PHOTO: D DAHER, FREERIDE WORLD TOUR
Jess wanted to be a vet when growing up, but her grades weren’t good enough. She didn’t think she had the ability to make it as an extreme skier either, she admits with laugh over the phone from Canada, but she’s sure proved herself wrong.
landmarks. A lot of visualisation is required. You look for takeoffs and landings to put a run together the evening before. It’s a calculated risk whereby you push yourself to the edge of your ability. Often, I’ll attain a ‘flow state’, whereby I’m fully focused. There are times when you’re not in the right headspace and that is when it can feel scary.
Is mental strength more important than natural ability?
Do you have any superstitions or rituals?
Jess Hotter, Freeride Skiing World Champion
One hundred percent. The mental game is the biggest part, the biggest barrier. I still work past it, every day. There were long periods growing up where I didn’t allow myself to improve – skiing with guys, they’d do something that I didn’t believe I could do because I was a girl. But that’s a narrative that women battle from childhood. A girl getting out and doing some jumps in the park, no matter her ability, should be celebrated. When signing young girls’ posters, I always write supportive messages of encouragement. Any memorable mentors or advice that you’ve received?
Sam Lee [freeride skier] has been a huge mentor, especially during the qualifying days. From the get-go, my mom and my sister have been really influential, really strong women. Mum and dad always sad the world is your oyster, and if you want something, work for it. I’ve really looked up to people like Janina Kuzma who is another freerider who used to compete in the Olympics. She’s been a huge help to over the years.
I have a particular pair of underwear and socks. If I do well in a certain thermal top I try to wear it for the rest of the competition – but I do wash it! In my backpack I carry a harmonica, given to me by a musician friend, his first one; an evil eye, which is a type of protection charm, given to me on a flight by a Middle Eastern lady who had cancer and was travelling to all the places she wanted to visit; and a poker chip found on the slopes by some American friends that helped me out massively during a really difficult time of my life. Can you play the harmonica?
No, I’m quite useless!
What do you get up to when not on the slopes?
It depends on the time of the year, but if not skiing in New Zealand, I’ll usually be biking or taking a random surfing trip. Overseas, I’ll chill with friends who make me happy and do whatever activities are available at the time.
Freeriding looks pretty dangerous; how do you prepare?
Regarding competitions, you don’t get to ski the face first, so there’s a lot of photography and looking across the valley through binoculars. You must have a strong sense of finding
Leading Ladies
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