My Perfect Adventure
The world's best athletes and biggest names in exploration open up.
There’s no doubt that Kaya Turski is a trailblazer. One of the world’s best female slopestyle skiers, the 24-year-old from Montreal has tested the limits of her sport time and again, like in 2010 when she earned the highest score in slopestyle history at the Winter X Games, or earlier this year when she became the first woman to ever land the switch 1080 trick. Now Turski, who won three consecutive X Games and was ranked No. 1 in her discipline for four straight seasons by the Association of Freeskiing Professionals, is ready to blaze a whole new trail: She’s heading to the Olympics in 2014, when slopestyle skiing will make its debut at the Games.
Turski’s father taught her to ski when she was just three years old, but her foray into competitive athletics actually came in a different form: rollerblading. As a teenager she developed her air awareness and balance at international rollerblading competitions, but when the sport started losing popularity she slowly transitioned to skiing.
Here, Turski tells us what she would do on a perfect day if she weren’t skiing, how losing a close friend affirmed her life philosophy, and why two tough years of injury helped make her stronger than ever.
Describe your perfect day, from dawn 'til dusk. Where would you be, who would you meet, and what would you do?
I guess it depends. My perfect day in the winter would be a nice mild, sunny day after an overnight snow. I'd go ski some powder runs with a couple close friends, say Kimmy Fasani and Kim Lamarre, and then we'd have a really fun day cruising the mountain, exploring, and maybe playing around in the park. I'd end the day with a casual dinner with some friends, to share good laughs and just enjoy the evening.
If I weren’t skiing, my perfect day would be a super casual, mellow day on the coast somewhere, anywhere with the ocean and a beach. I’d wake up, get the espresso machine going, and take my yoga mat and freshly brewed coffee to the beach, where I’d just zen out and get ready for a nice day. I'd cruise the beach and the local beach city, enjoy a nice healthy lunch, and then go paddleboard, surf, bike, and enjoy the outdoors. I'd enjoy this with a couple of girlfriends. I suppose I really like to keep it mellow.
If you could travel somewhere you've never been, where would you go and why?
I would really love to go to India, Nepal, Tibet, or Thailand, where I could visit Buddhist temples and experience the culture firsthand. I'd like to do that because I've been reading a lot about Buddhism and think the religion is really eye-opening. I love how it’s about finding the good in me, not looking outside for happiness. I've learned that so much is created from within, and the outside world only changes with perspective. I've worked a lot on compassion and being a more open person, and I’m really enjoying this path.
I've also always wanted to check out a tropical rainforest, to immerse myself somewhere deep in the forest. I'm fascinated by all the wildlife and plants, and how alive and lush everything is.
Where is the best place you've ever visited? What made it so special?
I've checked out some amazing places, but my top three, in no particular order, are:
