Nelson Carmichael
Steamboat Springs’ Nelson Carmichael is one of America’s most accomplished and revered mogul skiers. He won two World Cup championships in 1988 and 1989, six U.S. titles and logged nine years on the U.S. Ski Team, taking home a bronze medal in the 1992 Winter Olympics and making him Colorado’s first medalist in Olympic mogul skiing. His legendary bump skills are highlighted by the fact that in nearly 20 years of competing, he never missed a race because of injury. The forefather of today’s freeskiing movement designs high performance ski apparel for his four-year-old company, 1080 Degrees.
What is your best training technique?
On snow: Skiing as many nonstop complete runs as possible before competitions. Off snow: Running up and down Mount Werner in Steamboat three times a week in the fall.
What is your worst injury?
I chipped off pieces of vertebrae in my neck on a trampoline.
Most frightening moment?
Unexpectedly skiing off a cliff during a snowstorm in France.
How do you push through mental fatigue?
Patience and exercise.
What is the sickest thing you have ever seen?
I watched Alain LaRoche, a Canadian aerialist, lose both skis on takeoff during a triple backflip, complete the trick, land on his boots, and walk back up the landing hill like it was nothing.
Who do you admire most?
My son.
What music revs you up for a big contest?
’80s rock.
Best advice you’ve ever received?
Whatever you choose to do, do it well.
What do you know now that you didn’t know then?
There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.
What are your thoughts on the progression of freeskiing in the past six or seven years?
I think it’s awesome. It was such a shame that freestyle moguls had become so regimented. The very discipline that started it all was becoming pretty lame, in my opinion. Finally, now mogul competitors can do what they want off the jumps in their run and I think we’ll see a very positive response after next year’s Olympics in Italy. I also hope to see a complete, televised freeskiing tour in the U.S. in the next year or two.
