Editor Caitlin

Many of you who have been closely following SRG Skiing will know by now that I can't pull this off on my own. Over the last year, one person has been pulling way above their weight to develop the videos and the channel: Caitlin Neeley, our video editor. While Caitlin did not take over editing on all videos, she did produce some of our most complicated and biggest videos throughout the 25-26 season and into this fall. She produced the Lake Louise Long Range Plan, The Best Ways to Read Ski Maps, and a number of Hater's Guides and smaller Breakdowns. My three favorite videos she produced are Wheel of Misfortune, the 25-26 End-of-Season Montage, and the Revelstoke History & Master Plan. These three videos all represent core memories in my SRG skiing experience. Even though they may not be our most-viewed projects, I consider them our best, and I still enjoy going back and watching each of them. 

Caitlin has brought a dynamic energy to the editing, and I am incredibly grateful for all that she has done. She took a huge amount of work off of my plate, which has allowed us to sustain weekly uploads even as my university coursework ramps up. One of the greatest things Caitlin brought with her into every project was her own vision. She was independent, and although I gave feedback on the videos (and often changed my mind on my previous decisions) she led the way on her projects, not requiring oversight from me. I'm not sure if she'll ever realize how much she did for the channel -- beyond increasing the video quality and undertaking a substantial chunk of the production work, she provided me peace of mind. It was a weight off my shoulders not to have to worry about whether the next video she produced would be good because from day one, I always knew it would be.

It is for all of these reasons that it is incredibly difficult for me to say and accept that Caitlin is moving on to bigger things in her life. I couldn't be happier for her, but the channel will never feel the same without her presence behind the screen. I've learned a ton from Caitlin, but I still don't anticipate that my editing will be quite at her level. Especially during these next few weeks or months where I have to edit every video, you may see a return to the "old SRG style," if you've noticed a difference. Of course, my goal is to make that difference unnoticeable. I'm also going to be on the lookout for a new editor from tonight until I find someone to fill the role. If you're reading this and would like to apply (or know somebody who might fit the role), feel free to email me directly (shangrei@srgskiing.com) and skip the application process.

I find it quite fitting that the Revelstoke video, which I consider to be the greatest project ever produced by SRG Skiing, was Caitlin's final video with us. I used to send her screenshots every time someone would comment about the editing quality, because I wanted to make sure she knew her presence was being seen. But over time, I've come to realize that she's not someone that desires that recognition, at least not outwardly. So while there may be a few -- or many -- comments about the production quality on this Revy video, I won't be bothering her with them anymore. The fact of the matter is that Caitlin just put her head down and worked, never asking for the glory. She probably worked harder than I ever did for the channel this last year, for compensation that's admittedly tight. I've told her several times to take ownership of her work and be proud of the growth of the channel. I hope that she understands that even though she might not be actively editing for us anymore, she is still responsible for a major piece of all future growth that this channel has. 

My father is the biggest role model in my life, and almost every time we get to talking about the channel, he mentions Caitlin. The words he's used many times are "however much you're paying Caitlin, she deserves every penny of it." He was wrong. She deserved so much more. But at the end of the day, bygones must be bygones. So as sad as I am, and scared of the road that lies ahead, I wish Caitlin all the best in her future adventures. Her contributions will never, ever be forgotten.

Caitlin, if you're out there, somehow someday reading this, thank you. I'll never stop saying it, because it's truly how I feel. You changed the videos, the trajectory of the channel, and many aspects of my life. I hope that we will continue to talk and perhaps work together again in the future.

-ShangRei Garrett

11/5/26