Vermont native Charlotte Moats, 27, won a gold medal in the Junior Olympics before becoming a professional freeskier in 1999. The Dartmouth grad now lives in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and continues to train for competitions. She answered the Resident’s questions about her favorite slopes and how she stays in championship form.–Cotton Delo
Where do you like to ski on the East Coast?
CM: I grew up skiing at Mad River Glen, Vt., and it’s still my favorite place to ski back east. It has a true community feeling to it, and my parents didn’t think twice about letting me loose on the mountain. They knew I wouldn’t get lost or hit by someone who was out of control. If I forgot my lunch money, the people at the cafeteria knew who I belonged to and would settle up with my parents when they came to get me at the end of the day.
What training regimen do you follow throughout the year?
CM: In the spring when the weather is in transition, I do a lot of yoga, which helps me get straightened out after a long season. Throughout the summer, I spend my time mountain biking and hiking and running in the mountains. I love to be in the mountains in the winter, and my summer training is a continuation of that. Then in the fall when the weather changes again, I start doing more yoga and hit the gym for strength training, which consists mostly of plyometrics and extensive core and balance work.
Do you miss competitive skiing? How do you stay motivated?
CM: I always in a competition or two each year. And I think I will do more this season. I was extremely competitive throughout my years racing and found myself in the start gate on a daily basis. But now I detest being in the start gate. I absolutely hate it. I get anxious for days in advance. At the same time, when I do compete, I’m always out to win, and when that works out, it is a huge feeling of relief. But I greatly prefer the artistic aspect of working with and photographers to bring images to people who might not otherwise get to see our sport.
What are the differences between skiing on the East and West Coasts? Which do you prefer?
CM: I really love the small areas on the East Coast. When I wasn’t at Mad River, I was at Dartmouth Skiway, which was only about 850 feet tall. When you are a kid, you don’t know that that isn’t the largest mountain in the world. I am very glad that I didn’t learn to ski at any of the larger western resorts. That said, I now live and ski in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and it’s pretty hard to tear me away from the powder and the impressive terrain.
