While mourning her late husband, Sarah Hornby craved an opportunity to connect with him through his biggest passion. Her goal was simple. She would attempt all 10 routes he created while researching his Bikepacking in the Canadian Rockies guidebook, in a single year. As she pedaled, her story transformed. From sadness and loss to a profound celebration of both his life and her own unique journey, she was choosing to live.

FILM CREDITS

In Loving Memory of Ryan Correy
Featuring: Sarah Hornby

Produced and Directed by:
Jeff Bartlett/Jeff Bartlett Media | Instagram | Facebook
Matthew Clark/Stirl and Rae Media Haus | Instagram | Facebook

Music mixed by: Kevin Horton

Special Thanks to: Sarah Hornby, Megan Dunn, Katrina Rosen, Penny Lawless, Katie von Gaza, Guy Stuart, Ainsley Bosch, Neil Sheppard, Huw Oliver

Sponsored by: Salsa Cycles

Bikepacking.com

When Bikepacking.com announced their annual awards for Film, Photography, Writing and Art, we were humbled, once again, to see Choosing to Live take the coveted People's Choice.

COLLECTIVE CHOICE: BEST FILM OF 2020

This award is simply mindblowing. Receiving the fan-favourite award is so unexpected but appreciated. I cannot thank Sarah Hornby enough for her patience throughout the process, Stirl and Rae Media Haus for partnering with me on the creative, and for Salsa Cycles for helping make it happen.

Today, I am extending thanks to the entire Bikepacking Collective. Like all of you, I turn to Bikepacking.com for inspiration, route ideas, and gear advice. It's incredibly humbling knowing that our small film reached so many during this incredibly challenging year.

Honorable mentions in the Collective Choice went to two other wonderful women. Please take the time to watch both, if you haven't:

1. Ruta Chingaza: Bikepacking for Conservation by Rugile Kaladyte

2. Go Solo - You've got this by Jenny Tough

Wo see the rest of the category winners and an invcredible diversity of films, photos, and writing, make sure to visit Bikepacking.com and read the entire post.

Official Selection: Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival

We are incredibly excited to announce that our short film, Choosing to Live, is a finalist at the 2020 Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival.

Shorty after Ryan Correy was diagnosed with cancer, he invited me for coffee at Good Earth Cafe in Canmore, Alberta. He had just completed his first chemotherapy treatment cycle and was already plotting his return to elite bikepacking racing the following summer.  He not only wanted to race Canada's triple crown (Alberta Rockies 700, BCEpic, and Hurtn' Albert'n) but he also wanted to make a film about the experience to submit to the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Sadly, Ryan passed away just nine months later.

Choosing to Live was born from these tragic circumstances, when Ryan's widow, Sarah Hornby, decided to cycle the 10 routes in Ryan's Bikepacking in the Canadian Rockies guidebook.

We sincerely hope that the film shows there's light even in life's darkest moments.

The film was featured in the 2020 Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival. It was screened with a collection of films titled Out The Back Door. 

Official Selection: Kendal Mountain Festival 2020

We're also excited to learn that our film will also be included in the upcoming Kendal Mountain Film Festival. Beginning on November 19th, our film will be available in the Bike Film Collection.

When we set out to make this film, our primary goal was to capture a local story - filmed in the Canadian Rockies - for our local film festival in Banff. We're incredibly honoured to have not only accomplished that goal but to also see Choosing to Live represented internationally.

Learn more about the 40th annual Kendal Mountain Film Festival or simply jump straight to the Bike Collection!

Big Bike Film Night 2021

THE BIG BIKE FILM NIGHT 2021 tour across New Zealand will commence on Thursday 18th February in New Plymouth and tiki-tour across NZ until the end of May. Visit the Screening page for NZ tour details.

Plans are also afoot for the event to visit Australia later in the year (dates TBC).

Showcasing their 2021 collection with everything a cycle-centric audience could want – action, drama, humour, and plenty of inspiration; the evening is unashamedly and utterly, utterly, utterly designed and devised for the two wheel devotee!

Choosing to Live is a gorgeous gut-punch of a cycling video by CyclingTips.com

"With elegiac pacing and beautiful visuals, it’s one of the most moving seven minutes of cycling-adjacent footage we’ve ever seen. Do yourself a favour and check it out."

This might be the Most Beautiful Cycling FIlm We've Seen by Adventure Journal

"Choosing to Live is its name, and we’re floored by the beauty of this little film. We hesitate to give away too much, but it touches nearly every emotional point and leaves you feeling a deeper connection with the human experience of nature."

Choosing to Live Film Release by bikepacking,com

"Salsa’s latest short film, Choosing To Live, follows Sarah Hornby’s powerful journey of bikepacking 10 different routes that her late husband researched for his Bikepacking in the Canadian Rockies guidebook. From sadness and loss to a profound celebration of his life and her own unique journey, she was choosing to live."

"Choosing to Live" a film made in memory of Ryan Correy by cyclingmagazine.ca

"In memory of her late husband, Sarah Hornby decided to ride all 10 of the routes Correy created in a single year. The journey ends up transforming Hornby’s mourning into a celebration of life, her own and Correy’s. Choosing to Live is the story of that journey."

Mountain Film Release: Choosing to Live by Crowfoot Media

Choosing to Live; Bikepacking Film Release by expeditionportal.com