I BELIEVE LIFE IS ABOUT THE LIGHT THAT WE SHARE. AND THE VISION WE STRIVE FOR.
I grew up in the most eastern part of Austria among the vast flatland with wineries, where there are no mountains, no skiing, and no snowboarding. Yet ever since I was a little child, I felt it was my destiny to become an Olympian in the winter games. Many people were quick to point out why that could never happen. Thousands of reasons why I could NOT live my dream were all overcome by just ONE feeling. PASSION.
IT’S THE STRUGGLES AND FEARS WHICH ARE LEADING US BACK TO OUR INNER LIGHT.
All of this mindset and all of my strength was shaking when I was thirteen. It was that day which ended my childhood. I was questioning the meaning of life and it was the first time that something felt impossible to overcome. It felt impossible to strap on a snowboard ever again.
On November 11, 2000, at the age of 13, I was ready to hit the slopes with my best friends and teammates to snowboard. This day ended my childhood and marked the beginning of a life long journey. It’s this fine line between life and death. A journey which would require overcoming pain and devastation, desire of wanting to give up my dream, and the start of just being myself again. 155 people died from the devastating accident that day in the mountains of Kaprun in one of Austria’s worst disasters. My friends and teammates didn’t make it out.
FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS. FOLLOW YOUR VISIONS.
At that moment I lost so much. Obviously I lost my friends but somehow I also lost my faith or trust in the world. Two months later I was back on a snowboard. It was the sport that connected us and it was the sport that made my body feel alive again.
It took me years to regain my confidence, to feel the fun in snowboarding again and to come back from that.
I through myself back into training, achieved multiple world cup podiums and two silver medals at the world championship. However, my medals where achieved in setbacks. I suffered several carrier threatening injuries, two ACLs, broken ankle, dislocated shoulder, concussions. which ruled me out of the Vancouver Winer Olympics. I was very close to quitting snowboarding at this point.
It’s the struggles and fears which are leading us back to our inner light. I love the challenge of huge goals. A goal is only big enough if I feel scared and excited about it at the same time. I was using trial and error to find ways to bring me back into a resourceful state of mind. Yoga, Mental coaching, passion and hard work. Regardless of how big the challenge is.
Set goals that scare you and excite you at the same time.
At one point everything I worked towards was in balance. Being on the edge of a cliff with my snowboard in Alaska, standing in the start gate at the 2014 Olympic finals and letting go… that’s what I call flying. A deep inner trust to let all go – to let go of everything and just BE in the moment. That is how I won Olympic Gold – the first ever gold medal in snowboarding to be brought home to Austria. The first ever gold medal for my home state to receive in any sport. I know I was guided by my angel friends from that day, many years ago.
Every big goal achieved starts with a vision a dream, it’s the will power, the commitment and you have to be brave to make clear decisions. The opportunity of failure is to feel the real you. It makes you fearless.
SIMPLE. IN ALL OF ITS COMPLEXITY.
Look at your fears to find your potential. Focus is the door opener to the flow state. Performing simple in all of its complexity is the result of years of training. And the quality of the flow state is being present. All of this is achieved in being fearless.
Gripping stories are the result of personal setbacks, relationships, as well as the striving along an uncertain path towards a goal. This is, and always will be, what inspires and motivate me. Sometimes you cry and sometimes you fly. Most importantly, you have to remember to SHINE.
LOVE LIFE LIVE LIFE. TRAVEL THE WORLD. TRAVEL YOUR SOUL.
Today, I am continually growing my skills in yoga, mental coaching, and finishing my MBA in mental coaching and training. I love people, inspiring conversations, to teach, to travel, inspiring conversations, love life and live life to the fullest. To share thoughts, mountains and waves with friends and the new people I come across.
Life Rules
- If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.
- Set goals that scare you and excite you at the same time.
- Keep it simple. Keep it honest. Keep it real.
♥ Julia
* Olympian. Olympic Gold. Vice World Champion twice.
* MBA Coaching and Training, 2019
* Yoga Teacher
* Austrian TV Yoga Channel
* Ambassador for Laureus Sports For Good.
* Austrian Women of the Year 2014
* Speaker
* Snowboarder <3
* Nature Lover
