A conversation with skier John Doe
The twenty-year-old interviewed for this piece wants to stay private, therefore his name is John Doe.
It is hard to point out why John Doe is so interesting. Is it because he is such a talented skier, because he has done some of the most dangerous slopes in the world or is it because he is open and acknowledges the importance of mental health?
John´s interest in skiing has been there since he was twelve years old. What started as a hobby and eagerness to evolve his talent became an escape from his feelings. “When I see the thermometer shows negative degrees and the slopes are filled with snow, I feel safe” he tells me looking out the window of his apartment. He is filled with peace when the speed evolves and the cold air hits his skin, a kind of peace he has never experienced in any other place.
Feeling safe is not the state he uses when describing his childhood. From an early age, he was bullied at school. Constantly being picked on for his speech impediment led him to a dark place. The bullies´ words became the words in his head. The feeling of never being good enough for anything took over, and he started distancing himself from everything around him. “It went so far. I stopped talking to everyone, even my family. Because I was ashamed of my speech impediment” he says. When he was twelve years old, he was gifted Helly Hansen skiing gear for Christmas. The skis and the gear became a turning point in his life. The feeling he got when putting on the ski gear is a moment he remembers to this day. He started going to the slope every day after school. In the beginning, it was just him and the skis, going up and down the slopes until it closed. After practicing alone for a couple of months his parents signed him up for lessons.
“The ski lessons became the first place in my life where I felt like I was a part of a community and got accepted for who I was”
— John Doe
This was the beginning of John’s journey, both on skis and his mental health journey. Until this point, he was self-taught, everything he knew about skiing was from YouTube videos. During his first lesson, the trainer told him he was talented. The twelve-year-old had never felt he mastered anything until this day. That day he made a promise to himself; he promised to put in the work to one day be good enough to ride Corbet´s Couloir, one of the most dangerous ski slopes in the world. This meant spending every moment possible practicing, the slopes became his second home. At the time he was not aware of how much this meant for him. But looking back at it, the confidence he gained from spending time at the slopes and improving himself on skis, helped him get to a better place mentally. This gave him the courage to seek professional help, which led him out of his depression.
Only six years after his first lesson, he stood on top of Corbet´s Couloir as an eighteen-year-old. “I looked at the tight slope, with enormous rock walls on both sides and could not wait to experience what I had watched so many good skiers do before me” he says. Even though he was excited to finally experience what he had worked towards for many years, he was filled with fear. But he knew that if he completed this, he would overcome what the bullies had told him growing up. He owed it to his younger self to land this. He has chased the adrenalin rush he got from completing Corbet´s Couloir ever since, by traveling the world and riding dangerous slopes.
He is now twenty years old and works as a ski instructor. He lives in an apartment right next to the slopes in Trysil, Norway. His apartment is filled with ski gear from Helly Hansen and pictures of the different ski trips he has been on is hanging on the walls. Every morning before work he goes for a ride in the slopes to clear his mind. The great thing about skiing for John is that his focus is only on what is happening right in front of him. If there is one thing from his story, he hopes would inspire the younger generations, it is to focus on the present. During his childhood he was filled with anxiety regarding his future. What saved him was the adrenalin rush he felt from only focusing on the slopes and having full control over his surroundings.
Five quick questions with John Doe
What do you do to get ready when you stand on top of a dangerous slope?
Take a couple of deep breaths and prepare myself for what’s coming. Before I put on my ski gear, I meditate to get my brain ready for full focus and self-control.
Who was your first role model?
My first role model was Terje Haakonsen, who is a famous Norwegian snowboarder. I think I watched the video of him riding down the mountain 7601 a thousand times growing up.
What goal are you working towards right now?
I am looking at the possibility of traveling to Canada and ride the Delirium Dive in sunshine village.
What is a message you fight for?
Openness about mental health among boys. I think it is hard for boys to talk about the challenges they go through, we can see that in the suicide rates. When I talk to young boys I try to show them that you can be open about you feelings and still be masculine. It is not embarrassing or shameful to seek help from professionals, it is brave and can help you get far.
What is the most important thing to bring on a skiing trip?
Good gear is very important. I use Helly Hansen and have done that since the beginning of my skiing career. My favourite gear at the moment is the Ullr Chugach Infinity Powder suit. The material is both waterproof and breathable. It keeps me warm between rides and has room for both turns and jumps.
Are you inspired by Kristoffer´s story? Then get outside and join Helly Hansen´s scavenger hunt.