Do It Scared: How Skiing Big Mountains Builds a Meaningful Life | Wynter McBride, Ascent Life Ep. 33

In this big mountain episode, I sit down with Wynter McBride — Freeride World Tour rookie standout and one of America’s top female freeride skiers — to explore how adventure sports like skiing help us live more meaningful, purposeful lives. Fresh off her breakout rookie season, Wynter shares raw insights on identity beyond skiing, facing fear in the start gate, traveling the world, and finding joy.

We dive deep into:

• What it’s really like competing on the Freeride World Tour (Alaska spines, Verbier, Georgia, France, Austria + canceled comps)

• Balancing passion for skiing with mountain biking, art, yoga, family & summer adventures

• Defining success, purpose, and who you are when you’re not skiing

• Moving through fear, building confidence, and skiing with a smile at the gate

• Lessons from big mountains on humility, discomfort, and breathing through challenge

• How yoga, journaling, and reflection fuel performance and personal growth

I also share key wisdom from two powerful books on living a meaningful life: Arthur C. Brooks’ The Meaning of Your Life(my top recommendation) and How to Live a Meaningful Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans.

Whether you’re a skier, adventurer, or someone searching for more purpose and joy in daily life, this conversation will inspire you to chase experiences, do it scared, and design a life you love.

🔑 Topics: Freeride World Tour, big mountain skiing, finding purpose, meaningful life, adventure sports, Wynter McBride, rookie season, skiing mindset, overcoming fear, identity work, Arthur Brooks, yoga for athletes

⏰ Timestamps:

• 00:00 Intro & books on meaning

• 04:17 Interview with Wynter McBride begins

• 05:08 Purpose & identity outside of skiing

• 09:03 Breaking down her podium run in France

• 14:15 Rookie season results & making the cut

• 16:07 Travel chaos, trains, food allergies & cultural surprises in Georgia

• 23:10 Favorite European stops & why European mountains feel massive

• 26:00 Alaska heli-skiing & spine technique

• 33:20 Defining success as an athlete & as a person

• 48:18 Yoga, art & cross-training for skiing

• 51:43 How Wynter wants to be remembered

• 55:26 Summer plans & goals for next season

• 01:03:01 Final advice: Do it scared

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📸 Follow Wynter McBride on Instagram & Substack (search Wynter McBride)

🎥 Watch her Freeride World Tour runs

Thanks for tuning in— now go do something that makes you feel most like yourself.

Cheers, and Godspeed.