A to B Rollerski (2017)

• 87%
• 2017
• Documentary
• Arnis Aspers

A to B Rollerski tells the story of Raimonds Dombrovskis' incredible roller ski journey from Arctic to Baja, covering 4200 miles in 90 days. Raimonds is a successful Latvia-born athlete who emigrates from the USSR to the US in the 1970's at the age of 17 and becomes a seven-time US champion in biathlon. He secures his place on the Team USA at the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary, but his dream is shattered as a sudden life threatening health condition forces him out of the competition shortly before the Olympics. But instead of giving up, Raimonds packs up his VW Westfalia van with canned soup and embarks on a 90-day roller ski trip from Inuvik, Canada, to Baja, Mexico. He's accompanied by his dog, Bucis, and his friend Martin, who drives the van and films the whole journey with a VHS camera. Raimonds uses his trip not only as a way to sort out his life but also as a way to protest the USSR and to promote the freedom of his native Latvia. Fast forward to 2014, and Raimonds, now an experienced adventure traveler in his 50's, retraces the same road trying to find the people he met in 1988 and reflecting on his life after his epic journey and the fall of the USSR.