Eastside alum hopes for spot on Olympic team in 2014 | Reporter Q and A

Brooke Wales is a 2009 graduate of Eastside Catholic and product of the Mission Ridge Ski Education Foundation, which she joined at age 9. In 2011, Wales became a member of the U.S. Alpine Ski Team, realizing her lifelong dream of representing her country on the International stage.

By Josh Suman • February 7, 2012 4:20 pm
Eastside Catholic graduate Brooke Wales has aspirations of making the Olympic Ski Team in 2014. She is pictured here in a race during the spring season in 2011.
Eastside Catholic graduate Brooke Wales has aspirations of making the Olympic Ski Team in 2014. She is pictured here in a race during the spring season in 2011.

Brooke Wales is a 2009 graduate of Eastside Catholic and product of the Mission Ridge Ski Education Foundation, which she joined at age 9. In 2011, Wales became a member of the U.S. Alpine Ski Team, realizing her lifelong dream of representing her country on the International stage.

Currently in Colo. for a competition, Wales took some time to chat with the Reporter about her start in skiing, traveling the world before age 21 and putting on the red, white and blue.

SAMMAMISH REPORTER: What is your first memory of skiing?

BROOKE WALES: I started skiing when I was four. My parents put me in lessons.

REPORTER: Did you always like it, or was it a kicking and screaming situation?

WALES: It was something that grew on me. I stated racing when I was nine and I was really bad at it at first, I wasn’t a phenom by any standards.

REPORTER: So when did you start to come into your own as a skier?

WALES: When I was 14 I starred to get faster and get pretty good at it and that was when I really decided I liked the sport and wanted to pursue it a little more. As I went on the next couple years I realized it would be realistic to make the USA Ski Team.

REPORTER: I saw a video of you from a recent competition…

WALES: Crashing?

REPORTER: So you saw it too?

WALES: That was in Austria at the World Cup. I was skiing pretty well and really going for it the whole way down and I hit a bump and my right ski caught and spun me around.

REPORTER: How scary is it when you crash at that high of a speed?

WALES: I had a little moment of panic when I was flying backwards at high speeds but it turned out to be OK and rashes happen in ski racing. I was bummed that I crashed but lucky that I was OK and everything. I just took away from it that I was skiing well up to that point.

REPORTER: What is the worst injury you have ever suffered on the mountain?

WALES: I’ve been very lucky in my career up until now. The worst thing I’ve done is a couple years ago I straddled a gate and got a massive bone bruise on my shin. It was basically just a huge gnarly bruise and I couldn’t race for two weeks. Other than that I’ve been pretty lucky.

REPORTER: Where are the best views from the top of a mountain?

WALES: One is up in Banff in Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada. That is the Northern Rockies and it’s absolutely gorgeous up there if you get a clear day. The other would be in Europe in the Swiss Alps…it’s a pretty amazing site.

REPORTER: What is it like to travel around the world at your age?

WALES: It’s really cool. I’m very lucky to be able to do this and travel as much as I have. If they have it’s because they were on a study abroad trip for a semester. It’s really cool because I’ve been all over wherever there are mountains, in Canada, Europe and down to South America to Chile for training in the fall. It’s not something most people get to do and it’s cool to be able to have these stories and say I have seen these cultures and places.

REPORTER: What is the toughest part about life on the circuit?

WALES: The tough part is definitely talking to people and that’s something that’s really key for me. When I’m out of the country I’m always trying to find internet, which can be difficult, so I can Skype with family and fiends who can make me feel more comfortable or not get homesick. Obviously when you’re in Europe for a month, you’re going to miss an American hamburger. They don’t have peanut butter there so this year I brought some. It’s just about adjusting to things and learning what keeps you comfortable when you’re gone for so long.

REPORTER: A lot of people imagine traveling around the world skiing as a glamorous lifestyle. How close is that to the truth?

WALES: I would probably say going over to Europe the first couple times and still when I go there is kind of a culture shock because it’s so different there. You have the language barrier but there is also the look of the buildings and the way things are run there is completely different. The hotels we stay in are not even close to what we would consider a hotel over here. It’s usually small rooms, sharing a bed with someone and there’s not much space for the two duffel bags and clothing.

REPORTER: What is it like to have a chance to represent for the United States in competition?

WALES: It’s amazing. One of the most exciting points for me was when we got our uniforms in the fall. It was a really exciting experience for me to realize that dream of being on the USA Ski Team was really happening. It’s a lot more real when you go out of the country, being in Europe and you’re with five girls from America along with Germans and Italians and French people. It’s a really cool experience an something I’ll always treasure and look back on nd be very grateful and happy.

REPORTER: When will we see Brooke Wales in the Olympics?

WALES: Hopefully in 2014.

REPORTER: We’ll be watching.