Your skiing career and dedication to Freestyle skiing
What were the main steps of your ski career and progression?
Well I’d have to give my past in rollerblading the most credit. I skated for the most part of my life (about 8 years) and really got to learn transitions and jumps as well as jumping onto street rails. I had skied when I was little, so when I got on skis I already had that skiing foundation, and the ski park was pretty similar to a skate park. D-Structure, my shop sponsor, got me hooked up on Salomon right away and my first year was really good for me and Salomon got pretty serious. That’s kind of like an overall of how it all started and how I got to where I am.. and when it comes to a day to day thing, I work really hard with my physios and strengthening coach, especially after my knee injury, and I work out at the gym on a regular basis. I try to skate a lot too just to keep myself in check with transitions.
How is Freestyle skiing evolving and improving on the girls’ side?
Well the girls scene is definitely improving but still has a long way to go. I want girls to roll up to a comp and pull tricks like the guys are doing. I really want to see more girls in slopestyle and big air comps too. It looks like there are more and more girls competing so that’s really cool to see. About movie segments, well I see some girls snowboard movies that are super good and would love to see more girls segments and maybe even a really sweet girl’s movie.
As a woman, what would you like to show and achieve in Freesyle skiing?
I really want to be able to go to a competition and pull off tricks that guys are doing. I want to be mistaken as a guy.. as weird as that sounds. I want to show that women are capable like guys are to do some really sick stuff. I want to be remembered for pushing the sport like Sarah Burke has done and has been doing her whole ski career.
Do you have the opportunity to share your passion and “teach” freestyle to young girls?
Yeah for sure. Every time I go out and see girls I get so stoked and try to get them really stoked too. Sometimes people ask me for some tips and I’m always trying to give some good advice when people need feedback.
Your life as a women
Do you have time for you life as woman beside skiing and what do you do?
Well I’m a pretty simple girl. I like to just hang out with my friends when I’m home. I love to shop, play poker, play pool, and just hang out!
What are your projects and how do you see yourself in the future?
Well I just want to come back into the ski scene really strong. I plan on competing a lot and getting my name out there. I’d like to film a good segment too. I dedicate myself 100% in skiing so whatever my future is, it will have skiing in it!
Is it hard to be in a sport that is male dominated?
Well I’d have to say that sometimes it is a little frustrating to see that men get a lot more events and money in competition, but I guess that comes with a sport that has so many more men involved than women. It’s also hard sometimes when you are one of the only girls on a team and are travelling with all boys and have to live with them. My whole life I have been either skiing or rollerblading, two sports that are both male dominated, and I have really grown to live with it and grow off of it as well. I’ve learned to not take their criticism too personally and to embrace it so I can one day be as strong in skiing as them. It’s fun to be able to cruise through a park with guys because they are always going to make you push harder to keep up with them.