All Images: Courtesy of Maggie Voisin
If there’s one thing we know about Maggie Voisin, it’s that she’s capable of doing and achieving anything she sets her mind to. Whether that’s landing on the podium at X Games and the Olympics or filming an award-worthy film segment, Voisin is ten years into her professional ski career and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. A three-time Olympian and seven-time X Games medalist, Voisin is no stranger to well-deserved recognition.
This year, Voisin focused solely on the film side of skiing and her segments can be seen in Teton Gravity Research’s (TGR) “Legend Has It,” as well as Good Company’s “Crescendo.” From building backcountry booters to linking up big lines in Alaska, Voisin is truly a Jane of all trades, and iF3 awarded Voisin with the coveted Standout Skier of Year for her segments in the new TGR flick. We caught up with the impressive skier to talk about the differences between filming versus competing on the big stage and what she has up her sleeve for the upcoming season. Keep reading for the full Q&A below.
First off, how are you? How has your off-season been?
It’s been great! I’m doing good, thank you for asking. I actually, unfortunately, had to get ankle surgery in early June, so my spring skiing got cut short. I crashed skiing in Alaska and tweaked my ankle. Thankfully, it was a pretty minor surgery compared to the other knee surgeries and other stuff I’ve had done. The first bit of summer was heavy on the rehab but I feel great. This Fall, at the beginning of October, I came back home to Montana—I was rehabbing in Park City—and it was so beautiful so I caught up on all the things I couldn’t do this summer, like hiking, mountain biking, dirt biking, and then I’ve been doing TGR premieres and other movie premieres, which is new for me but it’s been a blast. I can’t complain. It’s been a good off-season!
What do you like to do to keep your body and mind sharp when it’s not ski season?
I’ve lived in Park City for the past 11 winters, and the US Ski Team is based out of there. For me, the biggest thing to keep my mind sharp and have a really solid reset is coming home in the summertime. It’s a step away from the ski world, which I think is really important, and then I get to do all the things that I really love. For me, hiking is my number one thing. I love, love, love hiking in the summertime and just being out in nature, like being on the lake or mountain biking. It’s just a combination of a lot of things, like coming home and connecting with my friends and my family. Doing the activities here that I love, and then obviously, there is a gym element as well. I train a lot in the summertime. Like I said, I’ve been injured a lot, so I’m just trying to keep my body healthy and get myself mentally and physically prepared for the season ahead.
You recently won iF3’s Standout Skier of the Year for your segment in TGR’s “Legend Has It,” what was it like not only being nominated but winning that award?
Oh my gosh, I think, first and foremost, just being nominated, I was so thrilled about. And then winning the award was such a huge honor. Right now, women’s skiing and snowboarding, we need to highlight the progression of those two sports. What’s being thrown in slopestyle and big air events, but also what’s going down in the big mountains, is SO badass. For me, that was where the huge honor came from. I’ve pushed my skiing, and early in my career, I helped push slopestyle and big air, and now to be a part of this wave of incredible females who are pushing it in the mountains, it was really cool to see that side of my skiing be recognized. It was just an incredible honor to be recognized amongst all those females and just every girl who is currently out there pushing it.
Can you think of a particular line or shot in your segment that sealed the deal?
Not anything really specific. I was in two segments in the TGR movie, I was in the Wyoming segment and then I was in the Alaska seg. I think it was the variety that I had in those two segments, from jumping to skiing big lines, I think that’s kind of what maybe stood out. I’m trying to merge my two worlds of slopestyle and big mountains.
You also filmed with Good Company again this year. It seems the film side of things suits you. How does it differ from competition skiing?
It’s night and day different. There’s a little more freedom in terms of what you want to ride. It’s still long days out in the mountains with crews. It’s also not as much pressure, you know? There’s pressure to perform in front of a camera but for me, it was just a huge step back from not having that pressure of being judged. That’s what I love the most. I can go out and ski anything and know that I’m not going to be judged on it. That really added a whole different element. It’s been ten years of a competitive career and I’ve had my fair share of moments of feeling burnt out and I really felt that after the 2022 games. Filming has reignited that fire. Backcountry skiing and filming is exactly what I needed.
You have achieved so much in your career already, are there any lingering goals you’re still working toward?
Skiing and connecting more big-mountain lines, for sure. When I think about my career in slopestyle and big air, I’ve honestly achieved above and beyond what I thought possible. It’s really cool to look at that chapter of my skiing as I step into this new chapter. Skiing big lines is the natural next step for me. It’s a totally new world and you have to have this whole new respect for the mountains and mother nature and that’s something I’m so eager to start learning. And I love snowmobiling as well [laughs].
I see you’re selling your sled, presumably to get a new one. What advice do you have for girls who are thinking about getting a sled for sled-ski purposes?
I think the biggest thing is having a crew that you can trust and who wants to take you out and is willing to teach you. It’s such a big learning curve handling a snowmobile and just knowing where to go. There are so many factors on the safety side of things as well. I am so grateful I had a really good crew who was excited to take out someone new. Find your crew, find your people and make sure they’re eager to help you and teach you. Getting stuck as well, I cannot get myself unstuck, and I need someone a little stronger than me to help me [laughs]. With learning anything new, you need to give yourself time, but man, once you start to get the hang of it, it hooks you.
I was super lucky. The first time I ever snowmobiled in the backcountry was with Tatum Monod in 2018. So Maddie Bowman and I went to Pemberton and did a week-long trip with Tatum; we made a film about it, Girls Trip. That was my first time in bigger backcountry terrain with snowmobile access and I give so many big props to Tatum for taking out two newbies. To bring two new people out on snowmobiles into the backcountry is a lot, but once you find your people, like Tatum, it opens up so much more than what I thought was possible with my skiing.
Have you been scheming any plans for this season yet?
I get to ski this month! Park City is supposed to open on November 17. As of right now, I just plan on filming the entire season. The plan is to do a bit more with TGR and if any other plans come up that are possible, I’ll give that a go. I’m super excited to see what I can accomplish with an entire season to film. Last year I only filmed half the season.
What is your go-to backcountry snack?
I have been making these protein pancakes [laughs]. They’re not very exciting but I use protein powder, oats blended and add chunks of dates when I’m cooking them. Super easy to take a quick bite and stash back in my pack. They’re my go-to snack because they are easy to make and easy to pack in. And I always have three fluids on me: electrolyte water, probably a hot chocolate and then a tea of some sort, and they’re all hot. Even my water will be warm, and I’m all about warm fluids when it’s cold outside.
What does the perfect ski day look like to you?
It could just be an epic blower pow day or it could just be a sunny park day. Also, just wherever the friends are. Whatever is going to be the best day out with friends, whether that’s skiing pow at the resort or in the backcountry or skiing a sunny, somewhat slushy park. It’s hard to choose.
