Pro skier to attend film screening Oct. 29 in Kennewick

Noah Wallace grew up watching films by Matchstick Productions.

The Colorado-based company makes some of the best-known and best-loved ski movies out there, from Soul Sessions in 1993 to last year’s Fade to Winter.

This year’s offering, Ruin and Rose, is coming to Kennewick for a special screening Oct. 29.

And Wallace will be there — not only because he’s a fan, but because the 25-year-old Spokane native is one of the film’s stars.

“For me, Matchstick movies are the ones I dreamed about (being in) when I was a kid,” he said. “Being part of (Ruin and Rose) was extremely surreal and amazing.”

The screening is at 7 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Three Rivers Convention Center, 7016 W. Grandridge Blvd. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Ski Bluewood is sponsoring the event, which is presented by Steve and Justin’s Series of Stoke.

Ruin and Rose is a different kind of ski movie. It features jaw-dropping ski footage — of Wallace and other athletes, from Mark Abma and Sammy Carlson to Fabio Studer and Cody Townsend.

It also has a narrative arc, about “a world without water, consumed by sand.”

“On the edge of the endless desert, a group of children survive alone in the ruin of the now,” a film synopsis said. “When a young boy unearths an ancient relic hinting at the lost wonders of winter, he sets off in search of the ghosts that once called the mountains their home.”

Wallace filmed his portion at Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada.

He and his fellow skiers were brought to location by helicopter, and “they built this amazing jump feature for us,” Wallace said.

The end result? “Get ready for a thrill ride,” Wallace said.

The 25-year-old grew up in Spokane, and he has his school — and a crush — to thank for getting him into skiing, he said.

“There was a program where four or five Thursdays out of the year, the school would go (to the mountain) and you could join or stay home and do homework,” he recalled.

For him, the choice was easy. And while he’d tried snowboarding, “I switched to skiing because I had a crush on a girl, and she was really, really good at skiing,” he said.

Now, he’s really good at skiing, too. Wallace, a freeskier who specializes in slopestyle events, has skied and competed around the world.

He loves the Alps. LAAX ski resort, southeast of Zurich, is a favorite.

He also loves the Northwest and its ski offerings, including Schweitzer Mountain Resort and Mt. Spokane, where he honed his skills as a young skier.

For him, there’s nothing like a day on the slopes.

“The thrill, the freedom, the spontaneity of it all. You never know what’s going to happen on a ski day. There are so many positive things about skiing,” he said.

Wallace is confident that will translate on the screen in Ruin and Rose. The film “is a different take on a ski movie. It’s unique,” he said.

Along with Ski Bluewood, several other groups also sponsored the screening, including HAPO Community Credit Union, Kadlec Regional Medical Center, White Pass Ski Area, Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort, 49° North Ski & Snowboard Resort, Sporthaus, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area, Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, Desert Ski & Snowboard Club, Dusty’s of Walla Walla and REI.

After after-party will follow the screening at Paper Street Brewing Co., 701 The Parkway, Richland. Wallace is set to attend.

Tickets to the screening are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Advance tickets are available at ruinandrose.eventbrite.com.

This story was originally published October 27, 2016 at 10:48 AM with the headline "Pro skier to attend film screening Oct. 29 in Kennewick."