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Robin Van Gyn Fabric

Episode three: Activism is all about fighting for a better future – doing what you can with what you have. Snowboarders Marie-France Roy and Ireland Smith demonstrate macro and micro approaches to environmental reform. Surfer Leah Dawson and skateboarder Hannah Eddy impact positive shifts for people and planet. Photos: FABRIC


The Inertia

Robin Van Gyn is a busy woman. She is, of course, one of the best snowboarders on Earth, which is a job that commands a lot of time, travel, and attention. But a few years ago, while on a surf trip in Indonesia, she decided to add another heaping helping onto her plate: a documentary film called FABRIC. The first premiere happened on November 12 in Encinitas, California, and the second is in Whistler on December 12. But since we live in the age of the internet, each episode of the five part series is also being released online. The third segment, Activism, is dropping on December 1 — and if the first two are anything to judge by, which they most certainly are, it’s going to be good.

FABRIC isn’t like anything else in the action sports world. “It started in a really basic place,” Van Gyn explained. “I was kind of sick of doing these shred-porn films where it’s all high-intensity action and the best-of-the-best. I looked around and asked myself, ‘what do I think is cool? What am I inspired by in my daily life?’”

The idea slowly gained shape in her head. The series documents a group of athletes, artists, and activists across snowboarding, surfing, and skateboarding who’ve done more for their sports than simply participate. It tells the stories of people who used their platform to do something bigger. Although it does still include world-class action footage and world-class athletes, it’s focused on more than just physical feats. The five themes are Knowledge, Adaptation, Activism, Heritage, and Community.

The episode set to be released on December 1 is Activism. It’s all about fighting for a better future by doing what you can with what you have. In it, snowboarders Marie-France Roy and Ireland Smith demonstrate macro and micro approaches to environmental reform. Surfer Leah Dawson and skateboarder Hannah Eddy impact positive shifts for people and planet.

FABRIC is packed full of some of the most influential people across a wide range of endeavors: in surf, Paige Alms, Izzi Gomez, Leah Dawson, Sanoa Olin, Textured Waves, Mainei Kinimaka, and Hanna Scott grace the screen; in snow, Estelle Pensiero, Robin Van Gyn, Jessa Gilbert, Marie France Roy, Ireland Smith, Spencer O’Brien, Sandy Ward, Juliette Pelchat, Maria Thomsen, and Leanne Pelosi are featured; and in skate, Kristen Ebeling, Juliette Pelchat, Rose Archie, and Hannah Eddy.

Tune in to episode three of FABRIC, Activism, on Evo.com. Don’t miss it, because it’s a one-time screening that includes a Q&A with the athletes after. Follow along on Instagram for updates here. Van Gyn is also speaking at The Inertia’s 4th annual EVOLVE Summit in Los Angeles on Friday, December 10, where she’ll premiere another episode. Find details and tickets here.

 
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