Cinemas, Village Cinemas and select independent cinemas for a limited release only.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/HOMEthefilmAuNZ for more information about the film, where it screens and how to buy tickets.

Instagram: @sarah_outen_home

Twitter: @sarahouten

Catching up with artist, designer, adventurer John Fellows

Meet John.

Artist, designer, adventurer and mastermind behind this year’s Banff Film Festival merch design. Hailing from Crested Butte, Colorado, John takes us through his tumultuous journey through the world of art and design, and the inspiration behind this year’s BUFF® art.

Early beginnings

Looking at John’s collection for outdoors giant Smartwool, you’d never believe that he was a C grade student in high school art class, but he is proof that passion and commitment are our most valuable tools. John admits that his relationship with art was therapeutic in its beginnings; a self-proclaimed “control freak”, he found his solace and the ability to let go of perfection driven expectations in his pursuit of linoleum carving. As a graphic designer trying his hand at realistic computer illustration, he found himself sucked into a vortex of perfection in every line, every shape that gnawed away at his creative spirit and left him uninspired. He kept his own handmade art as a hobby for many years, emphasising that “at that time (following his university graduation), no one wanted the hand-made stuff.” After leaving college, John travelled extensively to Europe and found his inspiration amongst the jagged peaks of the Swiss Alps, working on linoleum carvings and letting nature inspire his art.

The (art) tables have turned

Down the track, the art and design world came full circle and people, and companies, started valuing craftmanship again; whether that’s carpentry, art, you name it. People started valuing the imperfection and unique characteristics of handmade art. This turn of tables was perfectly timed for John, and the long wait paid off; “after years and years of me sending out portfolios, finally these companies turned to me and valuing my work, which was great as it allowed me to step away from the computer-based work that I didn’t feel was my true calling. I like having dirty, cut up hands after finishing a piece; it was much more fulfilling.” While it took him years of failed pieces, unanswered emails and hard life lessons, sticking with his passion was the true reward for John. He says “your original work is probably not going to be great. No-one’s is. But if you just keep at something enough, you will get better, and you will create something meaningful.”

The Great ArtDoors

John came into his own with his work at a time when outdoor artists were still few and far between. He first started making outdoor-centric art for himself and his friends, drawing on his travel experiences and his love for mountains and rivers, he didn’t intend for the world to see it. But the rapid popularity and relatability of his nature-inspired work quickly changed that. For John, his artwork appeals to the outdoor community because of the long hours of handiwork it took to create it; “all those sports, skiing, surfing, climbing, they’re all such physical pursuits that you can’t quite replicate on the computer. When it comes to artistic styles and aesthetics, handcrafted art appeals more to those who have an appreciation of that rough and tumble hard work; it all started when I decided to make art myself and my friends could relate to.” His “contemporary folk” style brings minimalist vintage and nature to life, capturing the beauty of nature through staunch stylized graphics. He finds his inspiration in the landscapes that he surrounds himself with, and more often than not, his own experience of the outdoors makes its way into his work.

Banff Mountain Film Festival inspiration

This year, the Banff Mountain Film Festival celebrates mountain literature and film, casting the spotlight on the words and images that honour our great outdoors and transporting us with words.

As a compulsive thrift store book enthusiast (and occasional hoarder), John was excited to bring to life his love of books through his art. He says “I was really excited to hear about the book contest this year and really wanted to honour the theme of literature, and convey that vintage aesthetic. I wanted to represent Banff’s beautiful mountains, and Lake Louise as they’re such special places, and I wanted to create something that was worthy of the Festival. It was difficult to create pieces that encompassed all elements of mountain life but I wanted to create art that could transport us like words do.”

You can purchase your own limited edition Banff Buff® here:

https://adventurereels.com/product/banff-mountain-film-festival-buff/

THROUGH RUNNING THABANG MABIDA HOPES TO END THE CYCLE OF POVERTY IN HIS HOMETOWN IN SOUTH AFRICA

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you practice a sport of some sort. Whether that may be competitively, or just for fun, there’s also a good chance that you know how much dedication, time, and energy it takes to train in that sport. Now extrapolate that to competing in that sport at an international level. And finally, imagine having to do that in parallel of being the sole breadwinner for your entire family. That’s the life of the incredible Thabang Madiba, a three-time South African trail running champion, whose swift, remarkable stride is making waves in the SA trail community.

Salomon latest film from their trail running series casts the spotlight onto a pivotal member of their elite running team, a figure who has played a major role in growing the trail running scene in South Africa. Notably, Thabang is the first black South African to represent the country in the sport of trail running, and has been instrumental in bringing running and all of its positive benefits to the crime and poverty stricken townships.

The movie sheds light on the remarkable athlete’s modest childhood and his introduction to running. He reminisces: “my grandmother bought me a pair of cheap sneakers. They were leather sneakers with a hard sole. That’s when I started running. In the morning, in the afternoon, to and from school. When I was angry, I would run, if I was sad, I would run and cry. It helped me so much. I think [without running] my life would be messed up, especially in this community.” Thabang candidly discusses growing up in poverty and being fiercely driven by the desire to change his circumstances for the better, a force that moulded him to give his all in everything he did. For him, running was his ticket to a better life for both him, and his family, as well as breathing life and hope into the community in his township. 

Thabang also makes a poignant commentary on the barriers of entry and the accessibility to sports for people without means of transport and no access to the trails. He recounts having to cycle incredible distances just to be able to toe the start line. His Salomon teammate Ryno Griesel says “he’d be that guy who’s late to the start of a race, and we’d already have started running, and he’d have to rush, jump off his bike, get his shoes on. He would be the guy coming from behind and still win the race.” His team manager at Salomon describes just how many more barriers Thabang has faced throughout his career, yet has stepped up to every opportunity that has arisen in the face of adversity.

The emotionally raw film captures the true essence of grit and resilience that helped a young boy in a South African township to turn his fate around and become one of the world’s greatest trail runners determined to make a positive change to the system from within.

See Thabang’s story on the big screen at the 2020 Banff Mountain Film Festival Tour of Australia.  Secure your seats here: https://banffaustralia.com.au/tickets/

Words:  Celeste Botton

Images: from the film Thabang