The mountains bring us so much joy. A new short film explores what happens when movement in them brings you pain.
Mountain Joy is a short film that follows pro skier Nat Segal as she works to forge a new path in the mountains following several years of managing chronic pain, which would later be diagnosed as ankylosing spondylitis. In an industry that celebrates pain, this film explores the challenges of navigating and managing a chronic disease while pushing one’s body beyond the limit for a living.
This includes building a new mindset around performance and rest. Through the film Nat Segal shares her experience working through her diagnosis and the knowledge she acquired during her journey to get back to the simple joy of being in nature.
The aim of this project is to share this story and empower other outdoorists to work through injuries, pain and tap into the power of the outdoors as a transformative place.
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In 2020 following knee surgery and rehab, Nat began to suffer severe back pain. While this has been something she has negotiated as part of her ski career since age 18, this time the pain would not go away.
After several years on a rollercoaster ride of pain, rehab and medical appointments, Nat was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis that causes inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine. The unexpected ups and downs of the pain cycle became her new normal. Despite the pain, she continued to spend time in the mountains as she couldn’t imagine never skiing or hiking again.
Last year, following the prescription of a new medication, Nat was able to begin her recovery process. The experience has led her to rethink the way she approaches the outdoors and her performance there.
About Nat: After winning the Freeskiing World Tour qualifiers in 2012, the Revelstoke-based athlete spent several years travelling the world competing while based out of the US and Chamonix/Mont-Blanc. She moved on from competition to film with Shades of Winter and Blank and to produce and feature in her own film projects including Shifting Ice and Changing Tides, Finding The Line, Beyond Begbie and People Like Us.
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