Freeride by Anna Khankevich. Do you have a talent for skiing?

Anna Khankevich

Date of Birth: 26.09.1979

Anna Khankevich, I am a psychologist by training, I have been skiing since 1986, and since 1999 - on a snowboard. I actively take part and often take first places in Russian and international freeride competitions. In my free time from racing, I embody my impressions of competitions on paper, using a brush and paints.

She began her sports career as a freerider in the 2009 season by participating in the Dombay Open (Russia) and Red Bull Powder Kick (Bulgaria) competitions, becoming second in both competitions. In the 2010 season, she won all Russian freeride competitions (there were three starts in total) and a stage of the Ukrainian championship. But the main achievement was the victory at the international freeride competitions of the FWQ series - Nissan Mistic Experience (Italy).

At the same time, I continue to improve my skills at newschool, I take a confident second position in Russia among girls (Competitions at the Ski Salon 2010 - 2nd, Elbrus summer camp contest 2009 - 2nd, Nikita Girlfriends Battle 2008 - 2nd).

I started the last season of 2011 with a confident victory at Sheregirls. Then I took part in two stages of the FWQ, became first at the Freeride Battle competition in Kanin (Slovenia) and third at the Nendaz Freeride Open in Switzerland. My position in the world ranking is 24th, and the result could have been better. But I like not only to compete, but also to participate in the filming of a ski video, so I don’t have enough time for everything...

For three seasons now I have been starring in the Action Brothers team, which released the films “Excitement” 2009, “Atmosphere” 2010, “Territory of Snow” 2011. All films have my profiles. Also last season, I participated in the filming of the ski movie “Vzglyad” and the large-scale television project Ride The Planet.

Since 2004 I have been a certified Snowpro instructor for snowboarding, and since 2008 for alpine skiing. I periodically conduct classes in schools, as well as master classes and seminars for instructors. You can find out about the school on the website: http://snowpro.ru.

Mountains have always been a source of inspiration and admiration for me. From an early age I strove to go to the mountains, because it is here that you experience all the greatness and beauty of the universe. Skiing is one of the ways to spend time in the mountains, in the company of close friends, and truly enjoy life.

For many years now, my General Sponsor has been Sportmaster, which provides Columbia clothing and Volkl skis.

In the next seasons I plan to perform at some Russian and international competitions, as well as continue filming in a new film from Action Brothers. In addition, my participation in the continuation of the Ride The Planet project is planned.

You can get acquainted with my latest events on the following resources:

On the other side of the Aibga ridge On the other side of Krasnaya Polyana, in the valley of the Psou River, divided into two parts by the border river between Russia and Abkhazia, is the village of Aibga....

How did he come into your life?
- In the 3rd year I returned to the mountains. Before that I was involved in mountaineering - but only in the summer. And then one day I came in winter. There were no twin tips or wide skis for freeride back then. Everyone was riding on the slopes. It was boring for me, I did this all my childhood. But there were cool snowboarders there who weren’t afraid to go off-piste, jumped and did tricks. It was very interesting, and I got on a snowboard. And for 7 years I skated only on a board. Became an instructor. And literally 3 years ago I thought: “Why don’t I try skiing again?” And I liked riding them so much, it captivated me so much that now it is my main activity. Everything that happens in life is connected with skiing.

Was the education received at Moscow State University somehow applied from the point of view of the profession?
- No. There were simply no options. I studied at the department of psychophysiology. Science is very interesting and cool, but, like any other science in Russia, it is not supported financially. To work in this field, you had to go abroad. In general, they suggested: “Please.” But I’m a bit of a patriot, and I didn’t want to give up everything for the sake of science. Remained in Russia. I worked in an office for several years until
came to snowboarding and skiing. In the sense of skating as my main activity.

How did you get into mountaineering?
- My father is a master of sports. Therefore, I could not do without mountaineering. While I was still studying at the Lyceum, he gathered a group of high school students and took us to Uzunkol. Everything was right then. One year - a badge, another year - 3rd category, then - 2nd. When the 2nd category was closed, we went on our own for another two years. And then - who got married, who did something else, and we somehow separated. And we always walked as one team. I made a logical transition to snowboarding. It happened through a backcountry camp that Maxim Pankov organizes. Backcountry is a synthesis of mountaineering and skiing. About a year after I joined the board, I ended up in this camp. And I really liked it. Now I practically don’t walk in the mountains anymore. Well, perhaps if you need to walk along the ridge somewhere before the descent begins. Why did you give up mountaineering? There's just no time for everything. This is a separate activity that requires a lot of effort if you want to develop. Now I'm more interested in skiing. They actually take me the whole year.

What do you do skiing in the summer?
- I'm skating! 3 weeks of July - summer camp on Elbrus. Last summer, after it, I had a wonderful trip to Switzerland, jumping in the parks. In August, however, I visited Fany. Not really mountaineering, more like trekking.

So how's it going?
- Everything is just as beautiful! Before that, I was there in 1998. I’ll probably go in 2018 now (laughs). Is the base on Aludin still operational? She is thriving! Thanks to the efforts of Rufina Grigorievna Arefieva. When we arrived, there were many tents there. You can order a transfer there directly from Moscow. Everything is very good. I like it.

Let's get back to skiing.
- Winter turns out to be very short. There is not enough of it to deal with all areas of skiing. In winter you want to freeride, and in summer you want to jump. How do you finance your year-round ski project?
From time to time I go to work as a snowboard instructor. I work with SnowPro. The beauty is, in addition to the fun company, that this is a local job. The organizers recruit a group, instructors and take everyone somewhere to the mountains. I went for a week and earned some money. The next time you want it, you just have to declare your desire and hope that they will take you.

Where do you usually go?
- Work? It doesn't matter where. Finland, Austria, Elbrus in the summer - three last working trips. I’ll go to Kirovsk now.

How many people are in the group?
- Usually 7. This is the optimal number. 5 - not enough, not very interesting. More than 8 is already a lot. If there are 7-8 people in your group, then the work is interesting, and you can pay enough attention to everyone.

Are you good at teaching? This is still a very different thing from just skating.
- I know people who skate great, but are completely unable to teach. And vice versa happens. In my work as an instructor, my education as a psychologist probably helps me. I love teaching, I enjoy it. And I hope that I succeed. At least people are happy. And this is the main thing. We are not preparing people for competitions, but simply trying to teach them so that they enjoy skating. The main criterion is pleasure! So far I have not heard any negative comments about myself. But this is a completely separate matter, and if you want to ride, then combine
very hard. That's why I won't work as a ski instructor - I want to ski myself.

And what, 2-3 such trips are enough to provide for yourself and go for rides wherever you want?
- Well, not 2-3, but 4-5. And wherever you want. I might like to go to Alaska, but now it’s unrealistic. I find some reasonable compromise between what I want and what I have the money for. In general, this year is very successful. Thanks to Vanya Malakhov, Kolya Piotrovsky and the Action Brothers company. In many places we have discounts on skiing and accommodation. And I don't spend that much on my trips. As long as there is money. As soon as they run out, I’ll go work as an instructor. Or to McDonald's. It doesn't matter where. I’ll earn money and continue riding! (laughs) Thank God, I am not burdened with any obligations - I have no family, no children. And you don’t need a lot of money for skating. If you choose cheap tickets, apply for visas yourself. Of course, a little hectic, but cheaper.

What do your parents think about your serious passion for skiing?
“I think they will be very happy to see my profile in the Vertical World.” They themselves are closely connected with the mountains and love to travel. I think they understand me.

How did you start jumping? On a snowboard?
- I tried to jump on a snowboard. But I'm better at skiing. When I switched from boards to skis, this transition was hampered by my work as an instructor - then I worked more and traveled a lot. And the first free time that could be devoted to skiing fell on summer camp. There is nothing else to do there except jump. So I started jumping. By ski. This was the year before last. That's when I tried jibbing for the first time. And I liked that too. But now it’s hard to do both freeride and new school. Some competitions, for example, simply coincide in terms of timing. That's why lately I've only been doing freeride. In winter you ride in the mountains, not in the park. But come April - there will be a Dombay camp, a Kirov camp, then a summer camp on Elbrus. And there will be a period of new school, jumping, jibbing.

So you plan to improve yourself in new school?
- Yes, sure. One of the beauties of skis is their versatility. Virgin lands, forests, big mountains, but also all sorts of entertainment like jibbing. Everything is very diverse, but both are very interesting. And it’s great that you can do both. Of course, there’s not enough time for everything, but I hope I can still develop both in freeride and in new school. Moreover, it seems to me that foreign riders do not make such a clear distinction between disciplines. Many new schoolers try to ski in big mountains and act in films. At the same time, they do not give up freestyle, they simply complement it with freeride.

Logical. Why be new school all the time when there is virgin soil?
- But virgin soil is not always there either. In the summer, for example. It's time for new school. But even now, when I had 2 months of wonderful freeride and very good virgin soil, I periodically thought: “Now I wish there was some kind of railing!” It’s not that I would directly give everything for her, but I want variety. And it’s precisely the versatility of skiing that makes it possible to diversify your skiing. The only thing I will never try is speedflying. I'm afraid of heights. I've never even jumped with a parachute. Although the speedflying looks great. And it removes many barriers. Nothing is scary anymore: a 20 m cliff - you’ll fly over it.

But this is still a rather dangerous riding option. A lot of people get injured. By the way, we can touch on the issue of injuries, since we’ve already started talking about it.
- I had no injuries, and I’m proud of that. I guess I'm very careful at times. During the entire time of skiing, whether on skis or on a board, she did not receive a single serious injury. Pah-pah-pah.

What is the key to this?
- Caution. Maybe it's luck. I never do anything I'm not sure about.

Do you train your ligaments and tendons before the season? Are you stretching?
- Of course, I try to train before the season. I can’t say that I know a magic set of 5 exercises that will make your knees great. There is no such. I'm running. I love the bike. Not long ago I started doing yoga. Really like. I generally love physical activity. In many variants. When I don't have skis, I try to do something else. I played football for a couple of years. Helps a lot to keep fit. But it’s dangerous, it’s still a contact game. The only injury I suffered at football was a broken little finger. What prevented me from having a normal autumn. Of course, maybe you need to take care of some special exercises. But for now I'm just trying to move a lot. I live next to Filevsky Park. I left the house to jog for an hour. In general, I don’t really like Moscow, but my area is green and quiet. I can still exist there. Over the past few years, the city has been changing for the worse, and it’s already hard for me to be here. Even in those rare moments between trips that I am here. I'm trying to go somewhere again as quickly as possible.

What successes have you achieved in alpine skiing?
- Since I’ve been skating recently, I don’t have many achievements. Last year I took part in freeride competitions for the first time. At Elbrus Open. Not very successful. This year I went to the Dombai Open and Red Bull Powder Kick in Bulgaria. Both times I took 2nd place. In Dombay, according to estimates, it was closer to the 3rd line, in Bulgaria - to the 1st. I hope that I will perform well in the next competitions. Although, as I already said, I don’t really like to compete. This is always a frustrating situation for me. I'm very worried. Inexplicably. I'm not afraid of falling, for example. But it's just not my format. Rather, I am forced to participate in competitions. By themselves, they don’t really appeal to me. It’s better to just ride and film. I really like making films. This is an activity that inspires me. And competitions are a necessity that I’m trying to get used to and set myself up to ride as well as I can. So far it turns out that at competitions I ride much worse than during normal skating. As for freestyle, I took part in competitions as part of last year’s Vans camp in Kirovsk. Took 2nd place. I didn’t think I would perform so well. During the summer camp on Elbrus, she took part in men's competitions. There were 13 guys, I was alone, but I became 7th. I'm a little proud of this! I don’t know what will happen next. It's difficult to coordinate the calendar. There are few riders who practice both freeride and new school. Therefore, organizers of freestyle events do not look at the freeride start schedule. Recently there were new school competitions, but I missed them because I was in Bulgaria. But I hope that there will be some competitions in the nearest camps.

Does the Freeride World Tour excite you in any way?
- Very! (laughs) This is my dream (the next one after my profile in “Vertmir”) - to participate in FWT. This year in Polyana I saw these competitions live for the first time. And she was delighted. This is a huge event. Of course, I dream that someday I will be in this party. But I don't have much experience yet. You need more experience in participating in competitions, you need more experience in freeride to read the terrain, choose a route better, and understand what the judges are paying attention to. Therefore, I decided that I will not try to participate in the tour this season. There is a possibility that next year the qualification round will take place in Russia. If it takes place, I will participate in it. It is very difficult to get into the FWT main draw. Firstly, you need a lot of money to go to all qualifying stages - and the more stages you participate in, the higher your chances. And since the points earned in the qualifying rounds also count toward the main tour, riders who qualify directly for the FWT also benefit from qualifying. And the competition is huge. But next year I really hope to take part in at least one stage. My favorite joke about football: “The sponsor of the Russian national football team is Baltika O.” We must soberly assess our strengths.” So I soberly assess my chances. They are still small. I don’t want to participate just for show. I would like to participate with some hopes of success. And the girls on the tour ride very cool.

This year we have a very strong lineup.
“I was amazed: girls ride like boys.” Several participants were very impressive with their aggressiveness, speed, and resilience.

Who exactly?
- Jessica McMillan. In general, I don’t remember names well. For suits only. Jessica arrived a few days before the start. With a team of 5 people. 4 guys and her. And all the days before the competition, as they rolled around, Jessica rode ahead, and the boys tried to keep up with her. I also lack the ability to go first. I ride well when I don’t choose the route myself, but follow someone else. Well, it's a lack of experience. It's a matter of time and pressure in the mountains. Therefore, you need to start small. I went to Bulgaria for international competitions. This is certainly not FWT. But you can still compare yourself with foreigners.

If you took 2nd place, it means you did well.
- Well, the level of the participants is comparable to Russian competitions.

Did any of the men in Polyana impress you?
- It so happened that outside of competitions we skated a lot with Drew Tabke. He really impressed me with his skating. Even one ride behind such a master gives you a lot as a rider. But in order to single out one person in competitions, there is no such thing. But the level is very serious. Of course, I paid more attention to the girls’ passages. I tried to compare with our girls. So far, only a few of our riders have participated in FWT. This probably really reflects our level. Of course, the lack of serious funding is a hindrance. But this is not the main thing. Maybe the fact that there are no clear prospects plays a role. It's not clear where to go. What are the prospects? Here is a young rider. He thinks he skates well. And where should he go? Unclear. The institution of sponsorship is not developed in our country, and it is difficult to obtain support. Sponsorship is certainly not the goal, but it can help achieve goals. It happens that it is not the best riders who receive it, but the most, so to speak, representative ones. Those who know how to show themselves properly. At the same time, it is not a fact that they represent anything serious from the point of view of skating. Competitions in Russia are held irregularly, and there are not many of them. FWT is too far away for the average Russian rider to seriously think about it. So there is no motivation, because it is not clear what to strive for. Plus, in the West, every rider feels confident in the future. He competes, yes, he can quit at any time, but he has normal insurance, he has confidence that if something happens they will try to get him back on his feet, that after finishing his career he will be able to work as an instructor or guide - and this is an honorable job . I don’t think our riders are confident in the future. At least I don’t know what will happen to me in 5-10-15 years. And their education system and children's sports are better organized. And there are more people skating there, which also affects the situation as a whole. The average level is higher. The best of the best came to Polyana, but the echelon of riders who follow them is very strong. And numerous.

Just watch how foreign photographers and cameramen ride.
- Yes, any of them for our competitions... They skate very cool.

Which of our female riders can you highlight?
- Don't know. There are girls who skate well. But I would rather skate with Westerners. If I were given the opportunity to choose. Or with our guys. I really enjoyed riding with the young Dombay riders. Any middle-level guy can skate better than you, so it’s fun to be with him. I am very happy and kindly envy Veronica Sorokina that she has the opportunity to ride with Western riders all season. I’m sure this will be a serious impetus for her to improve her level. Riding with strong riders is an invaluable experience.

Is there anyone among foreign skiers whom you would like to be like?
- Do not make yourself an idol. In general, I would like people to look at me and think that a boy is driving. Basically, I like Michelle Parker. Although she is not the most famous skier, I still like her skiing. It's hard to explain why. The question of style is a delicate question. There is a video of Seth Morisson riding in the big mountains with Tanner Hall. For the life of me, I don't notice the difference. Although the former is a mega-freerider, and the latter is a mega-freestyler. I don’t see any fundamental difference in their travel - they both drive awesome!

What else do you like besides skiing? Skiing, as I understand it, takes first place. So what is next?
- Yes, they definitely take first place. And the only thing. A lot of time is devoted to skiing. And the time that is not devoted to them is still somehow indirectly connected with them: I either buy tickets, or issue visas, or train, or give interviews.
Like any person, I like to lie on the couch with a good book. I recently started reading Anna Karenina. At school this cup passed me by, and that’s good, because I’m sure that then I wouldn’t have read this book the way I’m reading it now. Now I read with pleasure. When I was working in the office, something was missing to sit down and read like this. Perhaps life was too busy and nervous. And now everything is calmer, and it’s very pleasant to sit with a book. And I absolutely don’t like TV.

What about music?
- I’m calm. There is a certain set of favorite compositions. But they are loved not because they are good in themselves, but because they are associated with certain memories, periods of life, situations. Something new appears quite rarely. I'm not a music lover.

How do you see the next 3 years of your ski career?
- I don't look that far ahead. I can tell you about plans for 3 months. It’s too early to make plans for the next season, this one hasn’t ended yet. I want to perform well at the Elbrus Open, I want to ride well and shoot a high-quality video in France, where we will go, I really want the profile in “Vertmir” to turn out beautiful (laughs), I want to learn a few new tricks in the parks. I will make plans for the next season based on the results of this. It is clearly planned until the fall. After summer camp, I want to go to France to the parks, and then my friends and I will go hiking around Lenin Peak - we want to admire the high mountains.
It is very difficult to plan something, because our world is unstable. It’s better not to guess anything, but to look closer to the point. People who try to plan their lives several years in advance are sometimes disappointed.

Good luck finishing your season!
- Thank you! And thanks to my sponsors - Haiti and Amplid. I want to say hello to all the people I got to ride with this year! It was wonderful!

And nothing stops you from becoming happy!

Interview with Anna Khankevich, Russian professional freerider skier and guide.

Anna Khankevich - biography

• Skiing from 6 years old
• Behind us is the ski section and
• Psychology degree from Moscow State University
• Worked as a snowboard instructor and
• Engaged in mountaineering (climbed Lenin Peak - 7134 m and other peaks)
• Today - an alpine ski guide and professional athlete (alpine skiing) - sponsors Sportmaster, Volkl, Columbia, Marker
• Participant and winner of many Russian and international competitions, including FWQ:

1st place - Nendaz Freeride 2013
3rd place - Chandolin 3* 2013
1st place – Eldorado 4* 2012, 2013
4th place – Hochfugen 4* 2012, 2013
1st place – Sheregirls 2* 2011, 2012
1st place - Freeride Kanin Battle 2* 2011,
4th place – Nendaz Freeride 4*2011
1st place – Mistic Experience 2* 2010

Before we start talking with Anya, watch this video. Then it will be much easier for you to understand what will be discussed next:

Interview with Anna Khankevich

There are few photographs in the text itself - so that we do not distract from a serious conversation, but at the end of the article, you will find a selection of cool photographs from the life of an athlete.

How and when did you start skiing?

Mom, dad and I are a ski family! And also a grandmother. So I didn’t really have a choice. I was about six years old when I was put on ski boots, and my grandmother became my first instructor.

As soon as we moved to Krylatskoye (a hilly area of ​​Moscow with ski lifts), I was immediately enrolled in a ski school.

When did you realize that alpine skiing was for you?

I went to training until the ninth grade and was calm about skiing. I liked skating, but they didn’t excite me, there was no passion. I attended a sports school simply because it was necessary.

To tell the truth, by the ninth year I gave up skating altogether - I had to finish school and go to university, all my energy was thrown into studying. And only in my second year I remembered about the mountains, and got up... on a snowboard.

That's when I got seriously hooked. And this happened precisely on a snowboard - it was so indescribable to plow through the fluffy snow on a wide board!

And I took part in my first Russian freeride competitions on a snowboard, two years in a row. Only then did I pay attention to the skis.

Why?

The ski industry has woken up from hibernation and given its fans several long-awaited gifts - fat skis (wide skis for off-piste skiing) and rocker technology (helps skis not sink in deep snow).

What is freeride, since you were interested in this direction, and not riding on the slopes?

Right. Regarding freeride: those who think that freeride is eternal skating waist-deep in deep virgin snow, let them look at freeride competitions on YouTube, for example, FreerideWorldTour. We know that at such contests there is almost never perfect fluffy snow. Instead, there is often hard or blown snow, sometimes crust, in general, all sorts of nasty things.

For me personally, freeride is when my friends and I leave the slopes. Once you get beyond the wolf flags, the rest is all freeride. You can crawl up the mountain on foot or traverse away from the ski lift, you can fly by helicopter or go on a ski tour. It's all freeride.

This includes a varied terrain - forest, fields, couloirs. And unpredictable snow conditions. There can even be a lot of it, but it is raw and heavy, and then freeride will not be easy.

All this is freeride, in all its diversity. That's why I love him.

Does a future freerider need an instructor when he is just starting to ski?

There are examples of people getting great at off-piste skiing without formal training from an instructor or school. I know several such examples, the most striking of them is Ivan Malakhov, you all know him. He never, as far as I know, took lessons, but instead endlessly rode off-piste on his own. And, as you can see, he achieved great success.

But Ivan is rather an exception to the rule. In my opinion, the initial development of equipment on the track under the supervision of a competent instructor will greatly facilitate the road to freeride. His technique will be more accurate, more beautiful. With this approach, people progress faster. When switching to freeride, all they have to do is adapt their existing skills to the new conditions of riding on wild terrain, that is, fine-tune them.

Even if you have a talent for skiing and can do without an instructor, the path to freeride can still be shortened with the help of training. It is better to develop your talent from the first days under the supervision of an instructor than to feel your way into skiing alone. In short, a good instructor is always needed.

When did the turning point happen and you decided to make alpine skiing your profession?

At first I decided to connect my life with mountains and snowboarding, and not skiing. Thoughts of running away from the city to the mountains began to bother me when I was still snowboarding. And besides skating, I dreamed of traveling a lot and everywhere.

I remember going through different options in my head for realizing my plans, and the most realistic of them was to become an instructor.

After studying for it and going to work at the snowpro.ru snowboard and ski school, I began to travel more, which was what I needed to prove. And I started making money doing my favorite thing. This is how my journey to the mountains began.

It was the opportunity to earn money while riding in the mountains that gave me the opportunity to leave the office. (Wow, I once worked in an office!)

And after working as a snowboard instructor for several years, traveling around the world, I began to realize that I wanted something new and different. This new thing was the transition to skiing, which I already talked about.

Then I decided that I would find sponsorship, no matter the cost. I succeeded, I am very happy and grateful for this, because this help gave me the opportunity to ride around the world and do what I love completely freely. During this period, I simply traveled and rode, and almost did not worry about where I could get money for living. My dream has come true!

What habitual things did you have to give up due to moving to the mountains? After all, many are afraid to take such a step for fear of losing a high salary and other joys that work in an office gives.

There really were deprivations. And the worst thing is the loss of the sense of peace and stability that life in the city gave.

And in the mountains, at that moment, uncertainty awaited me. When you don’t know when and how much money you will receive, and how you will live for the next few months, it is quite difficult. Especially at the initial stage.

It is this uncertainty and unpredictability that scares many. But what lies behind these fears is of much greater value to me. This is the freedom to do what you want, manage your time. For some, a couple of weeks a year in the mountains is enough, but not for me. I needed a lot more, so I was ready to take the risk.

However, if you decide to connect your life with the mountains, you need to do it in an adult, thoughtful manner. First prepare the ground, and only then write a letter of resignation.

That's what I did. I went through instructor school and did a little work. I realized that I could earn some money from this, and it would be enough for me to live a spartan life. And only after that I left.

With such a serious turn in life, the support of your true friends and loved ones is important. It was not easy for my parents to agree with my unexpected decision. When I announced that I did not want to live an ordinary city life, that I needed mountains and I wanted to travel, they did not understand me. What means am I going to live on?

By the way, I myself didn’t fully understand what lay ahead of me, and I didn’t tell them anything intelligible then to reassure them. But I had determination.

I had a serious conversation with my dad, and he is a former mountaineer. I told him that I wanted, like him, to connect my life with the mountains. Dad replied that for him, in those days, everything was simpler, because sports were financed by the state in Soviet times. To which I answered him that I would also find those who would sponsor me, and for the first time I would work as an instructor. In the end, my parents supported me and it was a relief.

Today, after a while, I can say that everyone can do what they love and earn a decent living. You just need to really want it, think it through and start acting. Without the latter, all your plans will remain just plans.

Did you believe in yourself then?

I had another confidence: if it didn’t work out the way I had planned, then I could find the strength to go a different way, even from the very beginning. I knew that if something went wrong, I would survive, it would not destroy me.

When did you become a professional freerider?

The day came and I wanted to try myself in sports. As a child, I participated in various competitions, but did not achieve big victories. I remember how the children's coach tried to make me angry at sports, but nothing worked for him, because I was not very passionate about skiing. And then I directly felt its surge in me, in large sizes.

I went into professional sports when I was 28 years old, which is very late by ski standards. Many start 10 years earlier, or even more. But with self-confidence and perseverance, I quickly got into the desired shape. And I got into such a state that I was ready to contact sponsors. The same Ivan Malakhov told us how to do it correctly. Thanks to him for this.

It was like that. At the annual ski exhibition “Ski Salon” in Moscow, I told about myself and agreed on first aid - they agreed to provide me with free equipment. And two years later we signed a serious contract with Sportmaster, and since then they have provided me with impressive financial support.

Anna Khankevich's ride at the Freeride World Tour competition in Nendaz:

How much do you need to ride/train to become a professional athlete?

Everything is individual here. Both talent and perseverance play a role. And what your parents instilled in you from childhood. In my case, the sports school provided an excellent basis for further career (skiing) growth - I had a great feel for skiing. Later, all I had to do was adjust the technique to the new type of skiing and off-piste conditions. Thanks to the skills I acquired in childhood, this happened very quickly for me.

Do you have a talent for skiing?

No, I know myself and I have no talent for skiing. But I know that there is perseverance - if I set myself a goal, I often achieve it.

Who are your sponsors today and how do they help you?

Sportsmaster. They help with several brands: Columbia - clothing; Volkl - alpine skiing; Marker - fastenings; Uvex - optics (masks, glasses). And of course I get real money. They also trust me very much - I choose where to go, what events to participate in and what to do.

Would it be correct to say that you are the number 1 pro rider among girls in Russia?

I don’t know if I’m the first or not, but I know for sure that among skiers I have the best contract terms.

Is there any discrimination against girls compared to men?

I do not feel any infringement of my rights. Sponsors understand that men and women have different limits, and no one forces us to do the same tricks that men do at the limit. Simply, we are more careful in skating.

Women have their own scale by which the class of a rider is assessed.

By the way, sponsors do not always evaluate the quality of skating. Some look at external data and the number of fans and likes on Instagram. And a beautiful girl, with very average skating performance, can sometimes get an interesting contract. That's how it happens.

Is freeriding dangerous for your health? I'm not a professional, but I have a couple of freeride-related injuries.

Freeride, in my opinion, is no more dangerous than football. If you approach skating sensibly, then everything should be fine with your health. I have been freeriding for a long time and during this time I have only broken my metacarpal bone once. This is such a minor injury that it did not affect the routine of my life at that time.

Can't be! I expected a long list of injuries, harmoniously complementing your image as a pro-rider. Very surprised. But what about all these injuries that I constantly hear and see about famous foreign athletes?

In the West there is a lot of competition among men and they often have to take risks, but they also try to be careful. Because a serious injury can take you out of the game for one or two years, or maybe forever. Anything can happen, but for riders to end up in hospitals with numerous herbs, this is not the case.

Have you been caught in an avalanche?

And again I’ll disappoint you - no! There wouldn’t be an avalanche that deep down there. I'm trying to be careful. When I feel that the snow under me may “move,” I immediately figure out what precautions to take.

But people die in avalanches every year. And in less seemingly dangerous situations. Recently in Sheregesh, with its zero avalanche danger, a man suffocated after falling into a “pocket” under a Christmas tree.

This is a typical situation, you need to be aware of it. People fall into a pocket upside down, and scream or don’t scream, no one will hear you even a meter away. The snow muffles any sounds. The fallen one begins to flounder and gets even more stuck as the snow falls off. As a result, the person suffocates. There are examples on YouTube of friends miraculously saving people in such situations.

It is necessary to learn and apply safety rules when skiing off-piste, and not take unnecessary risks. For example, under no circumstances should you ride alone off-piste unless you have experience.

There is a saying “No friends on a powder day”, do you agree with this?

Powder Day is better with the right friends, I would say, because time in a friendly company of good skiers is an incomparable pleasure. This is fun, mutual understanding, and a thrill. If my friends can barely stand skiing, then it’s torture, and I go skiing alone. So what to do.

What is your contribution to the development of alpine skiing and freeride?

There's not much that can be done. The work takes a lot of time - filming, moving. I regularly report on my work to sponsors - almost daily work. If we talk about any specific benefits, then I write about the technique and tactics of ski touring. This is a new direction in our country today and there is little information about it. Now I am writing on my website - annakhankevich.com , and before I blogged on ski.ru, there too There is helpful information.
I also participated in the project riders . This is an application that contains a huge number of ski and snowboard tricks. We filled out the section about freeride.

How to find sponsors?

It’s better to approach sponsors with a specific plan that outlines how you can help promote the brand. I came to my sponsors with the results of the competition and filming of the film, I think Agiotazh, which was filmed by the Action Brothers studio. At that time, I already had publications - an interview on risk.ru, I had a portfolio with good photographs.

What exactly does working with sponsors involve? What do they want from you when they contact you?

They won't go out on their own! The rider needs to contact sponsors himself.

Next, if you interest a sponsor, you discuss an action plan taking into account their promotion policy. For Sportmaster I write reports about visits to interesting places while skiing. I’m trying to get into the print press, although it is not so widely represented in alpine skiing, and also make videos. Until recently, I actively participated in competitions, which allowed me to shine well with my sponsors in public. I regularly broadcast information through social networks: Facebook, Instagram, VKontakte.

How to readers become proriders?

Today, I think it’s not difficult to become a pro rider. The competition is not as strong as in the West. You just need to train a lot and believe that you will definitely succeed. By doing this, you are sure to become an interesting target for sponsors.

The main thing is not to lose faith in yourself and know that the most interesting things are yet to come. See you in the mountains.

Photos from the archive of Anna Khankevich

Anya Khankevich has not yet mastered our publishing system. So for now I’ll be her “liaison” with the site users :)))

Mystical experience or how I won the Nissan Mistic Xperience 2010

Prologue

After winning Snowweek at the end of January, I planned a trip to Europe to participate in the FWQT. Thanks to my sponsors - Halti, I not only have high-quality clothes, but also a Schengen multiple visa for 90 days, and with it traveling around Europe has become much more realistic. I didn’t have any hotels reserved, I didn’t have any ideas for moving from one competition to another... I only had plane tickets and two friends - Misha Krutyansky and Andrey Arseev, who by that time had already been wandering around Europe in their car for a month.

FWQT - Freeride World Qualify Tour - a series of freeride competitions that take place around the world, the results of which are summarized at the end of the season into an overall ranking. According to this ranking, only a few riders qualify for the main FWT tour. There were seven starts on the FWQT competition calendar in February. Discarding competitions in America and three-star contests (which I simply would not have been accepted for due to lack of rating), I entered three competitions - Freeride de Flaine in France, Stimorol Engadinsnow in Switzerland and Nissan Mystic Xperience in Italy.

The break between the last two was more than a week. Having moved from Switzerland to Italy, to the Monterosa region, we, not without problems (we had children's holidays and everything was busy), settled down in a nice cheap campsite in Gressoney Saint Jeant with one double bed for three -)

While skating, we were constantly looking for possible places to hold competitions. But there's very little snow in the Monterosa ski area this winter. The entire advertised freeride paradise was a mogul with rocks, even on routes that required rappelling... We still found one wall that we thought was interesting and practiced on it. But the choice of the starting route surprised us a lot...

Step one – Registration

A few words of praise to the competition organizers. Having filled out the registration form on the site, I received a response that I was a participant in the competition, although at that time I did not have any FWT points. Misha and Andrey also registered without any problems. A short correspondence followed with a question about insurance (I simply sent the compulsory health insurance policy number), as well as a request to pay the entry fee in advance. Due to my carelessness and lack of a European bank account, I was unable to fulfill this request, but the organizers accommodated me and allowed me to pay immediately before the competition.

The entry fee is quite large - 50 euros. But! For this money you get:
- excellent clear organization
- Ski pass for two days for the entire ski area (that’s already 70 euros)
- lunch for two days and/or a beautiful room as a gift
- a bag with souvenirs from sponsors.

There were 3 days planned for the starts - qualification, final and a reserve day in case of bad weather. A few days before the races, a polite letter arrives, albeit in Italian, that due to a bad weather forecast, the races are postponed a day later.

On the evening of February 19th, a riders meeting takes place in a small bar. We are happy to meet Veronica Sorokina, who came from Chamonix.

A huge plus of Mystic Xperience is that absolutely everyone participates in the qualifications, regardless of rating and past achievements. 19 skiers out of fifty, and 5 female skiers out of 13 will make it to the finals. The chances are of course higher than in Engadin, but...

I look at my rivals. Hanna Fisher is a prize-winner at Flaine, a major specialist in very large drops, Olivia Benoit, a prize-winner at Engadin, a master at choosing very complex lines, a couple of Norwegians...

We draw out the starting numbers - I am exactly the hundredth. The starting order in qualifying is skiers first, then female skiers. They show a photo of the wall - I don’t see anything in the crowd of tall, broad-shouldered riders -) and the organizers send me a photo of the route by email... In the evening we look at the route - and we are very surprised. We repeatedly drove past this scattering of stones on the rocks, thinking - if there was a meter of snow here, it would be good! In the last snowfall the day before the starts, of course, there was a measly 15-20 cm.

In the morning we stand for a long time with binoculars and a camera. I have a line without any problems. At the top there is a field with snow - the only normal run on the entire route, a couple of small drops from the stones along the way, and then I plan to jump into the couloir in the lower ridge of rocks. But the second pass ruined my plans - the skier makes an arc on the snow shelf in front of my takeoff point and exposes a scattering of stones. Crossing among the stones is not an option! I'm panicking! I’m urgently looking for a replacement line - okay, I’ll just drive this small couloir in a straight line, and jump from the rock below the exit from the couloir... That’s what happened. During the race, I kept the line, didn’t stop and didn’t get lost anywhere (although it wasn’t easy - you can’t see anything from above).

The result of the qualification is the first Hanna with a mega-drop, with a flight no less than Misha’s, the second is a Frenchwoman with a double-drop at the end, which was preceded by long thoughts with a ladder descent. So, after this, believe the statements of the judges that the main thing is the fluidity of movement... Veronica drove the line that I originally planned - she is fourth. I'm fifth. But the main thing is that I made it to the finals!

At the evening meeting we draw out the starting numbers for the final race. Veronica starts first among the skiers, I’m fifth and last. Misha was lucky - he had to go first among the skiers. As it turned out later, the organizers got everything mixed up and Misha was 17th.

The final wall is shown in the photo, but it is not clear where the start and where the finish is. The judges repeat several times that the weather forecast is not very good, and there is a 50% chance that the final will not take place. Then the qualification results will be included in the ranking. This plays into Misha’s hands - he’s still sixth, and in the evening I hear from him: “If only there wasn’t a final!” But my situation is different - I am the fifth out of five finalists, and regardless of the journey, I will not go lower-) But there is a chance to rise, but for this you have to take risks. With an unrealistic mood to light up in the finale, I fall asleep...

Act two - finale

But the morning destroys my dreams. A strong wind blew all night and the snow condition on the highway was simply disgusting. On one side everything is blown away to ice and stones, on the other there is a very nasty wind crust, and for variety there are a couple of avalanches that have come down and frozen... Of course, my Amplid Teddy Barely Legal are very good on sausage, but on the crust it would be better to choose Amplid Cholesterone with a rocker...

In such snowy conditions, I don’t want to risk it at all; I just want to get to the finish gate safe and sound. I choose the calmest line on the right side of the slope with a small couloir at the top and a couple of drops at the bottom. To get to the starting gate you have to walk along the track for about forty minutes, and my line runs parallel to the trail. During the climb, I understand that the entire descent is on the crust, and that the approach to my drops is not visible due to the large flat field in front of them. The final surprise is that the starting gate is located in such a way that you have to make a long traverse to reach my line. I'm panicking again... I always tried to choose the most straight trajectories without traverses and crossings across the slope. Veronica changes line and drives along the central part, but I can’t go there - I don’t remember that part of the slope well, and even a photo won’t help me. Okay, whatever happens, I’ll go as I planned.

I ask the judge for permission to start to the right, and go closer to my line. Only girls snowboarders start from here - the weakest category in the competition. I understand that according to the main criterion - choice of line - I lose to my rivals. Only the Norwegian starts from the same point as me. I have only one advantage - I’m the last one among the skiers. Veronica drove through the center, jumped several times, but stopped before jumping. Hanna did a great job at the top with a double drop jump. But then I stood for a long time in a rocky couloir in the lower belt of rocks. The Norwegian rides a line close to mine, very quickly, but without jumping. The fourth - Olivia - starts and disappears behind a bend in an area of ​​​​solid rocks, if I remember the route correctly. I'm next...

I’m trying to get ready... But there’s a hitch. The Frenchwoman will not reach the finish line. A few minutes later, a helicopter flies up to the place where she disappeared and hovers for several minutes. I am completely in the dark - after all, I am standing away from the main start and cannot hear anything. After 5 minutes of agonizing waiting, I unfasten the clips on my shoes, my legs are numb. After 10 minutes, having tuned in for the fifth round and getting upset, I don’t want anything anymore... finally I hear “Anna, five seconds.” Three, two, one.. Well, that’s it, go ahead!

As always during races, the memories are preserved only in separate fragments - pictures. “Where is this entry into the couloir - damn, how narrow it is - I jump from it onto the avalanche sausage, just to resist! And here is the long-awaited field, I was hoping to rest, but the crust does not allow me to relax - my legs are already tired... Approaching the first drop - it is too sharp, I take it to the right - I landed, quickly left arc for the second drop - if I had more moves - there will be a crust on the landing - resisted! All that’s left is to wait until the finish line.”

After the finish I try to catch my breath for a long time. Then I ask Andrey on the radio: “How’s it going?”
“Well...Fine...Did you miss the jumps?”

I can tell from his tone that everything is really bad. Well, okay, fourth place (excluding the injured Frenchwoman) is also a result...

I’m starting to decide whether it’s worth waiting for the award, because I urgently need to leave, tomorrow at eight in the morning there’s a plane from Geneva, and this is on the other side of the Alps. Hanna helps find Swiss travel companions who are traveling to Geneva after the awards. By the way, the results are announced right on the mountain, an hour after the last participant finishes.

Happy End

“We are announcing the results in the ski women category. 4th place – Veronica Sorokina, 3rd – Anne May Slinning, 2nd – Hanna Fisher. A crazy thought flashes through my head - they forgot about me?!

And the winner is Anna Khankevich!” (Europeans have a problem with the correct pronunciation of my last name, it turns out Kankevich, the first letter X is not given to them-))

The degree of my surprise and joy cannot be described in words. I still can’t believe this victory...
Many thanks to my sponsors Amplid, Halti, online store Ampshop.ru
And also to my wonderful companions on this trip, Misha Krutyansky and Andrey Arseev, without whom this trip would not have taken place.

...I studied not for the sake of papers, but in order to turn from a “semiconductor”, if not into a whole, then at least into “three-quarters of a conductor.”

Anna Khankevich is a unique person. She started skiing at the age of six, and as an adult, she received a diploma from the Faculty of Psychology of Moscow State University, in 2000 she became interested in snowboarding, became an instructor at the Snowpro school, ten years later she returned to skiing and in 2010 she already won several all-Russian freeride competitions.

Today Anna is a pro-rider for Volkl, Marker, Uvex and Columbia, a winner of several world stages of the FWQ series, a participant in the Ride the Planet project, an alpine ski instructor, and recently a certified international guide. And at the same time - an open, friendly person, a beauty with shining eyes.

How does she manage all this? What do you need to do to reach the top in everything you undertake? We were able to persuade Anna to give us one evening and answer our nagging questions.

- Profile of Anna Khankevich:

Nendaz Freeride 2013-1st place; Chandolin 3* 2013-3rd place; Eldorado 4* 2012, 2013 - 1st place; Hochfugen 4* 2012, 2013-4th place; Sheregirls 2* 2011, 2012-1st place; Freeride Kanin Battle 2* 2011-1st place; Nendaz Freeride 4*2011-4th place Mystic Experience 2* 2010-1st place.

Anya, you recently received an international certificate from the Canadian school of mountain and ski guides. Congratulations!

In fact, there is no certificate yet; we were formally told that we had passed the exams, but the papers themselves had not yet been handed over! Then, despite the fact that Canadians taught us, the internationality of this certificate is not only in question, but is being postponed. This is due to the fact that the Russian Association of Mountain Guides must itself pass the entire exam in order to be recognized as international. It should join the Federation of Mountain Guides Associations, IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations). To do this, you need to meet a whole bunch of requirements, many of which are currently impossible to meet. For example, the profession “Mountain guide” must be included in the Register of Professions. And this is a state issue, you need to submit an application to Roskomtrud, write a ton of paper, and so on. With our bureaucracy, this will all take a very long time. But the requirement to be included in the register of professions is only one of the requirements! In general, a lot of time will still pass before my certificate will be considered international.

- That is, in our country the profession of a mountain or ski guide formally does not exist at all?

Yes unfortunately. In Kyrgyzstan, for example, there is such a profession. But there the state is much more interested in the development of mountain tourism and meets halfway in everything: it educates people, provides sites for schools, and passes laws to support mountain tourism. The Association of Mountain Guides of Kyrgyzstan has not yet received international recognition either, but this will be decided in December; they are going to the Federation Congress, where they will present all the documents on the fulfillment of the conditions.

Doesn't the Russian Association of Mountain Guides want to become a member of the Federation and gain international recognition?

Of course, of course he does, we are all very interested in this. And Canadians are interested! Steps in this direction are being actively taken. But the process is just so... unhurried. Things are progressing, but in our big country everything is being done quietly.

To be honest, the papers are the last thing I worry about. I trained for knowledge and skills from the best teachers and I learned a lot. International crusts are secondary. In our country, no one ever looks at the crusts or pieces of paper, at the moment - this is so. They look at the real qualifications of the guide. I studied not for the sake of papers, but in order to turn from a “semiconductor”, if not into a whole, then at least into “three-quarters of a conductor”! And I received this knowledge in full! I am very grateful to the Canadian teachers, they gave me the maximum possible knowledge.

© Andrey Britanishsky

- Was it difficult to study? What was the most difficult part of your studies?

It was very interesting. I, like many, began my training with a mountaineering module - in the Canadian program there is a special course in mountaineering practice specifically for ski guides, which includes working with ropes and so on. It took place in Bezengi several years ago, and there were a lot of unexpected things that were new to me. All my mountaineering skills acquired before were the skills of the Soviet school, and I managed to forget even those. And here there was slightly different hardware, slightly different components, plus training in English... it was difficult. But interesting!

The avalanche course we took was tough both mentally and physically. It was necessary to make weather observations twice a day, the first observation at six in the morning. And here you are, still sleepy, crawling out into the street in the dark... then the morning meeting, which often lasted for an hour. Before breakfast, without a cup of coffee, you need to sit and listen about atmospheric fronts, occlusions, and something else - I remember this was hard. Everything dragged on until late in the evening, and then, in order to keep up with others, it was necessary to sit and read something. I remember that I absolutely did not get enough sleep during this module. Plus a large amount of knowledge that needed to be absorbed.

And ski touring - yes, it was physically difficult, we did big changes every day, a kilometer and a half, and went out in any weather: in the snow, in the fog. But there was little new knowledge for me. Ski touring was easier for me: there I had to do a lot of grooming in advance, do something, I was ready.

There was a lot of emotional stress and responsibility during the exam. You must pass the exam without mistakes, not make mistakes, and show your best side. Plus, on a regular exam you only have to suffer for three hours, and that’s it. And here it is for seven or eight days, and all this time you are in tension! But our teachers are great - they understood all this. I remember on the very first day - and the day was divided into three parts, and a new person had to lead in each part - I was in the lead on the descent. I want to say that even in the process of passing exams we grew, there was always some new experience, debriefing. The teachers didn’t just tick boxes in their notebooks, but told us about mistakes, pros and cons. I didn’t count on this at all, I thought that we would just have to show ourselves and that’s all. And we even acquired new knowledge during the exams! So, on the first day I was in the lead on the descent and, naturally, I was worried. The Canadian came up to me and said: “Anya, everything is fine. Just breathe out - and don’t worry!” And this immediately put us in a normal, working mood, all other days were easier, we tried to spend a normal working day. I saw around me not teachers, not participants, but ordinary guys, clients. Those with whom I will work in the future.

But what am I all about the difficulties? In fact, there were much more positive moments. The mere fact that the group brought together the cream of the guide community - after all, the vast majority of students were practicing guides - is already a huge experience. Walking with them and working with them was useful and a pleasure. And the Canadians constantly repeated that they were very interested in working with us and sharing experiences with their students. We gained experience not only from teachers, but also from our fellow students. I am happy that I went through this school and that I succeeded!

- Can an amateur skier get into this school? What do you need to do in order to get there?

You know, a simple skier - probably not. They have a list of requirements for applicants on their website.

I will tell you why a Canadian school was chosen for studying in Russia. In Canada, unlike Europe, there are many wild mountains, undeveloped, untouched by civilization. That's why they pay special attention to the ski touring experience! It is clear that you must have good skiing or snowboarding skills, but at the same time you must have a large presence on ski touring routes. Not sports experience, not the practice of passing a slalom course, but the experience of practical ski touring in different regions, experience of off-piste skiing and ski climbing. Not all of us, by the way, fully met these requirements at the beginning of our studies. But by the end, we all, of course, completed what was missing, and by the time we passed the exams, all the necessary routes had been completed.

Is there a difference between working as a ski guide in Russia and in Europe and America? Are there any national specificities?

I can’t say anything about America; I haven’t been there or worked there. And in Europe, the work of a ski guide is quite specific. The fact is that the Alps are very lived-in mountains. There is a hut wherever you spit. There is a cellular connection everywhere, which you can use to call rescuers, and you will have a helicopter in two minutes. This, of course, leaves an imprint on the work of the guide.

The difference, rather, is not between a European guide and a Russian guide. There is a difference between the work of a guide in Europe and in Russia. If their guides come to work for us, they accept and take into account our specifics. And we, working in Europe, understand and accept its peculiarities.

Our mountains are wild. Communication is not available everywhere. Rescue services too. And if something happens, you need to rely more on yourself than on any external sources. Our routes are also not always explored. You have to rely more on yourself than on the experience of previous groups. Often the problem is even finding maps or at least detailed descriptions of the mountainous region. If in Europe you want to go through the Haute Route (a ten-day trek through the Alps, from Chamonix to Zermatt - editor's note), then you will find nine to ten options for its description, a map with all the nuances, on which huts for overnight stays are marked. With us, if you want to go through a fairly well-known ski touring route, at best you will find one or two amateur descriptions on the Internet... You scout everything yourself, do everything yourself. This is interesting - but it adds responsibility.

- Are there any specifics in working with Russian and foreign clients?

Yes, I have. I haven’t worked with foreigners that much, and it’s difficult for me to describe them in detail. But this is a different job.

So you're a certified ski guide. Now what? Will your life remain the same or do you have some kind of solid plan that you intend to implement? Will you continue your sports career?

I don’t have a solid plan; I’m generally bad at planning. But there is a clear feeling that I want to shift the vector from purely sports activities towards the activities of a guide. On the one hand, this is due to my results in sports. They grew and grew and grew, and then, at some point, they reached a maximum. I have a feeling that they will start to subside, so I probably won’t participate in competitions anymore. It's not a fully made decision, but at the moment, that's how I feel.

There is a certain cycle in mastering any activity. You start something new, it captures you completely, and you eat, eat, consume, try to progress in this area, accumulate experience. And when you have already accumulated enough, you want to give it away. I would like to share my successes, my experience and best practices with others. I think this is true in any field. This happened to me with snowboarding. At first I studied and studied, rode and rode, and then I felt that I wanted to teach others! And she became an instructor.

About the same thing is happening now in skiing. For the last seven years I have put a lot of effort into growing up as a skier; it was important, necessary, and interesting to me. And now more and more often I feel that I want to share. It’s not enough to just post a photo with text saying, look how cool I’m skating! And I want to convey to people the pleasure of skiing, traveling, ski touring, and everything related to skiing. The most direct way to do this is to work as a guide. Until now, I have worked as a guide on a very small scale. And I think that now the share of guide work will increase.

What drastic change are we talking about? It's also mountains, it's also skiing, it's also skating. It's all about the same thing! It’s just that in one case you ride alone, for yourself, and in the other - with people and for people. It seems to me that the same thing happens in life. First you take, take, new sensations, new hobbies - and then - hop! - and there is a desire to pass it on to someone. On this wave, people have children if they consciously have them. And for me this cycle goes on as part of my passion for skiing.

We live in a fairly traditional society and, according to generally accepted opinion, mountains are not a woman’s business and the most a lady can do is to be a children’s instructor. Why did you choose this profession?

Yes, I agree, there is a generally accepted opinion that a guide is not a woman’s profession. This is what the majority thinks, but, in my opinion, this opinion is too categorical. There are several reasons why women and girls make good tour guides. Firstly, we are more careful, more careful and more attentive. Traveling and riding with a girl guide is safer for the client than riding with a young guy whose own ambitions are still off the charts. Secondly, among women the tendency to give away knowledge and give away experience is higher. Because it is in our nature to raise children, teach, give them all our experience, without regret, and without thinking about competition. A male guide, especially a young one, is focused on his own activities, this is the main thing for him. And a woman, first of all, shares and takes care of the group. And if the group and route for the group are selected adequately, according to the level, without jumping over one’s head, then a woman can be a very good, high-quality guide. Lisa Pahl, for example, is a wonderful, ideal guide, very respected in the international ski community.

Is it difficult for a woman in the rather tough environment of sports tourism? Do you face mistrust from male colleagues and students?

Since childhood, I have tried to prove to myself that, despite the fact that I am a girl, I can still do no worse than boys! Yes, I understand that there are purely physical limitations. For example, my mass is lower than the mass of the vast majority of men. But I understand what to do about it. For example, when we create pulley systems, the boys do three to one, and I do five to one and even seven to one! That is, I do everything that can make it easier for me to pull out a person, I act in accordance with my strengths, and I can pull out even a very massive skier, one hundred kilograms!

Katya Korovina and I discussed this problem the other day. She says: “How can I work as a tour guide? Everyone still perceives me as a girl!” But I’ll tell you honestly, I’ve never encountered any kind of mistrust in my address. With doubt, like: “Oh, and this little girl will lead us somewhere?” Nothing like this ever happens. It's probably some kind of internal feeling. They say that those who are afraid of dogs are always attacked by them. I always lead people only on the route that I am confident in. And this confidence is transmitted on a subconscious level to the group with which I work. I have never felt any uncertainty or doubt on the part of clients.

It also helps that “glory runs ahead of us.” I am quite famous, despite the fact that I have only just received a serious guide education. People are confused in concepts, some minds think that my fame as a pro-rider and a good skier automatically makes me a good guide. Although, as they say, these are two big differences, two different professions. And there is also a third one - the instructor. However, the fact that I ride well myself leads people to trust that I will give them a good ride!

Isn't this logical? You ski well and enjoy it yourself, so you can choose a good slope for them too?

No, good skating and being a good guide or coach are two different things! I really like the story from Soviet times about a water polo coach. Our team won the match with the strongest team in Britain on their territory, becoming European champions. And to celebrate, the players swung their coach in their arms and then threw them into the pool. He, panting, barely paddled to the side like a dog, and almost drowned. It turns out he couldn't swim! But he was a wonderful coach.

So is the guide. For him, the ability to ski well is not so important as the ability to lead a group, assess risks, and think about everything at once. However, my fame helps me.

I didn’t notice any distrust on the part of my colleagues. But I understand that I am a girl and have limitations in physical strength, so I try to work more on the theory, so that at least I don’t have gaps in this, and be confident in my knowledge. In general, I always make very strict demands on myself; I have “excellent student syndrome.” And if I pass my own internal exam, I will most likely be confident and competent in the eyes of others, too.

You've been a snowboarder and snowboard instructor for many years - and a good instructor by all accounts. Why did you leave this equipment and switch to skis?

You know, in fact, there was a purely physical reason for this. I developed a problem with my metatarsal joints from snowboarding. Moreover, I was an instructor, there is a lot of static load. For example, you stand on the front edge for a long time, teaching lateral sliding... there is a strong load on the foot. According to doctors, the joints from standing on tiptoes became like those of a ballerina with many years of experience. It was painful, especially my last year as an instructor.

In parallel, there was a process of increasing the popularity of skiing in the big mountains. After all, how was it with us? At the beginning of the 2000s, snowboarding was at the peak of popularity, it was very cool, it was much more passable, and much more skis were suitable for tricks and beautiful skiing. And then fat skis and twin tips appeared. That is, ski manufacturing technologies began to make it possible to do everything on skis that is done on a snowboard. And the reverse began. And on this wave I thought: “If now skiers can freeride and jump well, why don’t I try to return to skiing?” The foundation laid since childhood helped me - I very quickly switched from old-school technology to modern technology. Naturally, the distribution of the load on the foot is different than with a snowboard; there were no more problems with the metatarsus.

In general, I am a skier at heart! I was able to achieve much better results on skis than on snowboarding. It’s very cool when everything goes well, everything works out, I fell in line and then received the first support from sponsors. Then it became clear that I needed to set priorities, I wanted more and more to do only skiing. But it helps me a lot that I am versatile. Once a year I get up on a snowboard and in the future I would like to have my own split and once a year do a purely split group. It’s wonderful when your guide is on the same apparatus as you!

When you recruit a group for a particular project today, does it matter to you who wants to join: skiers or snowboarders? Do you separate groups by equipment?

If enrollment in the program goes well, i.e. I understand that there will be no problems with the number of clients, so I try to form “same-sex” groups. For example, this year Mamai recruited only skiers. And it's not because I'm capricious! But because it will be beneficial to the group itself. It will be more uniform, and we will be able to do more specific things tailored specifically for this projectile.

- What is your ideal participant? Who is easy and pleasant to work with?

You know, just as I didn’t have people in my life who doubted that a girl could be a guide or instructor, there were no definitely bad people in the group. It has always been a pleasure to work with each of my clients and students. There were no problems in human relationships.

- That is, you have never had any lazy or capricious people, in fifteen years, not even one?

Never! Maybe the reason is that I practically never work individually, always with a group. This group does not study for one day, but for at least a week. A group spirit arises, it appears literally on the second or third day. And he makes you stick, even if a person is a little lazier or a little more capricious than others, he is in the center of the general enthusiasm and this makes him work.

There are groups that are simply a pleasure to work with. There are groups that are great to work with, a real pleasure! But something that would be stressful... no, I’ve never had anything like that.

There is one group I love, I always ski with them on New Year’s Eve - they are really good high-level skiers. When I ride with them, I don't stop to wait for them, there's no need. And every New Year is like a holiday for me, we go to different places and in fact I ride as I would ride myself!

And of course, I love it when a person is highly motivated, this is important. I love it when a person comes in good athletic shape. I really love it when I have women or girls in my program, and that doesn't always happen. Often the group is all-male, although I don’t have any selection criteria based on gender. Now I rarely work with beginners - but I would like to. Because this is a special pleasure: the first steps, the delight of the first turns... This year I challenged myself and decided that once a season I would work with a children’s group. I've never done this, but I'm very interested in trying.

Many people would like to start riding off-piste, but don't know how to take the first step. There is an abundance of information now, but what is most important is unclear. What advice would you give to a person who is going beyond the ropes for the first time? Should I start with buying equipment, with school, with guided skiing, building up my technique on safe slopes, or with avalanche safety training?

It’s not an easy question, I’ll tell you honestly... I adhere to the classic position. Without a base, without a technical basis, mastering off-piste skiing is possible - but much more difficult. And for beautiful, easy skiing you need to have good parallel skiing technique and demonstrate it on different types of slopes, on different tracks: broken slopes, very steep slopes, icy tracks, on hillocks... First you need to inspect yourself, perhaps with the help of an instructor - How prepared are you to ski technically and well on a bad, broken track? And when this stage has been passed, you can safely begin to climb out of the ropes, of course, better with someone’s support and help. Because there is no avalanche preparation at this stage yet. It is impossible, after listening to one or two lectures, to learn to adequately assess a slope for avalanches. Therefore, it is better to take the first steps under the supervision of a competent person. And here a problem arises, because this person must have some kind of instructor skills, that is, explain where to put the right leg, what to do with the left heel, etc. And at the same time, have the skills of a guide.

Oh yes, that's a problem. Most guides immediately stipulate that they do not teach skating and do not deal with skating techniques...

Here! And, without false modesty, I can say that this is my big plus: I’m still an instructor and I will never say in my work as a guide that I don’t teach riding, and don’t even torture me, I won’t say a word - that’s No! If I see that a person needs to be given some advice - and usually it all comes down to this, there is no need to practice plowing or turning with him - then, of course, I will give it. I will give a brief recommendation that will help him overcome some difficult snow conditions.

I believe that having a mentor who will take charge of safety and help you develop off-piste technique is more important than buying cool equipment. At first, you can rent equipment, you can shoot at friends, and so on. I treat equipment very calmly and believe that, as in the old joke, the main thing is the gasket between the steering wheel and the seat.

Of course, no one can guarantee anything 100%. We have already said that, due to female psychology, I am more cautious and if there is some uncertainty, then I will prefer a different route. The main thing for me is safety.

As for avalanches, you yourself understand that not a single recipe, not even the best course, will give you a definite answer on how to make a decision. They give you a certain scheme, everything fits in your head, and making a decision becomes easier. But, nevertheless, practice, practice and more practice. Absolutely everything influences the decision about the possibility of skiing on a slope: there are a bunch of factors that form a certain pattern in your head. In general, decision making is not a completely conscious process. There is always some intuition in this, and intuition is the same experience. There is some irrationality. Of course, we always try to translate all thoughts onto rational lines, but...

- So, you have this feeling: “Everything seems to be fine, but there’s no need to go there today”?

Yes! And I follow him. I can't say how correct it is. I prefer not to check.

What new projects are being prepared for the coming season? Where can I see the full list of programs with your participation?

I have already said that the shift in the vector of activity towards the work of a guide is smooth - I do not plan to work a lot. I usually post programs on my website. But, I must say, summer has dragged on a little, it’s still going on for me. Tomorrow, for example, I’m going to Kyrgyzstan to be an observer at a mountaineering exam at the same guide school. I am very glad that I was kindly allowed to be there. I cannot take this exam, since I did not undergo training, but I sent the Canadians my climbing resume and they allowed me to come and observe the climbers’ exam. Actually it's great! This is an opportunity to get the cream of the crop, the most important and necessary things from the mountaineering course, just by watching the guys. I don’t know how much I can directly participate, but tomorrow I’m leaving there and my summer continues for another two weeks.