Caite Zeliff Debuts First Independent Ski Film, "My Ride or Die"

Featured Image: Emily Sullivan | Skier: Caite Zeliff

They say birds of a feather flock together, and that corny sentiment rings especially true for besties Caite Zeliff and Morgan McGlashon. Zeliff has made a name for herself in the industry with her fast and wild style, hucking massive cliffs and wearing her boisterous personality on her sleeve. That combination has made her a desirable asset for big productions like Teton Gravity Research (TGR), Warren Miller and Matchstick Productions (MSP). McGlashon, on the other hand, has been quietly working behind the scenes of big-mountain productions toward her American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA) certification. The two became fast friends when Zeliff first moved to Jackson Hole and while their careers aren't entirely the same, they've been moving in a parallel, upward trajectory in the mountains together for a good decade.

While the goal for many ski athletes is to receive a call from one of the larger film companies, as it was for Zeliff as she was coming up in the very small but star-studded pond of Jackson Hole, it comes at a price—your personal ski time. For Zeliff, the back-to-back-to-back winters of scheduled trips with pre-determined crews started to wear on her love of the sport.

"The reason I love skiing is that it’s this place of joy where I go out playing with friends," says Zeliff over a phone call. "When you’re on trips with these bigger production companies, they choose the crew, which makes sense but that was my whole winter, working and filming. I got to a place in my career where I felt confident I could get the funds to make something happen."

That something has culminated in the 17-minute film, "My Ride or Die," where Zeliff collects her closest mountain friends to learn a new way of being in and approaching the large Alaskan faces that have lured in so many skiers, like herself.

Armed with her best friend and mountain guide, McGlashon, and cinematographer and director Charlotte Percle, Zeliff built the team of her dreams. All three of the girls became close living and recreating in Jackson Hole but this film project was the first time they all got to work together, bringing their individual strengths and talents to the table. Zeliff was just 15 days out from a big crash that left her with a lingering traumatic brain injury and a broken hand but the years-long trust built within the crew established a much-needed safety net for the big-mountain skier as she explored a new way of approaching big Alaskan lines. Up until this point, Zeliff had only skied these kinds of lines from the top down via helicopters, but McGlashon's preferred foot-powered approach opened Zeliff's eyes to a softer, slower way to immerse oneself in these magnificent landscapes.

"Go on a trip with your homies. If you’re with the right people and have the right attitude, you’re going to have a good time and something cool is going to come out of it," says Zeliff.

A labor of genuine love, "My Ride or Die" is Zeliff's first foray into self-produced ski films, and hopefully not her last.

From YouTube:

Morgan McGlashon and Caite Zeliff picked obscure paths. Those paths collided and became intertwined. As professional athletes they understood each other, respected each other and truly saw each other's potential. When their careers took off they found themselves spending less time in the mountains together but they always dreamt of one day coming back together on a proper adventure. On a 10 day expedition in Alaska, the two reconnect. This is a lighthearted account of the magic of friendship and how it can shape your life.

Featuring: Caite Zeliff, Morgan McGlashon, Aaron Diamond, Gavin Hess, Victoria Noel Blake, Jill McGlashon

Directed by: Charlotte Percle

Produced by: Caite Zeliff

Edited by: Charlotte Percle, Kyle Crichton, Morgan Shields, Jacon McDaniel (Post Sound) and Dan Olsen (Color)

Director of Photography: Ben Dann

Principal Photography: Charlotte Percle

Additional Photography by: Luke Bredar, Matchstick Productions

Photography by: Emily Sullivan

Supported by: Blizzard Tecnica, Scott Sports, The North Face, Wild Rye, Rockie Talkie, Skida, Blue Ice, Shield