Liz Cunningham Tahoe

By Vanessa Aadland
GETTING TO know Liz Cunningham's story and listening to her vividly express her passions was inspiring. She has some great insight that she combines with an overflowing excitement for meeting and encouraging new people. Her enthusiasm for telemark skiing, for example, was contagious to say the least. The same day Liz made a turn on a telemark set up, was the same day she bought one! I would like to add, SheJump’s is incredibly lucky to have a woman like Liz in the family. Her energetic and zealous heart connects entirely with the SheJump’s mission!

Liz is originally from Albany, New York, but moved to Delaware when she was 16. From there, she pursued environmental studies and played soccer for Green Mountain College in Vermont. After graduating she worked for two years in Burlington, Vermont, on a grant from the Department of Energy to improve energy efficiency and renewable energy projects on college campuses across the state. The grant was only part time so she worked at the Outdoor Gear Exchange to help pay the bills and fund her new telemark addiction. In 2006, she was offered a job with Bioneers, a non-profit that inspires practical solutions to environmental and social justice issues. Within weeks, she packed up her belongings and drove cross-country to San Francisco where she resides now. This winter you'll find her on dropping a knee on the slopes of Kirkwood with the 18 other friends she shares a ski house with in South Lake Tahoe. Yes, that's right...18. Sometimes more--last year it was 21!

Vanessa: So real quick, are you still playing soccer?
Liz: Yeah kind of, I like to play pick-up games with these Hispanic kids in the park...barefoot. Or pickup on the beach with a PBR in hand.

VA: Nice! Anyway, on to the very serious stuff, haha…. where do you see yourself in 5 years?
LC: Skiing a lot, good job, traveling, making many friends, giving back to SheJumps. You know, living the dream man!

VA: What are some goals/ things you want to do before you die?
LC: Heli ski, get filmed skiing, explore New Zealand, ski Argentina, go on a  train tour through Europe and England, sail a big, tall ship, brew my own beer, go on a massive all-girl ski trip, explore the National Parks including Yellow Stone, and do a bike tour through Oregon, Washington, and the San Juans.

VA: Describe your ultimate day!
LC: Wake up at 4:30 a.m., I’m drinking some coffee with VT maple syrup in it, eggs and bacon are for breakfast. I’m wearing a sweatshirt and slippers, and am surrounded by my friends. It’s dumping outside, it takes a while for the windows to de-fog, the roads are slick but bare because no one is up yet. It’s silent outside. In the lift line, everyone is smiling ear to ear. On the ski lift everyone is so stoked they want to jump off, and start skiing right away. I’m at the top of my line, my music is pumping, I say thanks, and drop in! I repeat those steps all day, shredding nipple deep pow! No one ate lunch because it was too good to take a break. After skiing my friends and I are drinking our micro brews, sharing our stoke from the day, feeling great knowing tomorrow is going to be the same thing!

VA: Who is a role model in your life?
LC: Leslie Ross. She won the US Telemark Extremes in Crested Butte a few times and is the founder of Babes in the Backcountry. She came up to me at Outdoor Retailer in SLC and said, “I was told I’m supposed to meet you.” I couldn’t believe it, I felt it was supposed to be the other way around! We hit it off right away, it was a bonding moment! She eventually took me on my first official tour. Leslie is truly an amazing woman who has changed my skiing and my life. I encourage all aspiring tele skiers to take her Sassy in the Steeps... it was awesome! I'm excited to see Babes in the Backcountry and SheJumps join forces in the near future!

VA: How did you get involved in She Jumps?
LC: Last winter I was on the chair lift at Kirkwood and SheJumps made its way into the conversation. I looked it up as soon as I got home and contacted Lynsey Dyer to see how I could involve myself. Eventually we met up in the spring and got to ski a run together. She's fast! Then someone mentioned the SheJumps retreat kind of randomly, so I immediately e-mailed the girls to get a spot. I was so happy Zion chose me over burning man! It felt like I finally found you guys! I’m so ready to be a part of something bigger!

VA: So you really went out of your way to contact SheJumps and fully indulge yourself! What qualities are you pumped to put to work?
LC:  Definitely my ability to be open with everyone, I’m pretty accepting to every personality out there. I would say I’m a natural connector, I’m able to find common ground with people. I love to meet people and am not afraid to introduce myself. I want to help grow the SheJumps community and hear other girls stories of jumping!

VA: Any last words?
LC: I’m so psyched to be a part of this great group of women, I hope to help inspire because that’s what we’re here to do! I’m stoked to share my passion for telemark skiing and bringing people together through SheJumps! And, I can't wait to ski with you! If you're in CA, don't be afraid to drop a line and come visit! I just can't promise couch space ;)