Katia Griffiths

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Land and Sea Stories

Katia Griffiths is a freestyle skier who competed in the Olympic debut of ski halfpipe at Sochi 2014. Raised by the ocean and drawn to the mountains from an early age, she has built her path around movement, rhythm, and a deep connection to nature. In this conversation, she shares what skiing means to her today - on snow, and beyond.

Between mountains and ocean, a life in motion.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST FALL IN LOVE WITH SKIING?

Yes, I remember it really clearly. I was five years old when my mom took me skiing for the first time, in Andorra. I had grown up by the ocean, so the mountains felt completely new to me, almost like another world. I was struck by how vast everything was and how different the atmosphere felt compared to home. Once I put on skis, I immediately loved the feeling of gliding on snow - it gave me a sense of freedom. I didn’t fully understand the sport yet, but I knew I wanted to keep doing it. That combination of being in the mountains and feeling that excitement on skis hooked me instantly - and ever since, I’ve always wanted to go back.

What do the mountains represent to you today, beyond sport and competition?

Today, the mountains mean much more to me than sport or competition. They’re the place where I feel grounded, where everything becomes simple again. They give me perspective and remind me why I do what I do. Even when things get stressful, being up there is always like pressing reset. It’s the same feeling I had as a child - just deeper now.

How would you describe, in your own words, the feeling of dropping into a halfpipe?

Dropping into a halfpipe is a rush of adrenaline - it feels like entering a rhythm. Everything happens very quickly: it’s a mix of speed, timing, and total commitment. When it goes well, everything feels smooth and you’re completely immersed in what you’re doing, as if each move naturally flows into the next. On other days, it can be a mental challenge, because you have to fully commit every time you drop in. And that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding: when it all comes together, it’s one of the best feelings.

THE OCEAN AND THE MOUNTAINS ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT WORLDS. WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON FOR YOU?

For me, they actually have a lot in common. Both are powerful, unpredictable, and ultimately beyond your control. Whether you’re on the ocean or in the mountains, you have to respect nature and adapt to what it gives you. You can arrive with a plan, but in the end, it’s always the conditions that decide. That’s what I love about both: they keep you present and give you that same sense of freedom and perspective that’s hard to find anywhere else.