Alpacka Raft Announces World Premiere of Sheri at Mountainfilm

May 26, 2022

MANCOS, Colo. (May 26, 2022)/OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Alpacka Raft, the world’s leading packrafting brand, will debut its new documentary, Sheri, on the opening night of Mountainfilm in Telluride. On the heels of the brand’s 20^th anniversary, Sheri tells the story of founder Sheri Tingey, who navigated the male-dominated outdoor industry for decades before revolutionizing it with the design of the modern-day packraft.

Produced by Q Stories, the film follows Sheri’s 60-year career in the outdoor industry, on a path from designing ski apparel in Jackson Hole, to raising children in Alaska before founding a brand that inspired thousands to explore the world’s most wild places via packraft.

“After returning from a 700-mile traverse in Alaska’s Brooks Range using wholly inadequate boats, without hesitation, I asked my mom to build me a better boat. I would have never thought it would lead to where we are today,” said Sheri’s son and Alpacka Raft CEO, Thor Tingey. “We created this film as a tribute to my mom, who will see it for the first time at Mountainfilm. Her passion for design and innovation has revolutionized the packrafting industry. She has redefined access, allowing others to travel remote rivers around the world.”

Alpacka Raft’s popularity in the paddling industry didn’t come without early criticism, thorough product testing, technical pitfalls, or personal sacrifices. Between chronic health issues and simply being a woman building her own business, Sheri overcame so many obstacles and is still designing packrafts at the brand’s factory today. The documentary, directed by critically acclaimed and award-winning filmmaker James ‘Q’ Martin, will warm audiences and ask them to grapple with important questions about equality in the outdoors.

“When the Tingeys and Alpacka asked me to help them create a film about Sheri, in a sense they were asking me to help write her a love letter,” said Martin. “Over the last year and a half, I worked tirelessly with a dedicated team to find the narrative thread that binds all of Sheri’s many accomplishments into an entertaining story. There were so many unique side stories we sadly could not include, like her sewing for the opera house in Anchorage or the fact she was one of the first people to ski the Jackson Tramline in the 60s; she has lived a full life. It was truly an honor to take on this challenge and work with a beautiful group of outdoor enthusiasts in creating this tribute to Sheri.”

The world premiere of Sheri will be held in Telluride at Mountainfilm’s Basecamp (Telluride Town Park) on Thursday, May 26 at 8:30 p.m. A second screening of Sheri will be held at the Wilkinson Public Library at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 30. Both Mountainfilm screenings are non-ticketed events that are free to the public. You can also screen the film virtually with Mountainfilm’s “After the Fest Online Pass.” Sheri has also been accepted to several additional film festivals around the world. Dates and screening opportunities for Sheri will be announced soon.

###

About Alpacka Raft

Alpacka Raft seeks to design and handcraft the most innovative, premium packrafts available. The company was founded as a collaboration between Sheri Tingey, the designer behind the products, and her son Thor, who had just completed a 700-mile traverse of Alaska’s Brooks Range with a dream better-performing packraft. They strive for a legacy of leadership, stewardship, and support that allows their community of diverse boaters a lifetime of use and adventure-driven fun. Alpacka Raft is committed to providing high-quality, living wage manufacturing jobs in the rural mountain town economy of Mancos, Colorado. Every packraft that leaves the shop is handmade and made-to-order. For more information, visit alpackaraft.com