I’m Proof
Understanding that she—with all her success—still struggled with mental blocks, Lynsey knew that other female athletes must have been going through the same thing. So, in 2006 she co-founded the internationally recognized organization SheJumps (SheJumps.org) with the goal of teaching women to think that “If she can do it, so can I.” With year-round programs from skiing to youth initiatives, the organization’s primary goal is to get female athletes of all ages and skill levels outside and pushing themselves beyond the stereotypes and self doubts. “It is a place for me to show girls that they have a place in the mountains where they can feel accepted and connected to the outdoors.” And while Lynsey continued to be commonly featured in ski films across six continents, including being featured in the opening scene of Warren Miller’s Like There’s No Tomorrow, she continued to be fed up with the amount of amazing footage of talented female skiers that ended up on the cutting room floor. In a male-driven consumer market, Lynsey said she couldn’t totally fault the industry. “No one has marketed well to women and no one has really pushed women to push it harder athletically,” she said. But for the girl that personifies the “I can do anything I set my mind to” attitude, she couldn’t just walk away from the situation either. “Something needed to be done,” Lynsey said, about the time she started the production company Unicorn Picnic and began brainstorming about making an all-girl ski film. “It was time to show what girls are capable of in a way that hadn’t been done before.” So, she began production on the crowdsourcing film Pretty Faces, a play-on-words titled film highlighting girls and women of all ages for their raw talent in the mountains and beauty on the inside. Set to be released in 2014, with webisodes available online this fall (unicornpicnic.com), the film will allow the phrase “skiing like a girl” to officially take on a new meaning. The film has three main goals with the first being a way to truly honor the women that paved the way for Lynsey and her counterparts on the snow. Lynsey wants to also make sure that Pretty Faces gives credit to the girls who are truly working hard out there and that it gives women well-deserved attention for their femininity by being strong and not their sexuality. Lynsey encourages female athletes of all ages and abilities to demonstrate that they are proof, as well, by submitting for consideration in the film unique footage showcasing their passion: skiing. “The film will highlight a lifetime of sport all through the generations,” she said. Through early
2014, athletes can contribute footage of themselves “shredding pretty faces with their pretty faces” and highlighting this part of mountain culture by heading to unicornpicnic.com. While Lynsey has been able to showcase her talent on numerous ski mag covers, including as the first female on Freeskier highlighting her 70foot cliff jump, she says the lack of athletic female role models growing up was difficult. Every new project Lynsey takes on, every new route she skis, and her actions everyday illustrate her desire to
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help youth choose the right lines to take, not just on the ski hill but also in life. “My intention is to provide an avenue that can evolve, a place where girls can go to find a role model.” All proceeds for this non-profit film will help fund SheJumps. “We are capable of performing at a higher level than we think we can as women,” stated Lynsey. “Yes, we have to work harder and train harder than men, but that makes the reward even better.” The proof might just be behind all those pretty faces.
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