Spirit of the Peaks

“Spirit of the Peaks” is a film about the struggle for balance between two worlds. For Hunkpapa Lakota skier Connor Ryan, skiing in Ute Territory has always raised questions about being in reciprocity with the land and its people. As a skier who connects with the land through sport, he empathizes with the injustices that have displaced the Utes and ongoing colonization, erasure and extraction impacting the Ute people. This story connects conflicted pasts to an awakening in cultural awareness that can create an equitable future for Indigenous people and skiers. The film was produced in partnership with REI Co-op Studios, Wondercamp and NativesOutdoors with additional support from Salomon, Peak Design and Protect Our Winters.

LEARN MORE about the film here: https://www.rei.com/blog/spirit-of-the-peaks-film

– CREDITS –

PRESENTED BY REI Co-op Studios. PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Wondercamp and NativesOutdoors

DIRECTED & WRITTEN BY
Connor Ryan (https://www.instagram.com/sacredstoke)
Tim Kressin

PRODUCED BY
Davis Goslin
Greg Balkin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Len Necefer
Hanna Boyd
Paolo Mottola
Joe Crosby

STARRING
Connor Ryan
Roland McCook
Lorelei Cloud
Teal Lehto
Cody Townsend
Bird Red

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Greg Balkin

MOUNTAIN CINEMATOGRAPHY BY
Isaiah Branch-Boyle

ADDITIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY BY
Bjarne Salen
Matthew Tufts

EDITED BY
Tim Kressin

AUDIO POST BY
Ridgeline Sound

COLOR CORRECTION BY
Alkemic Color

PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Micheli Oliver

GRAPHIC DESIGN BY
Vernan Kee

IMAGERY COURTESY OF
Utah State Historical Society
Uintah County Regional History Center
J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah
Park City Historical Society & Museum, Jordanelle Special Service District Collection
National Anthropological Archives, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

ADDITIONAL FOOTAGE COURTESY OF
Cody Townsend
Renan Ozturk
Pond5
Tread of Pioneers

SONG CREDITS
“Unforgotten”
Written by Meghan Meisters, Melissa Bandura, Dan General, Tanya Tagaq, Eddy Robbinson
Performed by iskwē
Used by permission

“PSA”
Performed by An Illustrated Mess, Tré Orona, E-Turn
Lyrics by Clint Slim, Tré Orona, Eliza Javaheri
Additional Vocals by Amber Martin, Tom Tuitasi
Music by Cecil Tso
Used by permission

“GASP”
Performed by An Illustrated Mess, Amber Martin
Music by Cecil Tso
Used by permission

SONGS COURTESY OF MUSICBED
“Lux” by Ryan Taubert
“Memories” by Ryan Taubert
“Xibalba” by Ryan Taubert
“Futures” by Roary
“Full Murmur” by Alicia Enstrom
“In the Shattering of Things” by Hammock
“Steady Now by Cubby
“Confucius” by Kyle McEvoy
“Weep No More” by Abilene

MOUNTAIN GUIDES
Rob Gardiner
Jack Klim
Casey Franklin
Owen Duffy
Jeff Cricco

SPECIAL THANKS TO
Silverton Powdercats
San Juan Expeditions
Winter Park Resort
The Coffee Bear
Silverton Mountain
Wolf Creek Ski Area
Michelle Seegers
Ellen Bradley
Joe Johnson
Jake Black
Maddy Peavy
Mike Douglas
Jimmy Hopper
Elliott Millner
Rob Peterson
Whitney Clapper
Annie Nyborg
Adam Saraceno
Anders Nordblom
Jaimie Love
Stephanie Wright
Lianna Kressin
Tim Ryder
Carmen Ryder
Wyatt Farwell
Paul Soderman