2026 is the 20th anniversary of The Ski Diva. To celebrate the amazing women who make this community what it is, we’re going to be featuring interviews with Ski Diva members on the blog all season long. Check them all out here.
Christina, who goes by @snoWYmonkey on the forum, has been a member since 2008. A long-time instructor based in Jackson, WY, her skiing knowledge and technical tips are an incredibly valuable addition to our community.
Tell us just a little bit about yourself outside of skiing and The Ski Diva.
Is there such a thing as life outside of skiing? When I am in the thick of winter, I find it hard to remember that I love spending time with friends, cooking fun meals, going out on the town, trekking in the mountains, and making cool and functional crafty things, as they all take a backseat to winter.
What drew you to skiing, and what’s kept you hooked?
I grew up in a small, mostly non-skiing family, but somehow decided around age 4 or 5 that I needed to experience skiing. Mom had only nordic skied and hated the cold after a childhood in Sweden, and my even less athletic dad found it somewhat akin to torture as he grew up on mandatory ski trips to the alps from his native Paris as a kid. They were angels to put themselves through the annual ski trip on my behalf. I stopped skiing between 13 and 21, when I rediscovered my passion for it by trying telemark skiing. I finally made the move to a ski town in my early thirties, immediately got a job with a ski resort, and the rest is history.
I am hooked on the sensations of wind on my face and pressure under my feet and the rhythm of the turns, while leaving impermanent tracks across the canvas of the slopes. I am hooked on the joy of helping others define and refine their own definitions of what keeps them returning to the sport. I am hooked on being outside in all weather extremes, and watching the mountains that I know so well transform as the light angles change from hour to hour and month to month, instead of at a desk for my daily grind called work. I am hooked on the camaraderie, and the shared passion.
How did you find The Ski Diva? What motivated you to join and stick around?
I honestly don’t remember how I found the Ski Diva, as it’s been part of my winters for so long now. I stuck around and still check new posts every single day as it is the kindest, and only online community I belong to. It is a selfish chance for me to share my innermost thoughts about the sport and the industry and learn how others perceive it, without being attacked for my ideas or suggestions or frustrations. The variety of topics keeps it so interesting and that is thanks to all those who participate with their own questions and observations.
Can you share a favorite memory or story involving the forum or forum members?
An occasional kind word when the real person and their online moniker connect with me in real life and we figure out the double familiarity. I strive to be honest and helpful, and while I am the queen of typos, I mean well. I love it when the same is true of another diva that I connect with outside of the forum and we connect the dots, so to speak.
Is there anyone you’ve met through the forum who’s had a big impact on you?
Every single person that I have communicated with online!
Is there a particular skiing-related challenge you’ve had that The Ski Diva has helped you with?
Absolutely! I decided to learn to use the phone app and ski coaching system CARV, since my students use it. I also confess to being a data and stats nerd about my own skiing. This year I needed a little help understanding how to use some functions and the Diva members helped me out in an instant. WOW! (Editor’s note: our thread on CARV is 40 pages long so far and still going strong!)
What advice would you give to a new skier just starting out – especially women entering the sport?
Trust yourself and your approach to the sport. What may have worked for others is worth listening to, but at the end of the day, you know your own body, dreams, fears, and goals better than anyone else. Even tips from pros in the shops, to online, to in a lesson, while valuable, don’t truly know and feel what your body and mind experience. This can apply to picking gear, or your own gut instinct about a certain run on a certain day, or back country partner choices for a given adventure.
Keep it fun, however you define that!
Savor each accomplishment no matter how small.
Do it for yourself, not your family or your friends.
What do you think makes The Ski Diva unique compared to other communities you’re a part of, or compared to other places you hang out online?
The kindness and respect, even when faced with differing opinions. I am super sensitive, and log on without fear, and look forward to the different ideas and observations. I usually don’t favor segregation based on gender, but have to admit that it just might be the reason for the mellower tone on the site.
What do you hope The Ski Diva looks like 20 years from now?
Hopefully not too different. It will evolve as the world continues to change. Most of all I hope we all have access to snow and the ability to keep skiing and share our stoke for the sport!
If you had to describe skiing in three words, what would they be?
Freedom, bliss, space.
What song would be on your ultimate ski playlist?
I always sing “The Girl from Ipanema” when I am happy, trying to relax, or cold, and “Mamma Mia” when I am uncomfortable and have to perform well while being watched. On the way to the hill I occasionally get nostalgic and play some Sublime or Tool. I almost never listen while skiing, and only use one earbud when I do, but reggae can fit the bill on powder days.