Steep narrow canyons draw in elite skiers the way that porch lights beacon moths. The danger and adrenaline rush combine to create a magnetic attraction. The possibility that such geology could be conquered has been the impetus for skiers’ migration to the Wasatch Mountain Range for nearly a century. Alta team athlete and former ski racer, Megan Dingman, told me in a recent interview, the thing that makes the Wasatch special is that, “everything you see can be skied, if the conditions are right. The Wasatch is the Hollywood of skiing.”
These mountains are notorious for the grandeur, the snow that blankets their peaks all year round, and the ski tourism that fuels Salt Lake’s economy. The Wasatch attracts athletes who like “hiking with a side of skiing” as I’ve heard many an out-of-stater say. The kind of people eager to crest rugged peaks as the sun rises simply for the best snow conditions.
Megan Dingman is one such athlete. Born and raised in Park City, Dingman’s background is in ski racing, a history evident in her aggressive, parallel to the ground, style. After leaving the competitive ski racing realm, Dingman itched to become a pro skier, and if possible, to score some free skis! Through a series of lucky encounters Dingman appealed to various brands hoping for a deal here and there. As she continued to participate in breathtaking shoots, push bigger lines, and breach the pro skiing world, Dingman’s options expanded exponentially. She is now an athlete who picks and chooses between the brands requesting her partnership.
In our interview, Dingman confronted the competitive nature of the Salt Lake skiing community and the vigor with which she has historically approached the sport. Since her emergence into pro skiing, persistence has been a means to her success, but has also inspired a complicated relationship with skiing and recreation. Her new vlog project is inspired by the idea that, “You can be a pro skier and still have a good time.” She has been focusing on creating content that is not fueled by the intense pressure she places on herself, but rather, feels “honest and raw”, revealing the strife that extreme physical projects entail.
Dingman emphasizes the importance of female representation in pro skiing, remarking that, “Empowerment is a numbers thing.” Bringing more women into extreme athletic spaces creates a dialogue for not only those women, but also all other under-represented groups. Dingman emphasizes that support is cultivated when women are not “pinned against one another” and rather collaborate, representing a new narrative of professional skiing.
Dingman and other Wasatch Mountain athletes understand the gravity of the place that we live in. It’s likely that anyone who turns their eyes eastward, towards the looming range cradling the city beneath it can conceptualize what a special place Salt Lake Valley is. As summer approaches, we mourn the conclusion of our ski season while looking forward to the next phase of recreation ushered in by snow melt and prolonged daylight. Get outside, stay safe, and enjoy our very own “Hollywood” of the outdoors!
