A new film, ‘Thrawn’ has been released, documenting the resilient and passionate Cairngorm snow community in the Highlands of Scotland and their unmatched dedication to snowsports.
The word “thrawn” can mean “stubborn,” but it is stubborn for a good reason. The snow community in the Cairngorms struggles to make the most of what’s available each season and Thrawn, produced with funding from sportswear company Patagonia, documents that.
The film shows the unique power of the snow community in its resilience and stubbornness to make the best of things, which is what “Thrawn” is about.
Director Hannah Bailey explains, “The Cairngorms breeds a special kind of folk who make do with what they have, and make use of every opportunity out there. In times of environmental and societal uncertainty, this community virtue of adaptability and resilience is more important than ever. This story is an example of that.”
Thrawn features Lesley McKenna, a local to the area and three-time Olympic snowboarder who was raised on this innate tenacity and has spent her life pushing the boundaries of her sport and advocating for the people and place that shaped her.
“Thrawn is the ability to make the most of whatever we’ve got. Up in the Highlands we are connected to that energy,” says Lesley McKenna. “What brought me back to live here is that there is so much potential in the community and the passion that they have for making the most of whatever life throws at them.”
Like many other mountain areas across Europe, the Cairngorms are facing the impact of environmental and economical challenges first-hand. But motivated to fight for what they have, the community are coming together to find ways to protect wintersports and the playgrounds for generations to come.
“We’re going to have to roll up our sleeves and do it for our god-damn selves. Because nobody is coming to do it for us,” says Lauren MacCallum, Activist and Board Member of the Cairngorms National Park Authority. “We can have it all, if we just work together.”
You can watch the full film here.
Thrawn will also be live screened at local events in the Scottish Highlands in Fort William, Aviemore and Portree this February, accompanied by panel discussions with Hannah and Lesley.
Patagonia’s Worn Wear Repair Van, which offers free fixes to damaged skiwear from any brand will also be on hand for gear repairs at the Fort William and Portree events.
16th February – Fort William Mountain Festival
21st February – The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore
25th February – Magic Mountain Festival, Portree, Isle of Skye.
PHOTO CREDIT: © Brodie Hood
