Local freestyle skier chases big dreams

By OLIVIA KOERNIG / Whitefish Pilot

When he was an even younger kid, Whitefish freestyle skier Mitch Gilman wanted to ski like a girl — specifically like his older sister Haley.

The 11-year old started skiing when he was only 2. He grew up on the slopes, tagging along with Haley and the Big Mountain Freestyle Ski Team. Until he was eight, when he joined the team himself.

"I watched the spins and flips, and I just wanted to follow in her footsteps," Mitch said.

Now his goal is more straightforward.

"Eventually, I want to be the best in the world," Mitch declared matter-of-factly.

And while that statement may seem lofty, when hearing it from a kid who regularly defies the laws of gravity, it sounds about right.

Mitch got his first sponsorship at age nine, and is the youngest athlete to ever receive a Spyder endorsement. Today, he's outfitted through sponsorships from Marker, K2, Electric, Skull Candy, Bern and Full Tilt.

He's appeared on the cover of the Patagonia kids catalog and Flathead Living, as well as making an appearance in Warren Miller's "Off the Grid."

For the past three years, he's been a regular on the competitive freestyle circuit. This year alone, he's competed in Aspen, Colo. on the X-Games course, which is left up for the Aspen Open. He took second place in his age group at Red Mountain, B.C., on a natural terrain course. And here on Big Mountain, he won his first cash prize for a second-place finish in the pro category in a season-long super pipe series.

"He won $100," his dad Jeff Gilman said. "It went back into the ski fund."

Turns out, chasing a freestyle dream costs quite a bit, and not just money either. On top of entry fees and travel costs, Mitch also misses a great deal of school to compete, as many as 35 days a year.

And while he's been able to keep up in his classes (he has a 3.8 grade point average), both Mitch and Jeff acknowledge that high school will be another story.

Due to attendance policies within the district, students may only miss a certain number of days before failing automatically. Unfortunately for the Gilmans, missing school for freestyle skiing events counts as unexcused absences.

"They'll support basketball and football, but not skiing," Jeff said. "They don't have any idea how important this is."

Since Mitch would have to choose between school and skiing here in Whitefish, he's looking seriously at attending high school in Utah. The Winter Sports School in Park City starts classes in April and finishes in November, leaving kids free during the winter to practice and compete in their sport.

The school also works in collaboration with Utah Olympic Park. The agreement allows student athletes to practice their aerial skills on the trampolines and water-jumping ramps during their lunch breaks and outside of school hours all summer long.

"My dad doesn't really want me to go, but he knows I have to," Mitch said.

It's all part of following a dream. This particular dream includes daily doses of adrenaline and danger as well. Mitch has suffered "a bunch of concussions," but his most serious injury occurred two years ago when he was attempting a mild trick.

"I broke my tibia," Mitch said. "I was just casually skiing…and I went off a tiny jump and landed wrong."

Mitch admits that he was a smidge more apprehensive once he came back to skiing after his injury.

"It was more nerve-wracking," he said. "But you just learn it all over again, and it comes easier than before."

Today, Mitch is committed to progressing and learning ever-more "godly" tricks. He'll also want to strike up relationships with a physical therapist and a sports psychologist. Jeff said at the elite level, nearly all athletes train with those types of specialists. Already, Mitch relies on visualization techniques.

"Right before a run, I visualize the whole run start to finish — even the sounds," Mitch said.

If you're having trouble visualizing what Mitch does, search for "Mitch Gilman" on www.youtube.com. The videos are titled "Life in a Day" and "We Fly High." Or look for him on Big Mountain. His dad says he's easy to spot.

According to Jeff, "He's the littlest guy going the biggest."