He splits his time between Stockholm and Gstaad, blending his love for freeriding, drone piloting, and videography. 27-year-old Toby Ryter’s debut short film, “ORKA – A Human-Powered Freeride Experience,” has earned a spot among the top five freeride films of 2024, solidifying his place in the global freeride community.

Ryter dedicates about 40 % of his year to Gstaad and Stockholm each, spending the rest travelling and working on creative projects. Over the past three years, his passion for freeriding has taken him frequently to Northern Norway’s Lyngen Alps, where he collaborated with friends Benoît and Edwin to film his 18-minute movie.

Freeriding Without Limits
The Lyngen Alps, a stunning segment of the Scandinavian mountain range, were a deliberate choice for the film. This location has become iconic thanks to Norwegian freeride legend Nikolai Schirmer. “Schirmer has been a huge inspiration,” Ryter explains. “He’s the first skier to bring real storytelling into freeride films, which was a game-changer.” “ORKA” blends breathtaking skiing with an engaging narrative. It follows Ryter’s encounter with four Swedish skiers at a bar and their transformative journey into the world of ski touring. “It’s about more than just skiing,” he says. “It’s about the fun, the struggles, and the triumphs.”

One of the most challenging scenes involved crossing a fjord by boat, then ascending from sea level to 1,200 meters on foot. Knee-deep snow and a gruelling seven-hour climb didn’t stop Ryter from carrying not only his skis but also filming equipment. For his Swedish companions, used to groomed resorts and ski lifts, it was a trial by fire. “By the end, they were fitter and had learned what skiing without lifts is all about.”

Recognition on the Global Stage
“ORKA” caught the attention of iF3, the prestigious international freesports film festival held in Whistler, Canada. Out of 50 films in the pre-selection process, Toby’s work made it to the top five nominations for the Best Amateur Ski Film of 2024.

“I never expected this,” Ryter says with pride. Though the top prize eluded him, being nominated on his first major film project feels like a triumph. “Of course, I was a little disappointed, but it only motivated me to think about how I can improve for the future.”

Bringing the Adventure Home
Toby, Benoît, and Edwin spent months crafting the film, from capturing footage in the rugged Nordic wilderness to countless hours of editing. “I worked on the digital editing every day until we were completely satisfied,” Ryter recalls. The result premiered to an enthusiastic crowd of 220 people in Stockholm.

JEANETTE WICHMANN
 

Watch the movie on December 20th at 19.00 at Cinema Gstaad