Saying Yes & Doing What It Takes:Behind an All-Women Expedition Film
I sat down with Alenka, Irie, and Isi, three snowboarders and mountain athletes who came together to create an all-women expedition film, What It Takes. What started as an idea turned into something much bigger: a project rooted in trust, pushing limits, and figuring it out as they went.
This one isn’t just about snowboarding. It’s about saying yes before you feel ready, and doing what it takes to follow through.
More Than Just a Film
This project didn’t come from a big production company or a perfectly laid-out plan. It started with a message, an idea, and a willingness to reach out.
Alenka had the vision for an all-women expedition film and took the first step — connecting with Irie and Isi without fully knowing how it would all come together. That first leap is something I think a lot of us hesitate on. We wait until things feel more certain, more structured, more “ready.”
But that’s not how this came to life.
They built it in real time — figuring out logistics, navigating schedules across continents, and learning how to work together in environments where trust isn’t optional. When you’re out in the mountains, you don’t get the luxury of keeping things surface level. You have to communicate, support each other, and show up fully.
Creating the Space Instead of Waiting for It
One of the biggest things that stuck with me from this conversation, and something I’ve stood by and tried to practice myself, was the idea that if the opportunity doesn’t exist, you create it. There still aren’t many all-women snowboard films being made at this level. That gap didn’t stop them, it became the reason to do it.
Instead of waiting for an invite, they built their own project, organized their own premieres, and found a way to make it happen. It wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t perfectly funded, but it was done with intention and a whole lot of persistence.
That mindset carries far beyond the mountains.
Saying Yes (Even When You’re Not Sure)
If there’s one thread that runs through this entire conversation, it’s this: say yes.
Not just to the big opportunities, but to the small ones that lead there. The introductions, the collaborations, the moments that feel a little uncomfortable or uncertain. Irie talked about how those yeses compound over time, how one decision leads to another, and eventually you find yourself in places you never expected, doing things you once thought were out of reach.
And it’s not about having it all figured out. None of them did when this started.
It’s about trusting that you’ll figure it out along the way.
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Partner Thanks 🙌
This film is supported by Branwyn — a brand I genuinely wear and love. I’m also an affiliate, so if you purchase through my link, I may earn a small commission (and it helps keep this podcast going 🙌).
Thanks for being here and supporting these conversations that highlight women carving their own lines, in the mountains and in life 💚💛🧡 another way to support: https://buymeacoffee.com/tarinitup