Q: How did your journey in freestyle skiing begin?

A: My parents were big skiers, and they put my siblings and me into skiing, so I followed in their footsteps. I started competing when I was around 10 years old through Vancouver Freestyle, and I fell in love with the sport and the community. Being able to ski with my friends every weekend was a huge part of why I loved it. The friendships and the people around me have always been what kept me in skiing. When I was younger, the Olympics seemed really cool, and I thought it would be amazing to go one day. But I didn’t truly believe that goal was possible until this year. Looking back at how far I’ve come since I was 10 is pretty incredible.

Q: How has skiing shaped you as a person?

A: It’s made me resilient and taught me to work hard. It’s also shown me how powerful passion can be. Throughout my career, the common theme has always been how much I love this sport. That passion has gotten me through the hardest times, especially when things weren’t working out. It’s helped me stay positive and keep going.

Q: What has been one of the biggest challenges in your career?

A: Last season was the first time I really struggled. It was my first year on the World Cup tour, and it was a big adjustment. I had just come off finishing second overall on the North American tour, so going from being one of the stronger athletes in a smaller field to competing against the best in the world was a huge change. My results weren’t matching how I felt about my skiing, and my confidence really plummeted. I started questioning why I was even there and whether I should quit. I eventually got through the season and finished with a really strong result at the World Championships, placing seventh in the dual event. It was the best I had ever done at an international competition, and it became a pivotal moment for me. It showed me that if I kept pushing and believing in myself, I could get there. I went into the following off-season with a different mindset. I knew I belonged, and I knew my hard work could make a difference. This past season ended up being the best of my career. It feels so rewarding to know that sticking with something and continuing to believe in yourself can pay off.

Q: What helped you get through that difficult period?

A: My friends and family were a huge part of it. Having people cheering me on and supporting me was really important. During the off-season, I also made sure I was putting in the work while still having fun. I would go skiing with friends, listen to music, and just enjoy ripping down the mountain. That helped me regain some perspective. At the end of the day, why do something if you don’t love it? Skiing is my job now, but I still want it to be something I genuinely enjoy.

Q: What was it like being a young girl in freestyle skiing?

A: Freestyle skiing has been male-dominated for a long time. When I was growing up, there were only about three other girls around my age who regularly trained at my club. When we reached around 13 or 14, a couple of those girls left. Because there were already so few girls, losing even a few made a noticeable difference. I was lucky that I generally got along well with boys, partly because I have an older brother and was comfortable in that environment. But I did struggle to find female role models when I was younger. There weren’t many older girls in the sport for me to look up to, so I often looked up to the boys instead. Eventually, I moved from Vancouver Freestyle to the Whistler club because there were more girls there who could push me. I moved with another girl from my original club, which made the transition less intimidating. It turned out to be a great decision. Having more girls around me and a female coaching staff made a real difference in my attitude toward skiing. I really flourished there.

Q: Why do you think girls leave sport during their teenage years, and what could help them stay?

A: Freestyle skiing is demanding. You have to travel a lot, and when I was in high school, I sometimes felt like I was missing out on the typical high school experience. I missed school, social events, and the things my friends were doing. I was fortunate to have a solid group of friends who welcomed me back whenever I returned from a trip. But I can understand how difficult that balance could be for someone who doesn’t have the same support. I also think there’s a gap in the pathway for athletes who want to continue skiing without pursuing the highest competitive level. At a certain age, it can feel like you either make the provincial team or you’re done. There should be more ways for people to stay involved as they get older, even if they don’t want to compete anymore. Maybe that means coaching, staying connected to a club, or simply skiing recreationally with friends. Sport should be something you can continue to enjoy, even when your goals change.

Q: What was your experience like when you first got your period?

A: I was relatively late to get my first period. I was around 15, so I was one of the last of my friends. My periods were also really irregular, which created a lot of anxiety around competitions. Our competitions usually run from Thursday to Sunday, and I would worry about what would happen if my period started during that time. We wear white mogul pants, so there was an added layer of stress. I eventually spoke with my doctor about my options. Because I was also dealing with acne, we decided that going on the pill made sense for me. It helped make my periods more predictable and reduced a lot of the anxiety I had around not knowing when they would come. My doctor also recommended having a withdrawal bleed every three months, which I found helpful. Having a better sense of when my period might happen meant I could mentally prepare myself. I still find it inconvenient when it falls during a competition, but I’m much more comfortable managing it now.

Q: Do you and your teammates talk openly about periods?

A: It depends on the situation, but we do talk about it. During a competition weekend, if someone gets their period, it can be a matter of buckling up and getting through it. During the summer, when we're training without competitions, we can sometimes take it a little easier on ourselves. I remember one of our coaches jokingly being told, “I'm on my period, so don't make me hike again!” That kind of openness makes it easier to acknowledge how you're feeling and adjust when you can.

Q: Have you ever felt uncomfortable discussing menstrual health with your coaches?

A: Definitely. I've never really felt comfortable openly discussing my period with my coaches throughout my career. I did have a female coach for two seasons after I moved to Whistler, but I hadn't gotten my period yet at that point. So I never really had that experience of talking to a coach about menstruation. There are other aspects of women's health that affect our training, too. We do a lot of trampoline work in the summer to build air awareness and practise our jumps. Sometimes, girls experience urinary leakage while jumping, and I've had to explain to a coach why a teammate wasn't comfortable jumping any higher. These are real experiences that affect how athletes train, but they can be difficult to bring up if you don't feel comfortable talking about them.

Q: What do you wish more people understood about menstrual health in sport?

A: I think we need to normalize the fact that women have periods and create more space for open conversations. Education is a big part of that. My high school sex education was very centred around male bodies, and I think that's a problem. Boys and men should learn about menstrual health, too, especially because so many coaches are men. An athlete's cycle can affect energy levels and how they feel during training. Young girls deserve to understand what is happening in their bodies, how it might affect their sport, and what they can do to manage it. It's easier said than done, but we need to make these conversations feel normal rather than taboo.

Q: What do you hope young girls take away from your story?

A: I hope they see that it's possible to work through difficult periods and come out the other side. Last season, I questioned whether I belonged in the sport, and now I've had the best season of my career. Having people around you who believe in you matters. Finding ways to keep enjoying your sport matters, too. You can work hard and have big goals while still making time for fun, friendship, and the reasons you started in the first place. And I hope more girls can see women succeeding in sports like freestyle skiing and recognize that they belong there, too.