Janina Kuzma is one of the Southern Hemisphere's leading female big mountain skiers and she's taking the international circuit by storm. Storming the recent Volkl NZ Freeski Open for the title for the fourth year running helps. Hailing from Australia, she's now made New Zealand - and specifically Wanaka - home turf, where she works full time as a park and pipe coach for groms in Cardrona. Her first love is big mountain but she's equally talented in the park, having recently taken part in the Cardrona games big air.
Natives: Firstly congratulations with the Open, you must be stoked! Tell me, how does a girl from Brisbane become a big mountain skier?
Janina Kuzma: Thanks! The NZ Volkl freeski open went off this year and I was stoked to be competing in the event once again. Funny you ask about growing up in Queensland - I was born in Brisbane but travelled around Indonesia to wherever my dad was posted with the coal mining company he worked for. We met an Aussie family from Fernie, Canada, and we'd spend holidays skiing with them - I've been skiing there for 14 years now.
Natives: What are your first memories of skiing?
JK: Our first ski trip was to Austria. We had gone to Europe to spend Christmas with my Dad's sister's family. All I remember is that I was the only one who couldn't ski and on our last day my dad was pretty pissed off. He gave me a one-on-one lesson that involved him holding me up by my jacket hood and telling me to pretend I was sitting on the toilet.
Natives: Where is your favorite place to ski in New Zealand and abroad?
JK: There are so many places in NZ to ski it's hard to pick just one. I love Cardies for the park and no attitude; Treble Cone for the steeps and the crew up there rip; Snow Park is good when there's snow to keep the features running; Remarks is awesome skiing. You've got to hike to the good stuff so you're pretty much always going to get good tracks. I haven't really checked out the club fields yet but I bet I'd be astounded by the terrain up there. Best place to ski abroad? Well I grew up skiing in Fernie and I'm now based there during the Northern Hemisphere winter, so I think that says something.
Natives: How did you first get into big mountain skiing and start competing?
JK: Fernie is all about freeriding so I've been ripping big mountain for years. When I was 18 a friend suggested that I do a big mountain comp - it took me a year to build up the courage to enter but it's grown from there.
Natives: Do you think it is harder being a female athlete in terms of getting noticed and sponsorship?
JK: I think being female means it's absolutely easier to get noticed but it an be a little difficult trying to get sponsored.
Natives: How do you prepare for a competition?
JK: Eat healthy, stay fit, get lots of sleep, check out the venues beforehand and drink lots of coffee to get a good buzz.
Natives: What goes through your mind as you approach a big cliff?
JK: How good it's going to feel when I stomp it!
Natives: What advice would you give aspiring girls trying to get into the sport?
JK: Get out and give it a go. Whether it be a comp or hitting your first cliff or box, you've got nothing to lose. You'll be hooked and if there are freeskiing camps going on, get out and do them.
Natives: What keeps you coming back to Wanaka year after year?
JK: I love Wanaka. When I was kid I thought I was going to end up living in Canada, which I still do for five months of the year. But when I set foot in Wanaka in 2005 I knew it was definitely where I wanted to be. The people, the vibe, the mountains and the friends I've made here are what bring me back every year - and my parents also bought a house. Booyah!
Natives: And finally, if you hadn't dedicated your life to the mountains what would you be doing now?
JK: I'd probably still be in Aussie. Moved to the gold coast and become a surfer or skater and finished my uni degree...!
Thanks to Resort Reporter Sophie Islip for the interview
