A ski trip to remember. Megan Michelson aboard the Aurora Artika, a sailboat in the Westfjords of Iceland. Photo: Re Wikstrom

Editor’s Note: Core Creators shines a light on the writers, photographers and artists who contribute to The Ski Journal. While we love to go deep with household names and athletes, this series is an opportunity to flip the script and quiz the storytellers themselves.

When you talk to Megan Michelson, it’s like talking to an old friend—whether you’ve known her for minutes or years. She’s kind, thoughtful and reflective, so it’s no surprise that she’s been the voice behind many memorable profiles in The Ski Journal over the years, including Mikaela Shiffrin, Jackie Paaso and Angel Collinson. 

The Tahoe-based ski journalist, who has worked as an editor for ESPN, Skiing and Outside before embarking upon a freelance career in 2012, has honed the art of mixing work and play—weaving stories of goofy adventures, like Pirate Party in Iceland’s Westfjords [TSKJ 13.3], into compelling narratives that we have a hard time putting down. 

The Ski Journal: Tell us about your background as a skier.

Megan Michelson: I grew up in Nevada City, CA, in the foothills of the Sierra. My mom put me into a ski racing program when I was really young, which I’m really grateful for. 

How did you get into journalism?

Following a reporter around in seventh grade, I thought it was just about the coolest thing I could imagine doing and I set my mind on becoming a journalist. Writing always came easily to me in school and I’ve always been a voracious reader. I went to college [at Middlebury] in Vermont where I studied English and wrote for my college newspaper. That’s where I got into tele skiing, which at the time was the best way to get into the backcountry. 

Sailboat shenanigans on the Aurora Artika in the Westfjords of Iceland. Photo: Re Wikstrom

How would you describe your approach to storytelling?

I’m always looking for character-driven stories, profiles of interesting people, an athlete or a random quirky person you’ve never heard of. In an ideal world, the best way is to go hang out in the mountains with [the subject]. Everyone’s true character comes out eight hours into a backcountry ski tour or a hut trip—you can’t really hide anything in those raw settings!

But in recent years I’ve ended up in the position of writing some profiles on people who I haven’t spent very much time with in person. For Mikaela Shiffrin [TSKJ 17.3] I got so little from her, a super short video call. I had to base so much on podcast interviews, social media, previous interviews and talking to people in her world, which was its own challenge. 

Is there a particular story you’ve written that stands out the most?

My first printed piece about skiing was in the sports section of the Tahoe World. I was skiing at Palisades with Ingrid Backstrom, Jenn Berg and Michelle Parker for a story about women in freeskiing. Ingrid sent me off a little air—the first cliff I had ever hit. I just remember thinking, ‘These people are amazing.’ That really turned a lightbulb on in my head—that it was possible to write about the thing you love and make a living.

What other writers do you look up to?

Definitely Heather Hansman. She was an intern when I was an editor at Skiing Magazine, and even though I was working above her at the time, I have continued to look to her for mentorship and advice over the years. She’s writing her third book right now and I just love the type of writing she puts out into the world. There are a lot more women in the field than there were when I was getting started, and I think it’s really important and nice to know each other and bounce ideas off. I like to keep my peers close, since freelancing can often feel like an island.

There are many things that make a great ski trip, including plenty of snacks to share. Michelson stocks up for a fun day in the office at the Kees and Claire Hut near Whistler, BC. Photo: Re Wikstrom

One thing you can’t go without on a ski trip?

Always pack a swimsuit. You never know when a hot tub or polar plunge is going to be on the table. Water and skiing go hand in hand. 

Tell us why you love print media!

As a reader, I love holding a magazine or a book in my hands. I feel like I can sink into a story better when I’m looking at it on paper, not staring at a screen. We get so distracted on our phones and other devices—if I can sit down with a magazine and read it without a distraction, that is such a gift. 

Enjoy some deep dives into unique personalities with Michelson in Volume 18, first issue dropping in September. 

Spring skiing in the eastern Sierra Nevada, en route to ski the Bloody Couloir. Photo: courtesy of Megan Michelson