World Cup athletes go back in time
Maybe there’s an old photo album tucked away in a closet at your parent’s house that your mom loves to break out when she’s feeling nostalgic – at holiday parties or whenever you bring over new friends. That album is host to childhood memories but also some gems that you probably wish never saw the light of day.
Lucky for ski fans, World Cup athletes seem more willing to share an inside look at their childhoods than most people. From learning to swim to learning to shred, these ski racers have some awkward childhood pictures. Unless you’re Ted Ligety. If you’re Ted, you’ve been shredding since straight skis were still cutting edge.
Before he won Olympic gold, Ligety had to learn to drag knucks.
Frida Hansdotter has been crushing it since ’95 in preparation for winning a World Cup globe.
Fast and fab ???? #tbt Året var nog 1995, längddress, raka skidor, chicky Word cup #bjuderpåden
A photo posted by Frida Hansdotter (@hansdotterfrida) on
Before he won a single World Cup overall title, Marcel Hirscher had to work his way up the podium on the junior circuit.
Jacqueline Wiles didn’t start out as a speed demon.
A photo posted by Jacqueline Wiles (@jankylilj) on
Doubt anyone could slow down Michael Ankeny with a harness now.
…and it’s always good to know that even the greatest skiers in the world needed water wings, too.
#throwback ? #fluffiesandcrumpets #marmiteandjandals #manukashircock
A photo posted by Mikaela Shiffrin (@mikaelashiffrin) on