Interview With Freeskier Rebecca Selig

Catching up with Freeskier Rebecca Selig

By Hilary Meyerson

Photo at right by Roberta Rebori Photography

 

Rebecca Selig just might be the poster girl for change, which is the Outdoor Industry Women’s Coalition (OIWC) theme for 2013. She’s led a life of incredible change and empowerment. She is one of the top female freeskiers in the world, after entering her first competition at the age of 28 and finishing third in the U.S. Freeskiing Tour. Rebecca has raised the level of competition in the industry and has erased some of the gender-biased language such as “skiing a men’s line.”

This year, she’s moved back to Kalamazoo, Mich., to the area she grew up in to spend time with her mom who is has stage-four pancreatic cancer. She’s maintaining her training schedule, while serving as a regional director for the Michigan She Jumps chapter, which strives to gets girls involved in outdoor sports. She’s also working with the Snowboard Outreach Society, a nonprofit that builds character in youth through outdoor adventure. Somehow, she also finds time to volunteer at West Michigan Cancer Center.

We caught up with Rebecca to get inspired ourselves for 2013.

OIWC: You’ve been very honest about your recovery from alcoholism. How does it impact your skiing?

RS: I’m convinced I wouldn’t be here or of any help if I wasn’t recovered and striving to be a better person accepting life on life’s terms. Of course it makes me a better skier. I can remember the lines I’ve skied, I’m there.

OIWC: Do you think women athletes are role models to girls the same way male athletes are to boys?

RS: I think being a female role model brings a greater responsibility than being a male. Females are looking beyond the tricks, to personality and character. Girls have more self-esteem issues. They are watching me, watching everything you do learning how they want to present themselves in this universe. It’s more important what I do off the slopes.

OIWC: What challenges are still there as a woman in the ski industry?

RS: I think there are a lot of challenges for women. There is usually only one token female in every big ski movie and I always secretly wanted to be her. But, I didn’t want to admit I hoped to be a pro skier. I knew I was one of the best female skiers at the mountain I was skiing, but I was living in fear. I didn’t want others to know what I dreamed to do because I was scared of failure. Scared to be exposed. For 10 years.

OIWC: What tipped the scales and made you go for it?

RS: I got honest. I talked to a friend. It just rolled off my tongue, “I want to be a freeskier.” As soon as I said it, I started to make it happen. I made some plans to enter a series of skiing competitions and go for it.

OIWC: What’s your advice to other women or girls?

RS: Just let go of the fear. Practice a life with acceptance and surrender. Find what you’re good at and go for it. Don’t forget to try new things that you can’t do, too. Help others to do what you are good at and vice versa. One of my best friends told me once, “There are invisible masters and they are watching you.”

OIWC: How is it being back in Michigan, rather than training out in Colorado?

RS: It’s been better than I ever imagined. My circle has been created. My mom is great, she looks beautiful. We touch often and are practicing living a spiritual life together. I’m skiing in my backyard today, with a ramp and rails. I’m doing backflips. I met a man who makes snow, isn’t that crazy? And I’m working with a company called mSnow. They make a product that slides like snow so people can hit ramps and rails anytime without snow. Pretty cool. We’re doing events together. Dreams are just coming true for me every day.

OIWC: What do you see in store for 2013?

RS: I have a program scheduled during Christmas break teaching under-privileged kids to ski and ride while focusing on life’s core values. I’m working hard at introducing and developing SheJumps in Michigan so women have a place to connect and inspire outdoor activity. I will be judging some of the junior big mountain events and hand-picking a couple for myself to keep pushing the competitive field. I will be focusing on working as a talent athlete and ski model for Vail Resorts, representing my sponsors and driving the fun nature of skiing. I’m open for new experiences in the industry. I’m planning camps, thinking outside of the box, and trying to be involved with as much as possible.

Follow Rebecca on Twitter at @rebeccaselig and at her website at www.rebeccaselig.com

Hilary Meyerson is the editor of Outdoors NW magazine, which also publishes Northwest Snowsports and Northwest Cyclist. She is an active member of the OIWC.

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