COMPANY - Matchstick Productions

MATCHSTICK PRODUCTIONS

SAVING SKIING SINCE 1992.

Steve Winter

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / FOUNDER

Matchstick Productions (MSP) is the brainchild of Steve Winter, who in 1991 invited his friend Murray Wais to join him in launching a film company. Today, MSP is not only the world’s most awarded ski film brand but extends its services outside the ski scene as a fully equipped production boutique. The Washington State native while in line to pay his tuition at the Seattle Art Institute Film School, instead walked out and spent the tuition to finance his first film project. He’s been making films ever since.

As a partner and executive producer, Winter has led MSP to produce more than 25 films, over 120 TV episodes, three series and numerous commercials, garnering six Sports Emmy nominations.

Murray Wais

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / DIRECTOR

Murray was born in Seattle and developed an undying passion for skiing in the deep corners of the Cascades. As a partner in MSP for over 20 years Murray has traveled and shot skiing nearly everywhere there are mountains. It’s true that falling snow haunts his waking thoughts. A Colorado transplant and proud father, Murray’s entrepreneurial spirit thrives in running not only a successful production company but a global distribution company as well. Despite the hype and the corporate speak, his true love of life is the natural world and the joy that having fun outdoors brings. Murray considers it a great honor and a life long accomplishment to work side by side with some of the most talented crews in the world.

Eben Wight

ART DIRECTOR / DESIGNER

Eben Wight is our Creative Marketing and Design Specialist at Matchstick. With a background in graphic design and photography in the action sports industry, Eben brings over 23 years of experience to his role. He’s a pro at expanding clients brands and creating unique visuals that resonate with target audiences. As the creative marketing and design specialist, Eben is responsible for providing creative direction, leading his team and ensuring high-quality design. When he’s not crushing it at work, Eben enjoys skiing, biking, camping and spending time with his loved ones. Originally from New Hampshire, he’s now made a home in Colorado where he can pursue his passion for the outdoors.

Ben Sanford

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE / PRODUCER

Ben hails from the coast of Maine where he spent much of his time on the ocean and in the woods. Skiing the mountains of Maine and New Hampshire through high school and college provided an icey base for Ben to develop his love for skiing, but like many New Englanders, it left him craving more. Following in the footsteps of his brother who taught him to ski, Ben sought the last great American dream, the life of a ski bum. After finally settling down in Crested Butte, Ben snuck in through MSP’s back door and never left. Ben stays busy working and producing film shoots, producing the film tour and developing business relationships. Ben’s love of the outdoors keeps him in Crested Butte and forever stoked to be a part of Matchstick.

Ben Cole

CINEMATOGRAPHER / EDITOR

Ben grew up on the shores of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He spent his free time exploring the woods, water, and midwest “mountains” that surrounded him, usually with a camera in hand. After graduating with a film degree from Michigan State University, Ben followed the path of many midwest skiers and headed west in search of bigger mountains and deeper snow. His love for skiing and filmmaking led Ben to an internship with Matchstick Productions, the company that first inspired him to pick up a camera. Ben has since climbed through the ranks at MSP wearing many hats along the way. He now works his dream job as a Cinematographer and Editor for MSP. A childhood dream come true

Ainsley Green

TOUR MANAGER / PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Meet Ainsley Green, a recent graduate from the College of Media, Communication, and Information program at the University of Colorado Boulder. Ainsley, originally from Grand Rapids, MI, is passionate about visual storytelling and has prior experience in marketing, event planning, project management, and product development. Recently, Ainsley has accepted a full-time position at Matchstick Productions located in Crested Butte, Colorado. In this new role, they will be responsible for managing the logistics and execution of film tours, ensuring that audiences worldwide can enjoy the latest ski films produced by Matchstick Productions.

Scott Gaffney

DIRECTOR / DP / WRITER / EDITOR

After graduating from Ithaca College, Scott headed west – first to Colorado where he would meet and start filming longtime friend Shane McConkey (pictured here) then ultimately to Squaw Valley, California. Scott has been a partner with MSP since 1996. When we asked him to write a bio for the website he simply sent “Scott Gaffney is one bad ass mother fucker,” and we would have to agree. Scott knows more about ski movies than perhaps anyone else in the world. His ultimate passion for the sport of skiing, combined with his camera skills and editing capabilities, has led Scott to become a renowned legend in the ski film world. Together with MSP, Scott has helped to produce, shoot, and edit over 100 TV episodes and nearly 20 feature-length movies.

Court Long

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Kansas City native Court traded BBQ for mountains and made her way to Colorado in 2016. She Graduated with a BFA in Photography from CSU a few years later. Since 2018, she’s thrived in the outdoor industry, wearing hats from photographer to marketing whiz. Her passion is rooted in combining her photography background with the marketing world, learning the power of data-driven storytelling. You can catch her skiing deep in the backcountry, filling her hunting tags, pedaling her mountain bike and living the mountain life to the fullest.