Catching up with Hannah Soar

Congrats on getting on the podium at Deer Valley! What are you most proud of from last
season?

Last season, we had one last event to qualify for the World Championships at the Deer Valley World Cup in February. To qualify, I needed to podium, which, at the time, felt like a reach. My friends and family came to watch the event, flying out from the east coast to show their support. On duals night under the lights, I started going through the rounds and was skiing some of my best in years. I pulled off 3rd place, shared the podium with one of my good friends, Jaelin Kauf, and punched my ticket to the World Championships. It was my favorite moment of the season because although I wanted to qualify for the World Championships, I focused on enjoying the moment and feeling the support from friends and family to help me execute when it mattered most.

What does your upcoming season look like? Is there any race you’re particularly excited
about?

I am excited about the World Cup opener in Ruka, Finland, because my dad will be there to get his FIS Technical Delicate license. He has not left North America since he was nine years old, so I am excited for him to experience a European World Cup!

What are your goals for the season ahead?

My goal for this season is to give it my all every day and do something today to be better tomorrow. I want to leave this season with complete confidence that I did everything possible to be successful and enjoy every moment.

We had a lot of fun looking through your #Soar retro photoshoot. Can you tell us about
the vintage kit and shoot into?

Every day in May is a party at Killington, with tie-dye, Hawaiian shirts, and retro pieces being
the fashion norm. The one-piece I wore in the shoot was my mom’s from the early 90s. I wanted the shoot to encapsulate the essence of spring skiing at Killington, and I felt there was no better way to do so than in a pink one-piece!

What's the story behind the tie-dye?

For me, tie-dye represents the free spirit of freestyle skiing. I grew up wearing tie-dyes and listening to the Grateful Dead surrounded by diehard amateur mogul fanatics that instilled in me the importance of loving what you do. I try to carry this spirit with me as I travel the World Cup circuit — the tie-dye is a visual reminder of my roots and why I do what I do.

What is your favorite thing about traveling on the World Cup circuit every winter?

My favorite aspect of the World Cup circuit is that I get to see parts of the world that I otherwise would never have seen. Places like Kazakhstan and Siberia aren't places I would have necessarily thought to visit for vacation!

Are there any specific songs you listen to before a race?

I’m a big Grateful Dead fan; it reminds me of my roots back in Killington, VT, and I’m competing in this event because I love mogul skiing, not for any other reason. I find listening to the GD makes me feel grounded in some of the most stressful pre-competition moments.

What are your favorite ways to unwind when you’re not racing or training?

I love to ride bikes in my free time and get outside. There is nothing quite like a full day of exploratory biking and a cold beer in the car after.

Road biking or mountain biking?

I will toss a curve ball out there and say gravel biking! With that said, I love mountain biking, and I am registered for a half Ironman in May, so I also dabble in road biking!

What does it mean to you to be working with a Vermont brand being from Killington and growing up training there?

Although I grew up in Connecticut and was a “weekend warrior” to start, coming up to Killington every weekend and holiday breaks, Vermont always felt like home. It is my community. I love getting to represent Vermont on the world stage and proudly wear a badass brand like Skida around the globe.