This week we grilled German freeskier Caja Schöpf on her favourite skiing movies of all times and what she has in mind to add to that herself.

Interview by Anna Langer

I wanna see even more girls out there showing their skills in the funparks and backcountry – they are an enrichment for the mountains, women’s skiing – and themselves!

Hey Caja, where are you and what are you up to right now?
Hello, I’m in Ohlstadt, my family place in Bavaria. I’m packing my stuff to leave to Innsbruck, my second base, to go skiing tomorrow.

We know you’re working on an exciting new film project this winter – can you tell us a bit more about that?
It’s another very exotic destination, in mountains I’ve never been before. It’s about hiking up a 5000 m high mountain. Until the first base camp, we’ll go with donkeys and for the rest we’ll skin up. After that I hope for a super nice and long run down back into the valley. I’ll have a filmer and a photographer with me again. But I won’t tell you more now, so stay tuned!

Do you watch a lot of skiing movies yourself?
To be honest, no, I don’t watch too much skiing movies and for sure not all of the new movies coming out. I’m not trying to see all the trailers before the movie itself comes out, I rather go to a film festival (like the IF3 Innsbruck) to watch them all on a big screen. I don’t really have a favorite movie of all times, but I really like what the Nimbus Crew is doing. You watch the movies and you know, they do it because they have the passion for snow and for skiing.

What about when you were a child?
When I was a child, I never watched any ski movies, actually, there were none! I was more into horse back riding and becoming a professional in this sport. Good I didn’t, way too expensive! Haha.

In snowboarding there has been a huge wave of females riders making there own movies – is there something similar in skiing?
I think the reason for that is, that snowboarding in general is way older and way more common than skiing, yet. But sure, there are girls in skiing, who are starting to do their own movies and projects. For example this year, I’m filming with an international all female freeski movie, founded by Lynsey Dyer and Sandra Lahnsteiner. Lynsey started this project in fall 2012 with a teaser called Pretty Faces. I’m really stoked to be on board and we’ve already been on one fantastic trip to Japan in January.

Would you like to do even more filming in the future?
I’d love to and it’s definitely a big goal. It’s hard work and can be very tough sometimes, but the shots and the results last forever. I can be way more creative and organize trips to destinations, I always wanted to go or just stay home in the Alps and check out places around my house, I’ve never been before. I love the mountains, and while filming and shooting, I can be a part of it.

What would your favourite movie contain?
Exciting trips, great action, lots of snow, fun, reality and most important people should love to watch it more than one time.

And where would you love to go film the most?
It always depends on the snow, as we all know. So where ever the snow is good, I love to film, no matter if it’s here in the Alps or in the Himalaya Mountains in Kashmir.

With Kashmir and the Lyngen Alps you’ve already been to some pretty nice places – which of all your skiing trips was your favourite so far and why?
They all were unique in their own way. To me all of those destinations, if India, Lyngen Alps, Japan or simply back home in the Alps are great to ski and enjoy being in the mountains. When you’re on the road with the right people, doing what you love, it doesn’t matter where as long as you appreciate the things you experience, you see and you feel. I loved all of my past trips and I know I’ll love all upcoming destinations as well… I enjoy and appreciate traveling, skiing and friends.

What other goals do you have for your future, professionally and privately?
For both, skiing and privately, my biggest and most important goal for my friends, family and myself is staying healthy, enjoying life to its fullest and appreciating every single moment you have with people you love.

Anything else you’d like to get off your chest?
First of all, I wanna say thanks to all my sponsors and long termed partners for supporting me and having those great cooperations. I’m really proud to represent all of you. Secondly, I wanna see even more girls out there showing their skills in the funparks and backcountry. Every single woman out there is an enrichment for the mountains, women’s skiing and for themselves. Last but not least, it doesn’t matter if we do Olympia, if we go filming, if we just go skiing to have fun or if we’re a guy or a girl, we all share the same passion.coller

Caja is sponsored by Fiat Freestyle Team, Dakine, Völkl, TSG, Oakley, Dalbello, Marker, NiceOne