Q&A with Whitefish slopestyle Olympian Maggie Voisin

Maggie Voisin set a few lofty goals for herself coming into this ski season. Compete in the Winter X Games and maybe, just maybe, secure a spot on the U.S. Freeskiing Olympic team.

Done and done.

Voisin was selected last week to compete in womens slopestyle at the upcoming Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. At 15 years old, she will be the youngest athlete on team USA and one of the youngest in the world at the Olympics.

On Sunday she soared to a sliver medal in womens slopestyle at the X Games in Aspen, Colo., stomping a pair of 1080 spins along the way.

Needless to say, it’s been an unbelievable seven days for Whitefish’s hometown freeskiing phenom.

Voisin began skiing at age 2 at Whitefish Mountain Resort. At the encouragement of her twin brother, she passed on alpine racing, and instead joined the Whitefish Mountain Resort freestyle team where she began sharpening her skills on the jumps and rails in the FishBowl terrain park.

By age 12, she had won a national slopestyle championship in her age group.

Voisin’s career really took flight last winter after winning the Association of Freeskiing Professionals World Championship in Whistler, B.C., at just 14 years old.

As a member of the U.S. Freeskiing Rookie Team, she has been training this winter in Park City, Utah with Axis Freeskiing.

The Pilot caught up with Voisin last week before the X Games to chat about her success on the snow, her fun-loving spirit, and her expectations for Sochi.

How did you find out you made the Olympic team?

I knew I had a good chance based on the official criteria. It was a long day on Sunday and I knew I just had to stay positive. Finding out on Monday, that was the biggest thing off my shoulders, and it was a big relief coming into X Games, knowing I could just have fun and do what I love.

What has it been like since then with media events and travel and everything that goes into preparing for the Olympics?

Honestly, I don’t think it has changed all that much. I guess it hasn’t hit me and it probably won’t until I get off the plane in Sochi.

You have competed with such a fun and carefree spirit this winter.

I always try to take the pressure off myself. That’s how I take every competition. I have to remember why I compete in this sport and why I love it. There is nothing else I want to do. I tell myself that all the time — especially when I’m having a hard day.

How will you approach the X Games?

Obviously I don’t want to hurt myself, but I can’t think about injuries because that’s how they happen. I’m just going to focus on having fun. The X Games course will be one of the biggest courses I’ve hit — and the biggest event I’ve competed in. It will be a good experience before Sochi.

What part of the Olympic experience are you looking forward to the most?

The whole experience will be crazy. It’s the first ever slopestyle competition in the Olympics and I’m excited to show the world what we do and why.

Which other Olympic events do you want to watch?

The opening ceremony will be a really fun experience. I’d also like to check out hockey and speed skating.

It seems like everyone in Whitefish is rallying around you. Have you received a lot of encouragement from family and friends back home?

Definitely. I’m super excited to have such a great town behind me. There’s no better town than Whitefish for support.