Naomi Urness is looking to make her mark on the slopes. The nineteen-year-old Mont-Tremblant native will be competing on the NorAm Cup circuit this season as a new member of the national FreeStyle Canada NextGen Slopestyle/Big Air team. She’s one of just three females on the NextGen team, and the only one from Québec.

A home-grown champion

A member of the Mont-Tremblant Ski team since she was ten years old, Naomi has represented Québec on the provincial team for the past three years. After a first-place win last season, she was tapped for the national team.

With six major events upcoming from January through March, Naomi will be competing against the best skiers in North America. “While I want to win,” Naomi shared, “that is not front of mind. My goal is to stay grounded and focused, and not get caught up in the pressure of competing.”

Family life on the mountain

Naomi has been skiing in Mont-Tremblant since she was three years old, and is supported by a family that celebrates health, fitness and the great outdoors.

She gets her love of the mountains from her parents, Jonathan Dean Urness and Julie-Catherine Lapierre. When she and her two sisters weren’t skiing, they were climbing, hiking and backpacking. Her father is a passionate mountaineer and rock-climbing guide. His life-advice: “Go. Breathe. Dream. Live. Embrace the challenges that stand before you, and be transformed by them.”

All three sisters embody that mantra. While Naomi spent her summer training for the upcoming ski season, her sisters were busy as well. Identical twin sister Emma competed on the Canadian frisbee team at the World U24 Ultimate Championships in London. Their older sister Sarah took on Ironman Mont-Tremblant 70.3 in August, finishing in the top ten of her age group.

Although her father now lives in British Columbia, step-father Éric Langevin shares the spirit of learning through adventure and encourages the family’s active lifestyle.

Naomi’s step-brother Phillipe Langevin is similarly supportive. A popular ski coach in Mont-Tremblant, he was a World Cup Athlete on the Canadian ski team for over five years. Phillipe tells us, “I am excited for Naomi and the adventures that await her. She’s primed for the top of the podium!”

Training to win

Naomi puts the same effort into training as she does into competing. When she is not air-bag jumping in Austria, skiing in New Zealand or jump practising in Switzerland, she is strength-training with kinesiologist Robert Roy at the RobFit KinCentre in Mont-Tremblant.

Supported by Excellence Sportive Laurentides, Naomi trains privately with Robert once or twice a week, and follows a weekly training program prescribed by him. Her ski coaches at FreeStyle Canada have noticed the increase in her strength and stability, which she credits to her consistent work with Robert.

Robert relates, “Naomi is goal-driven. With her podium finishes last year, she began to understand her potential. She knew that focus and hard work were necessary to take that potential to the next level, and she put in the time and effort.”

Robert and Naomi also worked on her mindset, addressing the difference between fear and doubt. “Fear shows up on its own,” says Robert. “Doubt has to be invited.”

Naomi concurs: “Fear is acceptable. It makes me alert. Doubt is not something I will let in.”

We have no doubt either. Noami is heading into a grand adventure, and we are looking forward to watching her soar.

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