Biography
Park City, Utah native and former gymnast Madison Gorelik didn’t have to go far from home to get an early introduction to aerials skiing. “Growing up with a water ramping facility in my hometown, being a competitive gymnast, and ski racer for so many years it just seemed like fate that I would try aerials and it would fit,” she says.
Gorelik credits her years as a competitive gymnast for her “jump start” into aerials. “Being a member of FLY Freestyle and having so many amazing coaches is what made making the U.S. Ski Team a possibility,” says Gorelik. “Without FLY I would not have accomplished the things that I have accomplished so far.”
In only her second year of aerials competition, Gorelik garnered a lot of attention in 2012 with five NorAm podium finishes and a bronze medal at the U.S. National Championships.
Madison Says
I am fairly new to aerials so the 2012 season was a whirlwind to me. I did not have any expectations for the season, so being able to travel and earn third place for the NorAm Grand Prix, qualifying for Junior Worlds in Italy and earning third place at Nationals was more than I could have ever dreamed. I had so much fun traveling around to gain so many new experiences like competing at my first few World Cups. Being able to compete in my second World Cup ever and in my hometown in front of my friends and family was beyond comparison.
My main goal for the 2013 season is to gain experience, and hopefully I will be earning more World Cup spots and competing bigger tricks. I’m really looking forward to the bigger tricks.
First Tracks
Growing up in Park City, it was only natural for Gorelik to be on skis before she could walk. “I rode in a backpack on my Mom’s back while she skied, and as soon as I could walk she had me skiing on my own,” says Gorelik. “I started skiing right before my second birthday and then transitioned into ski racing. She left racing when she was 10 because she decided to get into gymnastics. She was a competitive gymnast until the age of 15 but the slopes always called. “During my gymnastic years, I often saw the U.S. Ski Team aerialists training, and it was always something that I wanted to try,” she says. “In the summer of 2010 there was a recruitment camp being held at the Utah Olympic Park and I decided to try it. After the recruitment camp I was unsure if I wanted to keep doing aerials, but as soon as my coaches had me trying flips off of the big jumps I never looked back.”
Off the Snow
As a fresh high school graduate, Gorelik started college at Westminster in June. When she is off the slopes she loves doing anything outdoors with friends. Hiking and trail running are two of her favorite activities. “If I’m not outdoors I love to bake new desserts."
