ERIN SPONG, SKIER (SHE/HER)
Erin is a backcountry freeride athlete with a focus on creating films and a journalist for outdoor media. She learned how to ski when she was just three years old at Hyland Hills Ski Area in her hometown of Bloomington, Minnesota—a whopping 150 vertical feet, but nonetheless, a notorious spot for park skiers and snowboarders. Two years later, her mom put her in the junior ski racing program, and Erin says she never looked back.
She downhill ski-raced competitively all throughout high school on the USSA and FIS circuits, but after a ski accident that caused her to undergo reconstructive hip surgery, she had a hard time mentally recovering from that big of a surgery and decided to let go of ski racing for college.
She downhill ski-raced competitively all throughout high school on the USSA and FIS circuits, but after a ski accident that caused her to undergo reconstructive hip surgery, she had a hard time mentally recovering from that big of a surgery and decided to let go of ski racing for college.
She downhill ski-raced competitively all throughout high school on the USSA and FIS circuits, but after a ski accident that caused her to undergo reconstructive hip surgery, she had a hard time mentally recovering from that big of a surgery and decided to let go of ski racing for college.
Since then, she has built a freelance writing business, working with FREESKIER as Senior Editorial Contributor, writing for other publications, and dabbling in digital marketing for brands and individuals within the outdoor and political spheres—all while building her professional ski career.
Outside of skiing and writing, Erin teaches yoga, which she has been practicing since she was 16, after her first hip recovery. She is a “proud childless dog lady,” and her dog's name is Gary.
Since then, she has built a freelance writing business, working with FREESKIER as Senior Editorial Contributor, writing for other publications, and dabbling in digital marketing for brands and individuals within the outdoor and political spheres—all while building her professional ski career.
Outside of skiing and writing, Erin teaches yoga, which she has been practicing since she was 16, after her first hip recovery. She is a “proud childless dog lady,” and her dog's name is Gary.
WHO DID YOU LOOK UP TO IN SKIING WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?
Growing up, I looked up to ski racers like Kristina Koznick, Julia Mancuso, and Bode Miller. As I moved away from ski racing and started focusing on freeride, Michelle Parker, Angel Collinson, and Ingrid Backstrom became the skiers I wanted to emulate—their technical skill, chargey style, and big cliff drops are still something I try to achieve.
WHAT DO YOU WISH MORE PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOU, THE SNOW WORLD, OR HOW YOU SEE THE WORLD?
I know that what I’m doing as an athlete isn’t saving lives—I’m not a nurse or a doctor—but I do think it’s important to live a life of passion because we only get one chance. I hope that I’m proof that you can change your mind at any point in your life, switch careers, and go after the dream you once believed was far-off. It’s never too late to shift, you just have to believe in yourself to do it.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- PRODUCED AND DEVELOPED 3 INDEPENDENT SKI FILMS: ‘QUAINTRELLE,’ ‘DRIVE’ AND ‘CONSONANCE’ (WHICH WAS SELECTED FOR THE 2024 IF3 MOVIE AWARDS)
- FEATURED IN THE ‘ADVICE FOR GIRLS’ FILM (2023)
- FEATURED IN ALL THREE BUCKET CLIPS FILMS, INCLUDING THE OPENING SEGMENT OF BUCKET CLIPS 2.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIMPLE JOYS THIS SPORT OFFERS YOU?
“
When I’m skiing, I’m not thinking about anything else but the two to three turns I have ahead of me. Skiing takes me out of my head/worries and places me in a suspended dream state, where literally nothing else in the world matters. It also offers me this sense of self-confidence I don’t have everywhere else in my life. I’m capable of doing hard things on my skis, and my body continues to show up for me.
”
DO YOU HAVE ANY RITUALS BEFORE A DAY OUT ON THE MOUNTAIN?
I love starting my morning by reading a good book or magazine with my coffee to get my brain firing. Rachael Burks got me hooked on lemon water before coffee in the morning while we were in Alaska for two weeks together last season. Stretching is always a good idea, and a yummy breakfast that inspires you to fuel up for the day.
WHAT HAS BEING A YOGA TEACHER TAUGHT YOU?
I am a big believer in complementing strength with flexibility and mobility. It's the number one way to prevent injury. I have been teaching for over a year at my local studio and it has helped me grow into the person and athlete I want to be.
ERIN’S FAVORITE
PRODUCTS
PRODUCTS
