The Road West Traveled: That One Friend
Professional backcountry skier Sierra Schlag has built a career around focus, grit, and always chasing the next big line. She takes her job — and her skiing — seriously. But behind every dialed athlete is that one friend who keeps it light.
For Schlag, that’s Waverly Chin — aka Waves — her funky, free-spirited best friend who shows up with snacks, silliness, and a reminder not to take life (or skiing) too seriously. While Schlag charges couloirs and checks off objectives, Waves is there to remind her that skiing is supposed to be fun.
That One Friend is a fun and lighthearted look at friendship, balance, and the beauty of not taking ourselves so seriously, because sometimes, we all need that one friend.
United States
Director
Sara Beam Robbins
Director
Filmography
Ski Filmography:
Kindred (2024)
Consonance (2024)
Advice for Girls (2023)
Turns All Year (2020)
Abandoned (2018)
Questions and Answers
Athletes
Sierra Schlag
Co-Presenting Partners
Collaborators
Media Partners
Film Guide
SKI CATEGORIES
For this year’s iF3 Movie Awards, any and all films about skiing, snowboarding or a mixture of the two are eligible.
AMATEUR
- Film of the year
- Skier of the year
ATHLETE
- Standout Female Skier of the year
- Standout Male Skier of the year
- Breakout Skier of the year
PRO
- Best Short Movie (under 20min)
- Best Urban Segment
- Best Backcountry Segment
- Best Storytelling
- Jury’s Pick (both Ski & Snowboard films eligible)
- Best Cinematography
- Best Editing
- Film of the Year
SNOWBOARD CATEGORIES
Whether it’s focused on freestyle, freeride, urban, backcountry, telemark skiing, mountaineering, adventuring, a documentary subject, or anything in between, your film is welcome at iF3.
AMATEUR
- Film of the year
- Snowboarder of the year
ATHLETE
- Standout Female Snowboarder of the year
- Standout Male Snowboarder of the year
- Breakout Snowboarder of the year
PRO
- Best Short Movie (under 20min)
- Best Urban Segment
- Best Backcountry Segment
- Best Storytelling
- Jury’s Pick (both Ski & Snowboard films eligible)
- Best Cinematography
- Best Editing
- Film of the Year
To all producers and athletes you are invited to register for iF3 2026 !
Registrations are now open for iF3 2026!
Amateur
Pro
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