Emma Dahlstrom

My biggest motivation are the mountains themselves.

Considering the many Swedish boys who constantly occupy the top spots of freeski contests, it is strange that almost no Swedish girl has ever made the podium of a major event. Emma Dahlström is about to change this.

The 18-year-old from the small town of Torsby west of Stockholm has only been sessioning the funpark seriously for three years, but she already has some remarkable results on her record. Among others she won her qualification heat at the European Freeski Open 2010. A snow storm denied her break-through back then, as the finals had to be cancelled, but the impressive showing earned the golf fan an invitation to this year’s X Games.

Her quick rise isn’t a total surprise, however, as her father is a ski instructor and thus the sports enthusiast found herself skiing in the small resort of Hovfjället as soon as she could walk. Next up was the usual stint at racing, but at the age of nine Emma exchanged her skis for a snowboard. It took four years before the rock music fan, who loves to play guitar at home, went back to skiing, but this time to freestyle.

Today, Emma visits the ski high school in Malung, 100 km north of her home town. She spends most of her time in the snow park of Kläppen, one of the best parks in Scandinavia, and constantly works to improve her skills. The limit for her progression is yet to be seen, so it seems to be only a question of time until Emma will reach her big goal to win an X Games medal. Eventually she might move on to freeriding then as she also has a love for powder snow. And her biggest motivation, Emma says, are the mountains themselves.

What Marker bindings do you use?  And where do you mount them?

I ride with the Marker Team Jester and mount them dead middle on my park skis!
Other skis I use Marker Schizo and the regular Marker Jester

What DIN do you have your bindings on?

Between 8 and 12

RANDOM FACTS:

Favorite skier: Maximilliam Smith

Ski hero growing up: Jon Olsson

Home mountain: Hovfjället Ski Resort

Height: 169 cm

Ideal day in the mountains: -2 degrees, Bluebird, Perfect shape in the park and good friends!

How would you describe your style: That I’m always looking to improve it

Your biggest breakthrough in your skiing career: That I got a spot at the first stop at Winter Dew Tour, Breckenridge this year, and that I made it to finals there!

Favorite place to ride: Kläppen Snowpark and Breckenridge

Best snow trip: 1,5 week in Hintertux with a bunch of my old classmates last autumn!

What age did you start to ski: As soon as I could walk, around 2 years old

What can’t you live without: My skis and good friends!

Favorite phone App: CliffDiving

Goals and plans: Try to ski as much as possible and see the world