Ski film with Voisin and Costain sparks stoke

Local freeride skier Parkin Costain remembers seeing epic Teton Gravity Research ski movies at the O’Shaughnessy Center when he was 11 years old and being inspired by skiers like Sage Cattabriga-Alosa.  

Now, Costain and fellow freeride skier Maggie Voisin are psyched to bring “Beyond the Fantasy,” a Teton Gravity Research movie, to Whitefish. The film features the two friends, alongside Cattabriga-Alosa and about 20 other top-notch athletes. The show is Oct. 3 at the O’Shaughnessy Center. 

Costain has been skiing with the film company Teton Gravity Research for about six years and helped get Voisin involved last season. After retiring from a successful, 10-year career in competitive slopestyle, Voisin knew she wanted to ski backcountry and film.  

“Most of the time, you work with a film company for years before ... going on bigger trips,” Costain said. “Maggie filmed in Jackson with us for two weeks and she crushed it so hard they invited her all the way up to Alaska. It was like straight from zero to 100 instantly. 

"Then, she won backcountry freeride skier of the year on her first year, ever,” he added. 

Voisin credits Costain and his friendship with much of her success. She said having him in her corner gave her the confidence to ski the way she did last season. 

“I have a really good hype man,” Voisin said of Costain. “We grew up skiing together and I always say the reason I became such a good skier at a young age is that I had Parkin. It's genuinely the truth. 

“For our paths to go two totally different directions and now just coming full circle again,” she added. “With TGR, we’re kind of a package deal now.” 

WHEN VOISIN and her twin brother, Tucker, were busy being born in 1998, Parkin Costain was just six months behind. After his birthday, the three became fast friends. In the early years, Tucker and Parkin were best buds and Maggie was the little sister who wanted to tag along. 

The two skied with their siblings on Big Mountain and with the local freestyle team. 

“Parkin and I, out of our siblings, we were the most competitive and serious,” Voisin said. “So we, right from the beginning, were just keeping up with each other.”  

She said she was trying to keep up with Costain, while he said he would not have done a 720 without being pushed by Voisin. 

“We’re super close,” Voisin said of Costain. “We've literally be hanging out since before we even remember.” 

Voisin moved away from the valley when she was 14 years old to train and compete. Costain began competing in the backcountry when he was a 9-year-old. 

After excelling in different ski careers for the last 10 years, Voisin in competitive slopestyle and Costain in big mountain freeride skiing, they are together again, skiing and making films. 

“The way this person skis is mind blowing,” Voisin said thumping Costain on the shoulder. “In the movie, he has a first descent, which is a really huge deal, on this line that's been looked at by many athletes for years and years and years.” 

The pair were heli-skiing in Haines, Alaska, when the first descent happened.  

“It's a super super-gnarly line that I looked at when I went to Alaska for the first time, when I was 17,” Costain said. “This year, it all came together, with the conditions finally being there and having the support crew behind me.” 

The two had unusually great weather this season and were able to ski more than they expected this spring. 

“Normally you spend a month in Alaska, and maybe go skiing three or four days,” Costain said. “But last year, we showed up and it had just snowed 3 feet, then it was sunny for three weeks. It was so crazy.” 

The duo’s sponsors have sent gear for Thursday night’s raffle, so there will be skis, goggles, helmets and more to give away. 

“It’ll be sick,” said Costain. 

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Skiers Costain, Voisin, Janelle Yip and Simon Hillis will be there to sign autographs and chat. There will be a raffle, and short films begin at 6:30 p.m., before the main feature starts at 7:30 p.m.  

Tickets are available online at the O’Shaughnessy and Teton Gravity Research and all proceeds go to the Flathead Freeride Team.

    TGR film