In Scotland, the Cairngorms region in the Highlands is one of the few places in the UK where you can ski. A particularity that the locals are fiercely determined to preserve, as shown in the film "Thrawn" with the example of snowboarder Lesley McKenna.
Mountain guide and entrepreneur Lesley McKenna took part in three Olympic Games between 2002 and 2010 in freestyle disciplines. In 2003, she became the first British rider to win a World Cup stage and lead the discipline's overall standings. Born where snow is scarce in Scotland, Lesley McKenna has never forgotten her roots. Co-founder of Wandering Workshops, an organization dedicated to making outdoor sports more accessible, she now gives ski and snowboard lessons around the Cairngorms, a region at the heart of Patagonia's latest film, "Thrawn".
In Scotland, the word "thrawn" translates as "stubborn", which seems to characterize the Cairngorms community, determined for generations to make the most of every powder season. The Cairngorms mountain range is located in the Highlands, and it was here that Lesley McKenna returned after her career, as portrayed in this 14-minute film.
"Thrawn is about making the most of everything we have. In the Highlands, we're connected to that energy. What drew me back to live here was the community's potential and passion for making the most of everything life has to offer," explains Lesley McKenna. Like many European spots, the Cairngorms face significant environmental and economic challenges. But the local community has never given up hope and continues to fight to ensure that skiing and snowboarding can continue to be enjoyed here.
"We're going to have to roll up our sleeves and do it ourselves, because nobody's going to come and do it for us. We can have it all, if we work together," adds Lauren MacCallum, activist and board member of the Cairngorms National Park Authority. "In these times of environmental and societal uncertainty, this community virtue of adaptability and resilience is more important than ever. Hannah Bailey, director of the film "Thrawn", concludes.
