Featured Image: Photo provided by Jacqueline Wiles, courtesy of US Ski and Snowboard.
On the World Cup circuit, Jacqueline Wiles has lived the highs of podium finishes and the lows of devastating injuries. But at 33, the American speed skier carries a perspective shaped by resilience, gratitude, and even a passion she discovered in the sky. For Wiles, ski racing has never just been about results. It’s about rediscovering joy, embracing challenge, and proving to herself that she belongs.
The Long Road Back
When Wiles crashed in 2018, the injury sidelined her for 18 months and left doctors stunned at the severity. Rehab in Park City became her reality, and she admits the hardest part was not the physical grind but the mental fog. Her body resisted when she tried to push, and found during the process back onto snow the inspections became overwhelming. Later, she realized those blocks were not a lack of focus but symptoms of PTSD from the crash.
“It was freeing to admit, sometimes I’m scared,” she says. “In ski racing you’re expected to always be tough, never show fear. Talking about it, normalizing it, made me stronger.”
For Wiles, progress came in small victories, trusting the process, celebrating the incremental steps, and proving to herself that belief and patience could carry her through.
Photo: @dustinsatloff // @usskiteam
Flying Into Perspective
Her journey through one of the most challenging periods of her career led Wiles to unexpected discoveries. During her recovery, the injury was not just physical. It pushed her to confront an uncertain future and she found freedom and perspective in the skies above. “I didn’t really think about one day I might not be able to ski race,” she recalls. “But that injury forced me to consider other options.” While rehabbing in Park City, she was introduced to flying through a friend. A discovery flight opened a new horizon and, unexpectedly, a second calling. Flying quickly became more than a distraction from recovery; it became a space to challenge herself, to push her limits in a different way, and to discover lessons that would feed back into her skiing.
“Having had a significant injury, I realized I wasn’t invincible,” Wiles explains. “Flying gave me a new respect for calculation and perspective. There’s adrenaline, risk, and the need to plan ahead. It’s so similar to ski racing.”
With the support of Textron Aviation, she steadily pursued her pilot’s license, spending summers in the air as a balance to winters on snow. She’s even brought her aviation passion into the ski world, attending events and connecting with sponsors who recognize her rare dual pursuit.
Cortina and the Olympic Pull
Few places hold as much weight for Wiles as Cortina d’Ampezzo. It’s where she first scored World Cup points, where she qualified for her first Olympics, and where she’s stood on the podium twice—once alongside Lindsey Vonn in 2018, and again in 2024 with her father in the crowd.
“He’s been with me through everything, never once stopped believing,” she says. “Having him there when I proved I could still do it meant the world.”
As Cortina prepares to host the 2026 Olympic Games, Wiles carries gratitude more than pressure. “Going to a place with so much history and personal meaning is inspiring. I just love the idea that it could all come full circle there.” As the 2026 Olympic Games approach, Wiles focuses on presence, process, and gratitude. She spends her days in the gym and on the hill, aiming to improve just a little each time, letting preparation and consistency replace anxiety. The core of the U.S. women’s speed team shares that mindset. Younger athletes bring energy, while veterans provide guidance, creating a culture of support that pushes everyone higher. “If we push each other in a positive way, the whole team rises,” she says.
Belonging and Growth
One of the biggest shifts in Wiles’ career has been realizing she belongs on the World Cup circuit. “When you’re younger, it’s easy to feel like you don’t fit in or that you’re not good enough. But a huge part of racing is knowing, deep down, that you belong.”
That belief fuels her daily work. Whether in the gym or on the hill, she focuses on gratitude and improvement, doing everything she can so there are no regrets. “If I know I’ve put in the work, it relieves a lot of pressure. I can just enjoy it.”
Beyond Results
For Wiles, the definition of success has evolved. As a younger racer, it was about results and accolades. Now, it’s about perseverance, longevity, and joy.
“Success is continuing to do something I love, traveling the world, racing with my friends, and hopefully inspiring younger athletes. That lights me up inside.”
Away from racing, she embraces new passions, from flying to riding her Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle. She dreams of flying a fighter jet, but what truly excites her is that after ski racing she plans to pursue her commercial pilot’s license and explore where the world of aviation can take her. That curiosity keeps her balanced and reminds her that she is more than just a ski racer.
If Her Skis Could Talk
After a decade on the World Cup circuit, through triumphs and injuries, Wiles reflects on the journey with a mix of grit and gratitude. Reflecting on her career, Wiles offers a simple yet powerful vision of resilience. And if her skis could talk, she knows exactly what they would say:
“Keep hanging on, keep pushing, keep fighting. We’ve stood the test of time. Keep believing in yourself. I’m proud of you.”
In that message lies her journey, a story of grit, perspective, and relentless love for a sport that has defined her, challenged her, and ultimately given her wings.
About the Author: Katie Twible
