Show Notes:

Jessica’s Links:

• Ski Diva (website)
• Jessica and Ski Diva’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skidiva
• Going Greenland Film
• RAD MOMS: JACKSON HOLE Pro Skiers Take on Motherhood and Skiing

Episode Intro:

Dear listeners of the Female Guides Requested Podcast, happy Wednesday. This is your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas. Today our guest is Jessica Baker.

Former World Tour Freeskiing champion, professional mountain guide, and mother, Jessica Baker, has a knack for seeking out remote adventures. From a young age Jessica developed a love for wild and mountainous landscapes while growing up on a small farm in North Idaho. From the Arctic to the southernmost Andes, Jessica has spanned the globe with her ski and alpine endeavors and broken the ceiling for women in the mountain guiding profession. Jessica lives in Jackson, WY with her husband, a fellow mountain guide, and her two young daughters.

I had so much fun chatting with Jessica. Her passion for mountains and guiding reinforced my belief in adventures and why guides love sharing these experiences. Her commitment to give back to the community and desire to break barriers for people to access the sport of skiing was inspiring. I also admired her energy. She sustains a busy guiding schedule, mentors students, plans big trips and film projects, and raises two kids. She really made me want to ski again. I can’t wait for you to listen to Jessica’s amazing life stories as well.

Things We Talked about:

• Mountains have been part of Jessica’s life since young
• Cut teeth guiding in 2004 and started full time guiding in 2007
• Competition life – what is free skiing? It was judged by fluidity, speed, difficulty of line, and style
• How and what does free-skiing share with guiding?
• Came and settled down in Jackson, WY
• Was asked “Do you want to be a guide?” and audited at Exum Mountain Guides
• The meaning and the draw of guiding
• Became a mom in 2013
• Jessican’s time management strategy
• The inception of Ski Diva
• Does advanced skiing courses have a place in women’s program?
• The financial barriers getting into skiing
• Don’t want to let the sport of skiing die, so access is important
• Giving back to the community
• Going Greenland film project and climate change
• Future plans