• Loading stock data...
Thursday, July 3, 2025

Documentary Tells Icelandic Gender Equality Story Through Snowboarding

A Land Shaped by Women
Photo Credit Anne-Flore Marxer
land-shaped-by-women-documentary

Photo credit: Anne-Flore Marxer

Following years of fighting for gender equality in Europe’s snowboarding, Anne-Flore Marxer has channeled her efforts into an award-winning film.

Marxer has been traveling the globe screening “A Land Shaped by Women,” a documentary following her and her friend and fellow world champion snowboarder Aline Bock as they explore Iceland, a place ranked first in gender equality by the United Nations nine years in a row.

Her battles in gender equality in snowboarding ultimately resulted in equal prize money in freestyle competitions and brought women back on the Freeride World Tour, but the constant struggles took their toll.

“I was so tired; I had no more joy,” Marxer said about her feelings following her last competition win in 2017. “I decided to go to Iceland for a week. I heard it was on the forefront of gender equality and I needed a break and to find empowerment and inspiration.”

What she found in Iceland was exactly what she needed, but discovered a deeper desire to tell the story of Iceland’s women, as well as a more empowering snowboarding movie than the historic male triumph story.

Marxer and Bock ended up spending an entire winter in Iceland, tracing the history of the island nation’s women’s equality movements from the 1915 right to vote to Oct. 24, 1975, when 90 percent of Icelandic women brought the country to a standstill by no working or fulfilling their daily duties, demonstrating their importance.

READ MORE: Minor League Baseball Connects Women to Help ‘Lift’ Careers

“What struck me was how women created and brought the change,” Marxer said. “They didn’t play by the rules. They brought about change to the political landscape by bringing the issues to the center of the social debate and changed how the politics worked.”

Through the movie, interviews with Icelandic women and footage of snowboarding and surfing — Marxer is also an avid surfer — are shown. The focus was to alter the path of snowboarding videos.

“The storytelling is most often telling about the extreme and dangerous conditions and how one guy can survive and reach the top,” she said. “That narrative is very reductive because in snowboarding and skiing, 40 percent of participants are women. I was seeking female inspiration and setting a different narrative.

“All these moments we spend on the mountain or the sea, it’s magical. You don’t need to be a man to experience the joy of these beautiful sports.”

[mc4wp_form id=”8260″]

As she’s screened the movie across the globe, “A Land Shaped by Women” has won 13 awards at film festivals and she’s seen inspiration and sparked discussions in the women and girls in attendance —  but also the men, an aspect Marxer said she never imagined.

“A Land Shaped by Women” is now available on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Xbox, PlayStation, Vimeo on Demand, VUDU and FandangoNow.

“For me, it’s beautiful the film is getting me to places around the world and I’m just hopeful that the most amount of women [possible] have a chance to watch it,” she said. “It has nothing to do with me, but I know this film is bringing quite a bit of beautiful empowerment and inspiration I wish for the younger generations.”

Marxer said she has several ideas rattling around in her head for her next project, but she’s not going to rush into anything as she hopes another project will present itself in a similar fashion.

READ MORE: Overtime Capitalizes on Women’s Basketball Buzz With OvertimeWBB

“I would like to leave the door open to magic again,” she said. “I want to be able to finish this and let it grow on its own and have its own life. What happened was magical to have the inspiration that led to this.”

It’s likely the next project will be in a similar theme to “A Land Shaped by Women,” as she wants to tell the stories of women across the globe. She also knows sports can play an important role in empowering women and building self-confidence.

“It was never a plan for me to become a world champion,” Marxer said. “There are very few places you can grow your self-esteem, but in sports, it’s easy to grow. When you understand you have to put effort in gaining ability, you have to build skills and over time, you become better and it makes you smile.

“You don’t need someone to tell you you did a good job. You can feel it. Sports are the best way to get empowered, and once you have it in sports, you can use it in all other aspects of life.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jun 10, 2025; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) drops back to pass during minicamp at their South Side facility.
opinion

Steelers Win-Now Mode Is Good News for NFL Media Partners

The conservative “Steeler Way” has finally adapted—and media partners are happy.

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Seattle Rough & Tumble

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.

Featured Today

Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.
Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena
June 22, 2025

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.
June 15, 2025

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
FIFA

Saudis Awarded 2034 World Cup in Uncontested Vote

Saudi Arabia was the only option after Australia decided not to bid.
May 20, 2024

Top Sports Business Jobs This Week (May 2024)

Each week, our staff combs through the thousands of job listings from…
The stands at the Solheim Cup
September 13, 2024

LPGA Apologizes for Solheim Cup Fan Bus Debacle That Left Stands Half-Empty

The USA-Europe women’s team golf event teed off Friday morning.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
October 3, 2022

Real Madrid President Renews Call for Super League

Real Madrid’s president believes that soccer is losing ground.
August 10, 2022

PGA Tour Touts Projected Earnings to Keep Players

The PGA Tour is asking its players to consider their potential futures.
August 10, 2022

Bayern Munich to Make Growth Push in U.S. Market

Bayern Munich is looking to expand its reach in the U.S.
Nintendo-logo
August 3, 2022

Nintendo Profits Underwhelm, Switch Sales Decline

Nintendo failed to meet expectations in the company’s latest earnings report.