Drew Petersen/Photo provided
A few years ago, Summit County resident Drew Petersen was struggling with serious mental illness. Suicidal thoughts echoed constantly in his head, and Petersen searched for a purpose to help him get through the situation he was facing and face the next day.
Petersen, who grew up in Summit County and loves the outdoors, set a goal to run 100 miles, thinking if he could overcome the mental challenges he faced, he could excel in any athletic event.
With that in mind, Petersen, a professional skier, Sponsored by Salomon — He has begun training for the 2022 Leadville Trail 100. While logging base miles leading up to the race, Petersen skied the line of mountains surrounding Leadville, getting acquainted with the Sawatch Range before taking on the more challenging course.
After an emotionally and physically exhausting journey, Petersen successfully completed the 100-mile race in August 2022. Petersen crossed the finish line at the historic corner of 6th Street and Harrison Avenue in 24 hours, 32 minutes and 3 seconds, placing 67th overall and 11th in his division.
Not only did it help Petersen overcome his emotional struggles, but the months leading up to that moment, and the race itself, are also the subject of Petersen’s latest film, “Feel It All,” which premieres Wednesday, May 29, at Summit High School.
Petersen’s first film was “Ups and Downs.”A new ski-and-running film, “The Psychology,” aims to break down the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, especially in mountain town communities like Summit County.
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“Very early on in this journey, I knew I wanted to speak out about mental health and suicide and use my story to help others,” Petersen said. “I was back here in Summit when the pandemic started, and in the space of 16 days, two Summit High School students had committed suicide and two others had attempted suicide and survived. I saw myself in those kids and visualized the outcome that could have easily been mine. I knew I had to get myself to a place where I could help them.”
Since “Ups and Downs” was released, Petersen has been on a mission to start a cultural wave of acceptance in talking about mental health and suicide prevention. After traveling around the U.S. speaking about his purpose, Petersen teamed up with another Colorado-based creator, Jesse Levin. Tyler Boyd — and began working tirelessly towards our vision for “Feel It All.”
“We’ve spent two years making this film and we’re so excited to share it with the world,” Petersen said. “The mission of this film is to help people and impact the culture around mental health and suicide.”
The film also delves deep into Petersen’s development over the years, taking viewers on a journey as he chronicles the challenges he faced at each chapter of his life, from his adventurous childhood growing up in Summit County to his first suicidal thoughts at age nine.
Petersen has attended numerous mental health forums and film premieres for the better part of the past three years, but he feels he hasn’t been able to make the same impact within the Summit County community.
“That’s what I’m most excited about is being able to bring that purpose and passion back home,” Petersen said. “I have this strong feeling deep down in my heart that I can help a lot of people, in a really broad sense. I can save a lot of lives, and I do save a lot of lives. Knowing that I have that within me is what gives me the obsession, the drive and the passion that I have to do this.”
Petersen hopes to emulate the role models he looked up to as a young skier who faced depression and suicidal thoughts.
“I looked up to professional skiers,” Petersen says, “and there was a real lack of role models, especially male role models who demonstrated emotional intelligence and masculine vulnerability. If I had heard professional skiers talk about mental health and suicide when I was growing up, my life would have been completely different and I probably would have been spared 20 years of suffering.”
Now, as a professional skier and inspirational filmmaker himself, Petersen feels a responsibility to be a role model that mountain residents can look up to and take comfort in.
“I have the privilege and responsibility to be that for other people, especially kids,” Petersen said. “It’s a heavy responsibility, but it’s an honor and an opportunity. It’s not a burden. It’s important to know that honor. I believe that with all my heart.”
With the help of crowdfundingArapahoe Basin Ski Area, Building Hope Summit County In collaboration with Summit High School, “Feel It All” will have a free premiere on Wednesday, May 29th at Summit High School.
The film is suitable for all ages, and a keynote address hosted by Petersen will focus on connecting Petersen’s story to the stories of many people who live in Summit County. Doors for the film screening open at 6 p.m., and the show begins at 7 p.m.
Petersen, who has been self-funding the project for the past two years since its Summit County premiere, is hopeful he can raise enough money on Kickstarter to make it happen. A campaign to bring the film to mountain towns across the United States
“The goal is to get this widespread,” Petersen said. “The biggest initiative is to take what we started in Summit County and replicate it in mountain communities across the U.S. We’re launching in Crested Butte on May 31, and then we’re looking to leverage this model across the West.”
To register for Wednesday’s screening of “Feel it All,” visit EventBrite.com. For more information on “Feel It All,” visit Drew-Petersen.com.
