Help Madison get to Freeride Junior World Champs

Moments matter.

 

A big moment is coming up for me from January 24-29, 2022 when I compete in the Freeride Junior World Championships.

 

I am a female big mountain freeride skier from California and a high school senior. I need your help to get me to this event. But first, here's my ski story.

 

 

I wore skis for the first time when I was two years old. I could barely ski down the hill without falling, but that was when everything started. From my parents teaching me the basics to competing at the national level, growing up skiing shaped my life and made me who I am today.

 

 

Every weekend in winter, I take the same three-hour-long drive: first to head up to the mountains and again to head back home to the Bay Area. I've been commuting regularly to the snow since kindergarten when I joined the Kirkwood Junior Expedition Teams (JETs). Over the next eight years, I explored the mountain, learned to ski more difficult terrain, and discovered cool rocks to jump off of.

 

I was almost always the lone girl, skiing with the boys. Everything changed in 5th grade when I watched an all-female ski movie: Pretty Faces. This was the first time I saw a group of women breaking the boundaries of the ski film genre, and it inspired me to do the same in my life. That same year, I was invited to join the Kirkwood Freeride Team.

 

Once competitions started, I discovered an amazing community. As I skied into the finish corral at my first competition, all of my competitors hugged me and congratulated me on completing my first run. I was surprised by this warm welcome. Even though it’s a very competitive environment with the athletes representing different mountains, all of the girls want each other to succeed.

 

Over the next four years, I competed in the regional TJFS and national IFSA circuit with the same girls. I improved my skills and became confident in jumping off bigger rocks. In the younger division, I placed first overall in the Tahoe region and competed in the North American Championships.

 

 

I used my newfound confidence in competing to push myself to be better: as I moved up in age categories, my skiing adapted to each challenge I faced. In 2021, I won the older division of the Tahoe Junior Region. Through it all, I learned that competing isn’t about winning or even failing, but having fun while skiing.

 

The entire freeride community has helped me through it all. We've competed through blizzards, rainstorms, gusty winds, and bluebird skies. The journey hasn't been easy (and I've had my fair share of crashes and mental blocks), but we're always there for each other. While in practice and in competitions, skiing gives me the freedom to let loose and enjoy mother nature. But most importantly, I love bonding with other skiers and having fun.

 

 

 

 

I now have an incredible opportunity to not only represent Kirkwood Mountain, the Tahoe region, and the United States on a global stage, but also inspire girls from around the world. Preparation for the trip and traveling to the venue is not cheap. I have saved some money but it is not enough to get me there. That is why I am reaching out to all of you: my community of supporters who have grown up with me over the years.

 

Please help me get to Kappl, Austria. Any contribution would be greatly appreciated. I intend to use donations from this Go Fund Me page to cover the cost of my flights, ground transportation, food, lodging, medical testing, additional coaching, and countless miscellaneous expenses. In return, I will share my journey (this very special moment in my life) with all of you on my Instagram (@madisonringham).

 

Thank you! - Madison