By: Eva Toschi
Photos: Anatole Tuzlak
The Blondes: exploring the backcountry with anarchy and optimism
Three Strange Animals: The Blondes. Their brains often operate in synchrony. Together they thrive, feeding off each other in a symbiotic relationship. This wild species is peculiar; those who observe its movements perceive absolute chaos. Who are they? How did they get here? Are they natural blondes?
The Blondes. Three girls, not necessarily blondes, who decided to spend as much time as possible doing what makes them feel good, what they enjoy. And they decided to do it together. There are not many “communities” or small groups of girls exploring the backcountry with an equally anarchic and positive style. That is why The North Face film How did we get here is a breath of fresh air: a glimpse of something we wish was just about everywhere, even in the Alps. But under the ski masks, behind the blond wisps coming out of the helmets who are “The Blondes”? What do they do? What do they feed on?
How do you like to define yourselves as a group?
We are a group of three female skiers, Tonje Kvivik, Janelle Yip and Emily Childs.
Some background…
Tonje Kvivik grew up in Kristiansand, Norway. After finishing high school, he lived in the French Alps before moving to Canada, where he has lived for five years. Janelle Yip grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and began competing in Slopestyle before moving to Revelstoke, British Columbia. Emily Childs grew up at a small ski resort in northern British Columbia called Troll Resort. He currently lives in Squamish, BC, where he spends his time skiing, flying and fishing.
We feel it is appropriate to clarify what the name “The Blondes” refers to…
We initially named ourselves after a brand of beer called Cariboo Blonde; we thought it was fun and hoped to be sponsored with beers. This was the original context when we were younger, but then we dropped the name “Cariboo” and remained simply “The Blondes.” It was never a name given by hair color.
Is it all about having fun?
Absolutely, “The Blondes” was simply born out of our common desire to shred together, film it and share it with others, because we had and still have so much fun together. Combining our energies was like an explosion of laughter, fun and sharing incredible moments, and that is how “The Blondes” were born. Skiing for us is the most fun thing you can do, and we wanted to keep it fun and try to never take things too seriously.
This is the kind of movie that inspires girls (like me) who know how to ski but remain at an intermediate level. Is it ever too late to learn how to raise the bar in freeriding? How do they take their first steps in jumps, tricks, or steep skiing?
We take great pleasure in knowing that we can inspire other women. It’s never too late to push yourself, to keep stepping out of your comfort zone and get a little scared, to feel strong emotions and have fun. At the end of the day, though, it’s about being satisfied and happy, so do what you feel is best for you, and if pushing yourself is skiing a line that is more challenging for you, then try to feel great for doing it. We will be proud of you no matter what. And you must be as well.
Sure, skiing in deep snow is the greatest feeling in the world, but what about snowless, crusty, icy slopes?
This is a big NO from all three of us, we don’t like it. We prefer to ski almost exclusively in powder; that’s where all the fun is.
Have you always been a professional skier?
Yes, we came out of the womb as professional skiers. The doctors picked us up and said, “Look, he’s a professional!”
Emily, what about the helicopters?
I love flying helicopters because it feels like skiing. Flying through the mountains and making turns on skis.
Do you remember the first time you met?
The first timeJanelle and Tonje met was when Tonje moved into a room in the shared house where Janelle lived in Revelstoke. Janelle and Emily met at Revelstoke Ski Resort, and Tonje and Emily met when they were both competing in a freeride competition at Red Resort, where they fell in the same jump. Then all three of us met in Revelstoke… The rest is history.
What do the Blondes do in the summer?
We do a lot of different things in the summer, for a few years Janelle has worked as a firefighter, Emily flies helicopters in Squamish, and Tonje is finishing a master’s degree in business. We also enjoy hiking, climbing, mountain biking and enjoying life.
Favorite place to ski?
The world’s favorite place to ski is the Troll Resort. (ed. is Emily’s hand in this?).
How did the idea of making a film come about?
We have always wanted to make a film together, it has been our dream since we started skiing together, doing small edits. The idea of combining everything into one story was always with us, and when we met with CK9 Studios at the IF3 Festival and got the incredible opportunity from The North Face to make the film of our dreams, we couldn’t have been more grateful and excited.
Favorite se tup for a snow day?
Atomic Bentchetler 120 with Shift bindings.
Janelle, has your relationship with fear and injury changed since the incident in the film?
Yes, absolutely, it was a life-changing incident for me. I had concussion symptoms that lasted for months, and for a while it was difficult to do many of even the simplest activities. During my recovery, I changed my perspective on skiing in a very positive way, and this allowed me to focus on other things that interest me. Going back to skiing, I am definitely more aware of taking very calculated risks and being super careful to take in the day-to-day sensations.
Tonje, what do you miss about Norway?
My grandfather, who is 92 years old and still cutting trees and fishing every day: he is a great inspiration and I miss him.
