Trans skier takes podium, Queer ski film release, and lessons learned in the most unexpected places.
butter brain ———
It is so nice to be back after the stresses of the last few weeks. I have managed to transform my laptop into a sort of janky desktop, with my portable monitor resting on top of an easel. I won’t lie, it does make me feel a little extra artsy.
Though I must admit, amidst the chaos, and really even before it, I was struggling. Struggling to get motivated. Struggling to finish anything on my to-do list. And I just kept getting more and more frustrated with myself. I try not to tie my worth to productivity, but that gifted child syndrome still lurks somewhere in the back of my brain.
What broke me out of the cycle was a quote I came across in a training module for becoming a library volunteer of all places. It goes like this:
“When you’re dealing with people who have mental health issues, it’s important to let them have a fresh start every day. You don’t have to forget behavior, but you do, to the best of your ability, try to let every day be a new day.”
The quote of course pertains to patrons who use the library that might be dealing with various mental issues and making sure to keep the space an open and welcoming place for them. But I think the advice of “have a fresh start every day” is applicable to everyone. It was a good reminder to me at least, that not every day is going to be my best day, and that’s okay. It does no good to wallow in the failures of yesterday when I could instead look forward to the potential of today.
So this is my reminder to you, to give yourself a clean slate, and let every day be a new day.
weekly find ———
Evo is currently having a 20% off sale on select items until EOD today! You have to use the code SAVE20 to get that deal at checkout. This would be a great time to grab a coat or pants if you have an item you’ve been eyeing. My choice though during sales, is too get a “quality of life item”. Something that I don’t necessarily need, but it will make my life just a little bit better! And this goggles case absolutely falls in that category. If you use the link below, I get a slight commission that goes straight to supporting Butter!
the butter beat ———
→ Trans man Jay Riccomini made it to the podium at the Laax Open in the Women’s Slopestyle Freeski. Claiming the bronze medal, Riccomini’s victory was a win not just for him, but for the trans community in skiing.
→ Queer ski film People Like Us is out and available to stream for free at Mountain Hardware. I had the pleasure of viewing this film during its tour and it is an absolute treat. It will absolutely be going into my yearly ski film rotation.
→ Contributing writer Erin Spong recently joined the Mountain Hardware Team! She has put in a lot of work and a lot of time into making her pro skier dreams come true and I am so excited for this huge step in her career.
→ Lily Bradley is back! Participating in their first Freestyle World Tour stop since their injury in 2023, it is great to see them out on the hill conquering those post injury nerves.
from the archive ———
When thinking of sports teams, snowboarding is not the first activity that comes to mind. But for Team Starfish, every run down the mountain is a collaborative effort. “[The team] actually got its name on the mountain,” explained Emily Trepanier, a legally blind snowboarder. “When I first started snowboarding, my coach was trying to figure out how to explain how I would fall, because he said it was a unique way of falling. It took him a while to figure it out, but then one day we were snowboarding, and I ended up falling, and he yelled out, ‘Starfish!’ He’s like, ‘every time you fall, your hands go out and your legs go like a starfish. It doesn’t really matter what way you fall. Could be sideways, on your back, on your front. You always seem to end up in a starfish position.’ And I was like, I kind of like that name.”
keep Butter churning ———
Butter Mag is made possible by the continuous support of you, the reader. A contribution of just 2$/month helps me license photos, pay contributing writers, and grow Butter to be the greatest it can be. You’ll get early access to all podcast episode and exclusive Butter merch!
become a Butter Babe on Patreon
join the community ———
Want to say hi and connect with the other readers of Butter? Consider joining the Butter Mag Discord! From deep discussions to goofy gifs, you’re sure to have a good time hanging out with us.
As always, take care and have fun out there!
<3 Alex.