On this episode of The Ginni Show, I speak with Canadian World Cup alpine skier Erin Mielzynski. Erin first began competing internationally in 2009 and, since then, has competed in three winter Olympics (including the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics) and five world championships. In 2012, Erin won her first World Cup race in Slalom in Germany, making her the first Canadian woman in 41 years to achieve such a feat. Between her athletic endeavors and personal adventures, Erin has been all over the world, making her a seasoned traveler. 

I speak with Erin about her most recent travel adventure, a mindfulness retreat in Indonesia, the close connection she made along the way, and what she gained from her experience. We also discuss Erin’s career as a world-class athlete and the important lessons she’s learned along the way. 

In this episode, you will learn:

• How mindfulness is important to professional athletes (2:01)
• What inspired Erin’s journey into mindfulness(3:11)
• Erin’s thoughts on traveling alone (4:30)
• About Erin’s experience at a mindfulness retreat (4:42)
• What lessons Erin learned during her mindfulness retreat  (6:33)
• What it was like for Erin traveling alone for the first time (9:59)
• What mindfulness means to Erin (10:39)
• What it’s like for Erin to compete against, and simultaneously support, her teammates (19:06)
• How Erin views her immediate community and why they are so important to her (20:31)
• Erin’s experience backcountry skiing in France (22:51)
• How Erin defines bravery (29:29)
• What Erin’s foray into podcasting has been like (31:42)

Some questions I ask:

• Do you think that disconnect from a larger group helped your experience [traveling alone]? (9:55)
• What was it like connecting with someone so deeply in a nonverbal way? [11:29]
• How is it different being in a foreign space when you have your support system with you versus when you’re alone? (15:03)
• How does [teammates] showing up for one another play a part in such a highly competitive world? (18:41)
• Would you say that trust is a core value for you? (25:23)
• You mentioned that scary situations have brought you closer to the people in your life quickly out of necessity. Do you use that awareness in your everyday relationships? (27:20)
• Has there ever been a moment with the podcast where you felt like throwing in the towel? (32:02)

Connect with Erin Mielzynski:

• Website: erinmielzynski.com
• Twitter: @erinmielzynski
• Instagram: @erinmielzynski

Let’s connect:

• Instagram: @theginnishow
• Twitter: @theginnishow
• Facebook: @theginnishow
• LinkedIn: Ginni Saraswati
• Website: ginnimedia.com

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