From Dryslope to the Big Screen: An Exclusive Q&A with Pressure Drop’s Kirsty Muir
The world of freeskiing has been in a constant state of evolution, with a new generation of athletes pushing the sport's technical limits. Among the most influential is Scotland's Kirsty Muir, who, at just 17, was the youngest member of Team GB at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, reaching the finals in both her events. A double X Games bronze medalist with a style that is both powerful and precise, her ascent was recognized when she was invited to join the Red Bull family and given a coveted Red Bull helmet. As quickly as her career was soaring, a brutal injury in 2023 forced her to step back from the competitive circuit. In a testament to her resilience, she’s not just back, she’s back stronger. As one of the featured athletes in our latest film, Pressure Drop, we sat down with Kirsty to talk about her remarkable comeback and what it means to be part of TGR's 30th annual film.
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Kirsty, you've had a meteoric rise, from skiing at your local dryslope in Scotland to standing on podiums at the X Games and competing on the world stage. How did that journey shape you as a skier, and what was it like making the mental and physical leap into a sport where the progression is so fast?
Kirsty: The dryslope community was a really great one to grow up in. Everyone was always pushing themselves and each other, hyping everyone up around them. Although the dryslope is small compared to most parks on snow it created a mentality for me to make the most of every opportunity that came my way and this has really helped me all through my ski career. Female freeskiing progression has been so rapid in the last few years, it’s so cool to be apart of but when I got into skiing that wasn’t what I was thinking about, I skied because it was the thing I enjoyed the most, I just loved pushing myself and watching the teenage athletes at the dryslope and striving to be like them.
You’re a part of two legendary brands in action sports: the Völkl Freeski Team and the Red Bull family. How have those partnerships shaped your career, and how does your Völkl setup help you push the limits in the park?
Kirsty: The support of these brands has helped me so much in my career, Volkl has sponsored me since I was 15 and Red Bull since I was 18, so I have had their support for the biggest moments in my career. They’ve helped me get to that point and helping me continue to progress further. I have always loved my Volkl Skis so much. The Revolt 90 has been my favorite ski for years. To me it’s the perfect park and comp ski. It’s stiff enough to support on takeoffs and landings when I put a lot of force through them but not too heavy at all.
You had a massive setback with an ACL tear in December 2023, yet you still managed to finish a competition and take home a bronze medal, an incredible feat. Can you walk us through what the recovery process was like, both mentally and physically, and share any advice for young skiers facing similar injuries?
Kirsty: My ACL injury was my biggest injury I’ve had, I haven’t been off my skis for 10 month since I began skiing. Six weeks after my knee I had shoulder surgery as well. This came with its challenges for sure, I had to learn to be better at patience in general and because of the combo of surgeries we had to modify exercises and be creative with the rehab in the first few months. I went to the gym 5 days a week, luckily I’m someone who enjoys the gym but it did start to get very repetitive which is a big contrast from skiing. You never know what is going to happen when you’re skiing, everyday is so different with differing conditions and and weathers. My advice for getting through a long rehab is celebrating the small wins throughout the journey and to be kind to yourself. You’re body needs time to heal and growing back muscles takes time, it can also take a toll mentally so overall be nice to yourself.
You've made a name for yourself in the competition world, but filming for a TGR film is a different beast. How do you approach a park line differently when you're filming versus competing? Is it a different kind of Pressure Drop?
Kristy: I was so so excited to film with TGR, this was quite different for me. When it comes to the filming over competing I allowed myself to relax a lot more which I hope shows in my skiing. I’m trying to incorporate this into comp skiing too. I really enjoy the filming because I was trying to add some more flavor to my tricks and maybe take the spins down a little and steeze them out more.
Were there any specific moments during filming at Grand Targhee that stand out to you as particularly challenging or rewarding?
Kirsty: When we got to Grand Targhee the weather was a bit challenging for us. We spent a few days waiting around for the weather as the mountian could only open for 2 days for us. Usually whilst in the park we would go up on some bad weather days and try to see what we can get out of it so this was a different experience for me, we had to wait to get the epic view!
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Filming Pressure Drop brought together an amazing crew of women skiers. What was it like to be part of a project that showcases their raw talent and share the mountain with some of the biggest names in park skiing?
Kristy: It was so fun to ski with the girls, I absolutely love skiing with friends and this was exactly that. Skiing together, pushing each other and doing it in such a beautiful spot was definitely a bonus.
What do you hope people, especially younger skiers, take away from your segment and Pressure Drop as a whole?
Kirsty: I hope they are inspired, I hope they see how much fun we’re having together as a crew and I hope that they continue to push themselves whilst having the best time.
Looking ahead, what's next for you? Are you planning to continue blending your competitive career with film projects, or do you have a new focus in mind?
Kristy: I definitely want to blend competing and filming. I’d really love to get into filming more. I haven’t tried street and that’s something I want to do. Also I’d like to do some more backcountry, the top thing on my bucket list is to go to Japan. I need to try out that pow. I also wanna hit a back country booter. So yeah lots of plans to film as well as competing!
Kirsty's journey is a powerful reminder that every setback can be a setup for a comeback. Her segment in Pressure Drop isn't just about the tricks she lands or the style she puts down; it's a testament to her unwavering spirit and her role in the new vanguard of freeskiing. It’s a showcase of what it means to truly live and breathe this sport, from the first jump to the final stomp. Witness her full story, and the raw, unfiltered action of the entire crew, on the big screen. The Pressure Drop film tour is happening now—find a stop near you and experience it for yourself.
