OGDEN — Wynter McBride is thriving in the world of freeride skiing.

Currently 5th in the Freeride World Tour, McBride is also keeping an eye to her future in the sport and inspiring its next generation.

“I’ll definitely be working really hard to be progressing ni my own skiing,” she said. “To compete in the Olympics would be huge for me.”

However, she noted that her ultimate goal is still to have fun with the sport — whether it’s added to the Olympics or not.

Photo supplied, Wynter McBride

“For me, and maybe it’s how my dad raised me and my siblings, but I want to make sure I’m having fun and enjoying my time and the journey to get wherever it is,” she said. “But I will be taking steps to try to work towards the Olympics if it’s voted on and approved.”

McBride said she may even return to her roots, instructing the next generation of freeride skiers.

“I’ll still be skiing, whether I’m competing or not,” she said. “I hope to coach again one day. I really love working with the younger kids and I think it feels like a good way for me to give back this thing that I love so much.”

However, she said there are some realities that may drive her more towards other outdoor recreational activities.

“There’s some concern about the longevity of our sport because of how winters are changing,” she said. “Snowpack is just different everywhere every year. That’s always kind of on my mind, ‘If I can’t ski one day, what am I going to be doing?’ But I have a lot of things I love outside of skiing — I love mountain biking, being outside and I’m trying to learn some river activities like kayaking.”

McBride noted that, during the Freeride World Tour this season, multiple competitions had to be canceled due to inadequate snow conditions.

While she’s traveled all over the world to ski, McBride says there’s no place like home.

“I’ve been all over this year and every time I ski a new place, I’m like, ‘Man, I kind of wish I was just home skiing, it’s so nice here,'” she said. “The familiarity is nice. I grew up skiing Snowbasin, so I know all the runs. I could ski with my eyes closed, in theory — I know all of the trees and I know where the rocks are. We also have, at Snowbasin specifically, world-class terrain. There’s so much variety and such quick access that stands out to me.”

She said her second favorite ski location, outside of Utah, is Austria.

Mike McBride, Ogden City communications director and Wynter’s father, said it’s been an inspiration to watch his daughter thrive in the sport.

“I’m really excited that she’s at the level she’s at doing this currently,” he said. “It’s inspiring to know that she’s going to be a person who’s — in some way, shape or form — she’s going to be coaching or helping a younger generation move into what could be a future Olympic sport, and I just think that’s really inspiring to be part of something bigger than yourself, and Wynter’s doing that.”