Going Greenland | Mountain Hardwear

Rachael Burks free skiing off a partially snowy rockface.

MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR PRESENTS

GOING
GREENLAND

In this award-winning documentary, Going Greenland,
MHW athlete Rachael Burks and her ski partner Jessica
Baker combined a renewable energy sailboat with an
arctic ski expedition in Greenland, enduring a harrowing
and inspiring journey along Greenland’s west coast fjords
and towering mountains.

Rachael on the sailboat in Greenland, taking in her breathtaking surroundings.

Rachael skiing off the fjords in Greenland.

Downtime in the sailboat: Rachael is cozied up in the phantom sleeping bag while journaling.

View of the sailboat on the water in Greenland.

Captain Ben fixes up two hot chocolates, topping off both mugs with whipped cream.

Rachael climbing to the top of the ski run in Greenland.

Two images side by side of Jessica and Rachael getting ready to ski in Greenland.

Rachael in front of the dingy in Greenland.

ATHLETE & PRODUCER

RACHAEL BURKS

Rachael is a professional skier based out of Utah. She competed on the Freeskiing World Tour internationally (where she met Jessica Baker 20 years ago) and has since appeared in several Warren Miller and Teton Gravity Research Films. Rachael sits on the board of a non-profit called The Billy Poole Foundation, designed to inspire youth to spend time outside. She can be found at either Alta or Snowbird most winter days at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon.

ATHLETE & EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

JESSICA BAKER

Former World Tour Freeskiing champion, professional mountain guide, and mother, Jessica Baker, has a knack for seeking out remote adventures. From a young age Jessica developed a love for wild and mountainous landscapes while growing up on a small farm in North Idaho. From the Arctic to the southernmost Andes, Jessica has spanned the globe for her ski and alpine endeavors. Jessica lives in Jackson, WY with her husband, a fellow mountain guide, and her two young daughters.

To learn more about Jessica go to skidivas.com

Portrait of Captain Dan on his sailboat.

SAILBOAT CAPTAIN

BENJAMIN RUFFIEUX

Ben Ruffieux was born in land-locked Switzerland, but by the age of 13, he knew his destiny laid on a boat on the open ocean. Ben has spent the majority of his past 15 years living and working off a sailboat. The first 7 years were an engineless boat called 'Dira' which he circumnavigated the world several times on before discovering what it was like to sail in the ice. He bought ‘The Knut,’ a vessel more suited for Arctic sailing and made this dream possible. Ben is an artist above all things. He is an accomplished photographer, published author, and reads a book a day. He and his partner Mélina Repond (also a recognized artist) started a non-profit aboard The Knut, which is designed to take artists into the Arctic to document its splendor.

LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

KIMMERNAQ HEILMANN

Kimmernaq Heilmann is native to Greenland (Inuk) and is part of the Inuit Native Greenland tribe. Kimmy works as a polar adventure guide in the summers and teaches grade school in Maniitsoq, Greenland the remainder of the year. She has deep roots and many generations of her family connected to Western Greenland. In her free time, Kimmy teaches the youth how to hunt and subside off the land to continue the traditions of her people.

DIRECTOR, CINEMATOGRAPHER & PHOTOGRAPHER

ERICH ROEPKE

Erich Roepke is a freelance cinematographer based in the Tetons. Erich specializes in cinematic documentary coverage in some of the world's harshest environments, from Mt. Everest to Antarctica.

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

SOPHIE DANISON

Sophie Danison is a documentary filmmaker, video editor and photographer who is drawn to the intersection of social advocacy and the outdoors. She has filmed and edited content ranging from fly fishing to big mountain skiing and rafting to rock climbing.