The first woman to BASE jump "The Chief"

Adventure, adrenaline, and the unbreakable bond between mother and daughter — that’s what our documentary The Beginning with Alenka Mali captured. From last-minute snow jumps on Squamish’s Chief to camping on Goat Mountain, we documented the story of a young athlete chasing her passions while sharing the mountains with her mother.

The goal was simple: make a film about Alenka, combining her two favourite sports — snowboarding and BASE Jumping. One afternoon, Alenka called with news that changed everything: the Chief Mountain in Squamish had received so much snow that she was thinking of jumping tomorrow.

Less than 12 hours later, we had a crew ready, and the next morning we were on top of the Chief Mountain, capturing Alenka’s incredible snowboard BASE jump. That spontaneous moment set the tone for the rest of the project — bold, adventurous, and always ready to chase opportunity.

“Tomorrow? Let’s do it.” — the kind of call that turns a regular day into cinematic history.

"Survive, and come home"

The Chief jump was just the beginning. A month later, we embarked on a larger mission to capture a snowboard BASE jump from Goat Mountain.

Crew logistics — a team of 8, including Jimmy Martinello from Mountain Life, coordinated helicopter rides, camera gear, and remote camping.
Remote shooting — we camped on Goat Mountain, navigating harsh alpine conditions to capture the jump safely and beautifully.
Cinematic highlights — aerial shots, close-ups on Alenka, and careful choreography to bring the snowboard BASE jump to life.
This was a high-stakes, visually stunning chapter that became a center-piece of the film.

Tantalus Mountain: Mother-Daughter Moments

After Goat Mountain, we traveled to the Tantalus Mountain Range for additional b-roll. But a beautiful surprise awaited: Alenka’s mother was visiting from Slovenia.

What was meant to be a few days of landscape shots organically became a poignant exploration of the mother-daughter bond. Sharing the mountains, adventures, and quiet moments together, their connection became the emotional heart of the documentary. It’s a story of mentorship, courage, and mutual inspiration — a powerful counterpoint to the adrenaline-fueled jumps.

Behind the Scenes

Rapid-response filmmaking — from a 12-hour notice on the Chief jump to coordinating helicopters and remote camping.
High-altitude challenges — balancing safety, camera work, and capturing cinematic perspectives in rugged terrain.
Teamwork and trust — the crew of 8 relied on each other to navigate logistics, weather, and equipment in extreme conditions.
Sponsored adventure — the project was supported by The North Face and AntiOrdinary, helping make these remote, high-risk shoots possible.

The Result

The Beginning became more than a snowboarding and BASE jumping documentary. It’s a story of passion, fearlessness, and the extraordinary connection between mother and daughter. From Squamish to Goat Mountain to the Tantalus Range, every jump and shared mountain moment captures Alenka Mali’s journey, both as an athlete and as a daughter learning, sharing, and growing with her mother.

The film’s impact has been incredible: it won the Audience Choice Award at the Whistler Film Festival and has now been screened all over the world, connecting audiences to Alenka’s story of courage and inspiration.