There's Always Next Season

There's Always Next Season is a sports documentary that came out in 2018. Directed by Carl Christian Lein Størmer, it tells the heartwarming and poignant story of passion, community, and the enduring spirit of snowboarding enthusiasts in northern Norway. This film offers an in-depth look into the lives and aspirations of snowboarders who are bound by their unyielding enthusiasm for the sport and the snow-covered terrain they call home.

The movie chronicles the tale of the once-thriving snowboarding scene in Tromsø, a city above the Arctic Circle, which experienced a golden age in the 1990s. This era saw the establishment of the Tromsø Snowboarding Club, which became a hub for local riders to not only share their love for snowboarding but to also foster a tight-knit community around it. Stian Tapani Gundersen, a prominent snowboarding figure from the region, along with friends Daniel Mikkelsen and Roy Olsen, are at the heart of this narrative, serving as key figures in their community's snowboarding culture.

Throughout There's Always Next Season, viewers are introduced to the personal journeys of Gundersen, Mikkelsen, Olsen, and other local personalities who found solace and freedom in the slopes of Tromsø. They reminisce about the evolution of snowboarding in the area, recounting tales from the makeshift jumps and hand-built halfpipes to the construction of their local snowboarding park. The early days of excitement and innovation paint a vivid picture of a golden era filled with camaraderie and shared dreams.

However, the documentary also delves into the challenges faced by the Tromsø Snowboarding Club as interest in the sport waned, and the once-popular snowboarding park began to decline. Economic hardships, changing trends, and environmental issues all posed significant threats to the snowboarders' way of life, threatening to snuff out the community they had dedicated their lives to building.

Despite these setbacks, There's Always Next Season is fundamentally a film about hope and resilience. It explores the efforts of Gundersen and his friends to reignite the local snowboarding community's passion. Their goal is to bring back the golden days and ensure that future generations in Tromsø can experience the joy and fellowship that snowboarding brings. Their mission is to reconstruct the snowboarding park and rekindle the spirit that once defined their youth.

The documentary beautifully captures the breathtaking landscapes of Northern Norway, with sweeping visuals of snow-covered hills and clear, expansive skies. It underlines how the natural beauty of Tromsø provides a perfect, almost magical backdrop for snowboarding and how deeply the physical landscape is intertwined with the emotional landscape of the people living there.

Compelling interviews with the snowboarding enthusiasts, coupled with archival footage and photographs, offer depth and authenticity to the story. Audiences get a glimpse into the cultural and historical context of snowboarding in Tromsø, allowing them to appreciate why it's more than just a hobby or sport for those involved—it's a fundamental part of their identity.

Music in There's Always Next Season also plays a vital role, employing an emotive score that mirrors the highs and lows the snowboarders face in pursuing their dreams. The soundtrack complements the stunning visuals and enriches the overall experience, echoing the ups and downs of the snowboarding culture in the small Arctic city.

The film touches upon themes that resonate beyond snowboarding—it's about the human condition, the need for connection, and the relentless pursuit of happiness. It speaks to anyone who has ever fought to keep their passion alive or worked to preserve a community in the face of adversity. There's Always Next Season is a testament to the idea that even when times are tough, there is always an opportunity to resurrect dreams and start anew. It stands as a universal story of revival and the potential for renaissance not only in sports and hobbies but in any collective endeavor that brings joy and meaning to a community.

More than just a documentary about a sport, There's Always Next Season is a celebration of the human spirit and shows the power of determination, friendship, and the deep bonds formed through shared passion. It is a film that inspires and reminds us all of the importance of holding on to what we love, fighting for it, and believing that no matter what, there's always next season.