I grew up skiing wayyyy back in the day, and was a Slalom racing in highschool, but I enjoyed hitting the moguls/bumps and taking small jumps the most, enjoying the thrill it gave me. After H.S. I took a long break from skiing during college and raising a busy family, as years ago both boys played hockey and my daughter figure skated. we lived at the ice rink!
Jump to 2009, when my son Kyle, an 8th grader at the time, asked if he could get some "twintip" skis. I'd never heard of them believe it or not! At that time he also introduced me to "Freeskiing" via Youtube, where I was introduced to 4bi9 and the infamous Tom Wallisch. It was love at first sight! I spent hours in front of the computer screen watching edits, getting to know about the sport and all its riders. The thrilling maneuvers and captivating style was addicting!!
Me and the kids got out skiing a lot over the next 5 years. Both of them joined the Nybora Freestyle team here in Minnesota where they progressed a lot. In just 3 years skiing, Kyle and Allison both qualified for Jr. Natls! Those were the best years of my life! Traveling to ski competitons. If I wasn't skiing myself, I was found with a camera in hand, filming and shooting Kyle and his buddies. And the best part about it. They wanted me there!!! Allison, not so much haha.
I also had fun acquainting myself with people in the business through Facebook. Pros, filmers, photographers, merchants, resorts, competitions. All of it! I set out to meet as many of my "Idols" as I could. Call it stalkery, but I was just star struck by all the riders and filmers, most notably Tom Wallisch, 4bi9 and L1P.
Over the past 5 years I've been able to meet and even ski with many of the athletes I admire by attending film festivals, Dew Tours, and our annual summer trips to Paradise, Mt. Hood. Wallisch, Ahmet, Hornbeck, Kyle Decker, Sammy C and Willie B, Henrik, Casabon, Bergeron, THall, N Martini, Bobby, Joss, Gus, Goepper, TYW, LJ, Hatviet, Jossi, Henshaw, PK, Woodsy, Roz, Devin, Grete, Battersby, Herman, Turski, Voisin, Black Steve, Keefer, McChesney, Wyble, Barnes actually all of 4bi9 I think, and more.
All this rekindled my passion for skiing, and I don't take it passively. I'm not content just swooshing down the hill. Even at my age of 52, I look for a thrill, an adrenalin rush. A couple years ago, with the encouragement of my son, I slid my first boxes, then even a small low rail.I acquiring many bruises, bumps and the annual toe bang that leads to my summertime toenail loss. I tore my ACL 4 years ago airing a pretty big jump(imo), but was back skiing 5 months post-op at Mt. Hood......Paradise!! 3 years ago,feeling good and strong in my knee, I was ready to try some spins off jumps. I started with 180's, then just commited more with each try until I spun a 360. Hadn't done that in 30 years!!! Last weekend I had a whole line going. I hit a couple easy boxes and then straight into a small jump and landed my 3's all day long. At my age, I can't tell you what a thrill and accomplishment this is!!
Obviously I don't like growing old. Freeskiing and the freeski community, and most importantly my kids, keep me young at heart! I hope I can physically keep skiing and even progress some more before it's over. Shhhh, don't tell my hubby. He thinks I'm crazzzzzy!
Okay sorry that was long.
