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Saturday, 13 Oct 07
YOU MAY KNOW Ingrid Backstrom from her big lines in Matchstick Productions and Warren Miller movies, but did you know she has done more than literally jump off cliffs? This Jumper, one of the best big-mountain skiers in the world, gave up a life of studying rocks (geology major at Washington's Whitman College where she was a top ski racer) to pursue her dream of skiing. She is one of the most humble kids you will meet, and loves to see anyone enjoy skiing regardless of their level. Ingrid grew up in Seattle, Wash., and now calls Squaw Valley, Calif., her home.
SheJumps: If you aren't skiing, you are ...
Ingrid Backstrom: Running, biking, doing whatever I can to get outside, and hanging out with friends, cooking, dancing, whatever! Also, I'm sort of a nerd and I like to read whenever possible.
SJ: What is the most exciting thing about your career as a big-mountain skier?
IB: The most exciting thing is filming — when you're actually out there on top of a line, getting ready to drop in, and then actually skiing. Watching my friends do amazing things, and then just being stoked at the end of a great day.
SJ: As a "jumpers" we take risks, to be more than we imagined (i.e. live the dream), what's a jump or risk you have taken that got you where you are?
IB: The risk I took that got me where I was was to quit my job and travel to freeskiing contests! My boss told me that I wouldn't be able to take the time off that winter — I was torn, because I had always been raised to go to school, work hard, have a job, etc. — but it was very liberating to realize, hey, I have money saved up from working hard, and I can take some time off and see where this goes — and it just kept going from there!
SJ: What's next for you? What's another goal?
IB: I want to get better at more diverse aspects of skiing — mainly, park, and mountaineering. More experience, and learning and re-learning the basics in both of these areas would be awesome.
Ingrid Backstrom, right, with big-mountain skier and friend Jenn Berg
SJ: If you could do one thing for the world with no limitations, what would it be?
IB: I would get kids outside, off of their video games and computers, and appreciating the outdoors and physical activity. It seems like we face a problem in the future where there will almost be no support for environmentalism because no one will care about natural environments or being outside — they'll only go from the office to the gym, etc. If we could get more kids into the mountains and oceans, hiking, biking, etc. and help them see the value in it, that would be something.
SJ: Who's your hero?
IB: I have many heroes, but I would have to say that my parents stand out above the rest!
SJ: What is some advice you would give to girls pursuing big-mountain skiing (filming, contests, etc.)? What was a challenge for you?
IB: First and foremost, ski as much as possible, and have fun doing it! I see people getting so caught up in having to do good in contests, getting sponsors, etc., that it seems they lose sight of what is important — challenging yourself, and having fun while improving at something you love. Ask questions, and ski your hardest!
SJ: What else should we know?
IB: Well, I recently baked a wedding cake (for 200 people!) for my friends Jessica [Sabalowski] and Kevin Quinn who got married here in Tahoe — it was a super fun project! I made it in the shape of mountains (flat, not upright!) — it looked rather amateur, but I hope everyone liked it!
Profile: Ingrid Backstrom
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YOU MAY KNOW Ingrid Backstrom from her big lines in Matchstick Productions and Warren Miller movies, but did you know she has done more than literally jump off cliffs? This Jumper, one of the best big-mountain skiers in the world, gave up a life of studying rocks (geology major at Washington's Whitman College where she was a top ski racer) to pursue her dream of skiing. She is one of the most humble kids you will meet, and loves to see anyone enjoy skiing regardless of their level. Ingrid grew up in Seattle, Wash., and now calls Squaw Valley, Calif., her home.
SheJumps: If you aren't skiing, you are ...
Ingrid Backstrom: Running, biking, doing whatever I can to get outside, and hanging out with friends, cooking, dancing, whatever! Also, I'm sort of a nerd and I like to read whenever possible.
SJ: What is the most exciting thing about your career as a big-mountain skier?
IB: The most exciting thing is filming — when you're actually out there on top of a line, getting ready to drop in, and then actually skiing. Watching my friends do amazing things, and then just being stoked at the end of a great day.
SJ: As a "jumpers" we take risks, to be more than we imagined (i.e. live the dream), what's a jump or risk you have taken that got you where you are?
IB: The risk I took that got me where I was was to quit my job and travel to freeskiing contests! My boss told me that I wouldn't be able to take the time off that winter — I was torn, because I had always been raised to go to school, work hard, have a job, etc. — but it was very liberating to realize, hey, I have money saved up from working hard, and I can take some time off and see where this goes — and it just kept going from there!
SJ: What's next for you? What's another goal?
IB: I want to get better at more diverse aspects of skiing — mainly, park, and mountaineering. More experience, and learning and re-learning the basics in both of these areas would be awesome.
Ingrid Backstrom, right, with big-mountain skier and friend Jenn Berg
SJ: If you could do one thing for the world with no limitations, what would it be?
IB: I would get kids outside, off of their video games and computers, and appreciating the outdoors and physical activity. It seems like we face a problem in the future where there will almost be no support for environmentalism because no one will care about natural environments or being outside — they'll only go from the office to the gym, etc. If we could get more kids into the mountains and oceans, hiking, biking, etc. and help them see the value in it, that would be something.
SJ: Who's your hero?
IB: I have many heroes, but I would have to say that my parents stand out above the rest!
SJ: What is some advice you would give to girls pursuing big-mountain skiing (filming, contests, etc.)? What was a challenge for you?
IB: First and foremost, ski as much as possible, and have fun doing it! I see people getting so caught up in having to do good in contests, getting sponsors, etc., that it seems they lose sight of what is important — challenging yourself, and having fun while improving at something you love. Ask questions, and ski your hardest!
SJ: What else should we know?
IB: Well, I recently baked a wedding cake (for 200 people!) for my friends Jessica [Sabalowski] and Kevin Quinn who got married here in Tahoe — it was a super fun project! I made it in the shape of mountains (flat, not upright!) — it looked rather amateur, but I hope everyone liked it!
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