Ski Racer to Physical Therapist. My Journey

Skiing has played a significant and essential role in my life. I started skiing in Wyoming  at the age of two, and my parents used the local ski club as daycare for my three siblings and me. This eventually led to ski racing, which consumed my life for many years. Skiing defined my winters and even my summers, as I chased snow in South America and Mt. Hood.

As I neared the end of high school, I couldn't imagine a life without ski racing. I researched colleges with ski teams and discovered Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. There, I met the head coach, Kim, a kind yet formidable woman with impressively strong legs, who later became a mentor and someone I hold high respect for. Based on my points, she assured me a spot on the women’s team. I convinced my dad that this was the right path, and I moved to New Hampshire.I studied health and wellness with a minor in psychology but what I was really trying to do was figure out how to navigate the ice that these eastern people called “snow”. I wasn’t a fast skier when I got to Plymouth and initially, I struggled and felt frustrated, but by my junior year I started to see the results I had worked so hard for, both physically and mentally.

As my ski racing career came to an end my senior year, I was once again left with the thought, what is my life without ski racing?  I landed at coaching which at the time was a dream job. Most of my friends were also coaching, so everyday at “work” was mostly hanging out with my friends. 

I loved coaching. It brought me so much joy  to see the fire and determination in the athletes. What I loved the most were the connections I made with the athletes, but also their families. I was invested in these kids' success as well as their failures. Both on the hill, but also off the hill in their day to day lives.

With a background in health, anatomy, and biomechanics, I always thought, if I knew a little bit more about the body, had a bigger platform to stand on, could I help these kids be even faster? Stronger? Accomplish a little bit more? I was ready to move out of the ski racing world but still wanted to be involved on some level, be able to help these kids see their true potential in the sport. I thought about nursing and physician assistant but neither of those options felt like it would give me the knowledge to make the impact I wanted with the athlete population. Physical therapy is what landed after years of trying to figure it out. 

Becoming a physical therapist has given me the platform to combine my passion for ski racing and skiing in general with my desire to help others achieve their goals. It allows me to continue making deep connections while using my expertise to guide athletes and individuals toward their best physical selves. The journey from ski racer to physical therapist has been more rewarding than I could have ever imagined, and I am grateful for every step that has led me here.