No one had ever skated on this frozen mountain lake. Until now.
Winter is coming. For now, at least.
Winter in the coastal rocky mountains of British Columbia is not perfect filmmaking weather. So when aerial filmmaker Bradley Friesen finds a window to make videos, his collaborators have to be ready at a moment's notice.
For figure skater Katrina Lazzarotto, that meant saying yes to flying up to a tiny lake atop a mile-tall mountain — and buying a new pair of skates on the way to the airport.
Lazzarotto and her new blades on the way to the airport. Photo by Bradley Friesen, used with permission.
The expense was worth it. In a few short hours, she'd be skating on ice that human feet — let alone feet in skates — had never touched before.
Lazzarotto laces up for the skate of a lifetime. Photo via Bradley Friesen/YouTube.
The lake on which Lazzarotto is about to skate is extremely remote.
It's deep within the coastal mountain range, about 50 miles northeast of Vancouver. There's no way to get near it, no roads or access. You'd never know it existed unless you were a mountain goat or you'd flown over it in a small helicopter.
This glacial lake is one of seven nearby nicknamed "The Mystics." They range in color from deep blue to bright green during the summer. Photo via Bradley Friesen/YouTube.
Finding a frozen lake this high in the mountains without snow cover is extremely rare. "I'd say it's about a once every ten years phenomenon," says Friesen as we chat by phone. "But because of climate change, it's happened the last three years in a row."
And when it does happen, it's time to seize the moment.
To quote Internet prophet David after Dentist: "Is this real life??" Photo via Bradley Friesen/YouTube.
Before this day, Lazzarotto hadn't skated in four years. But it all came back quickly.
Lazzaratto called this skating "on heaven." She's not wrong! GIF via Bradley Friesen/YouTube.
When you're a mile high in the mountains, perspective comes easy.
Filmmaker Bradley Friesen has been flying helicopters for the last 25 years, but only in the last two has he actively pursued a living as an aerial filmmaker. He's passionate about documenting western Canada's wild outdoors — particularly in winter, which on the coast gets shorter ever year.
Lazzarotto shoots the duck for the camera. Photo via Bradley Friesen/YouTube.
"I'd be stupid not to be an environmentalist," Friesen says. "Climate change is having an effect on all of us. Our glaciers in British Columbia are receding so fast. They used to move back 10 feet in a season, now it's like, 50 feet or more every year."
Photo via Bradley Friesen/YouTube.
"I think it's important I'm capturing it, so we can show people in the future what winter used to look like."
Photo by Bradley Friesen, used with permission.
Friesen has two other winter videos he dreams of making.
He wants to film a pairs skating team in the mountains — holler at him on Twitter or Instagram if you are in one and live within a day of Vancouver — and he's desperate to build a hockey rink and play a game on a frozen mountain lake.
"I've tried to build a rink 15 times and failed every single time," he says, laughing. "I can tell you precisely how not to build a hockey rink at 5,000 feet."
Here's hoping winter sticks around B.C. long enough for him to make his dream come true.
GIF via Bradley Friesen/YouTube.
Our mouths loves chips. Our bodies not so much.Photo by 
You can eat well without giving up sweets completely.Photo by 
12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.