Stacy Gaskill's fearless journey in snowboard cross
Stacy Gaskill, an Olympian known for her prowess in snowboard cross, has been driven by a need for speed since childhood, earning podium finishes, top-10 placements, and a spot in the 2022 Beijing Games. Despite being labeled fearless, Gaskill acknowledges the importance of fear in her sport. "Fear is necessary in a lot of ways. And it's very natural. And so as opposed to trying to fight it, the way I envision it is, I'm driving the car and fear is often in the passenger seat, but I'm still the one behind the wheel," she said.
Her mental toughness has been tested by injuries, including a broken humerus, a shattered wrist, a concussion, and currently, an ACL rehabilitation. "What I've learned a lot in this rehab is you have to be committed to all the moments and not just when you're motivated, but when you're not motivated," Gaskill said.
Gaskill's approach to life mirrors her approach to her sport: taking what she's given and excelling. "I try to be where my feet are, because worrying about what happened in the past doesn't help me with what's happening now. And worrying about what's in the future, like is, it's all just a maybe. And so if I can be where my feet are, that tends to help in like every capacity, whether on slope or training or just living," she said.
As she prepares for the chaotic chase for gold in Italy, Gaskill still needs to secure her spot on the Olympic team, which will be determined by her performances at FIS World Cup events this season.
