Skiing

Hudak to attend Boston premiere of Winter

By Eric Wilbur

November 7, 2011

2 minutes to read

There’s a telling moment at the end of the second installment of “Moving Mountains,” the three-part web series starring freestyle skier and New England native Jen Hudak. After seeing the skier at her professional peak, on the X-Games halfpipe podium, we get a preview of next month’s third episode, which shows Hudak surrounded by powder in Japan, a moment of solitude that can’t be found on the pipe while being scrutinized by judges and cheered on by millions watching on live TV.

Not that Hudak is giving up her day job anytime soon, mind you, but there is a sense of peace in those moments, when Hudak can finally take a moment and float in the snow rather than soar high above it.

During the season, Hudak’s schedule is a whirlwind, whether it’s training with the U.S. freestyle team in her hometown of Park City, Utah, spending a month in Colorado, or participating in competitions like the upcoming Dew Tour. Last year, Hudak, a four-time halfpipe X-Game medalist, and a two-time medalist in the FIS Fresstyle World Championships, added Japan to her itinerary, starring in her first ski movie, the Ski Channel’s “Winter,” which will makes its Boston debut Wednesday night as part of the Boston Ski and Sports Club’s “Blizzard,” ski season kick-off party. Hudak will be in attendance at the Club Royale event, which will include prizes, free lift tickets, and other deals.

In addition to Hudak, “Winter” stars an impressive list of talent, including Ted Ligety, Maine native Simon Dumont, Sarah Burke, Phil and Steve Mahre, and Bob Dole. Yes, that one.

“I think it’s going to be a really good event,” Hudak said last week during a break from her training in Park City. “I’m still an East Coaster at heart and take a lot of pride of having my ski roots back east.”

Hudak, 25, grew up in Connecticut before moving to Mt. Holly, Vt. with her mom so that she could attend Okemo Mountain School in Ludlow. There, she trained in a mogul discipline before moving to the halfpipe during her senior year. To that point the pipe had traditionally been strictly a snowboard thing on the competition level.

“I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now if I hadn’t had that experience,” she said.

Fast-forward seven years later, and freestyle halfpipe will be an Olympic event in Sochi, and Hudak, one of the world’s premier halfpipe skiers, will likely be there.

But right now, Hudak is focused on her 2011-12 season, and promoting “Winter.”

“I think the concept of “Winter” is to give people a look at us from a different perspective,” she said. “It’s why we’re in the sport.

“There haven’t been a ton of filming opportunities for females.”

That’s the impetus behind “Moving Mountains,” an independent project that displays the many facets of Hudak’s life and career on skis. The second installment of the series debuted online last week, and concludes next month.

Check out both the trailer for “Winter” and the second installment of “Moving Mountains” below. The BSSC “Blizzard” event takes place from 5:30-10:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the Tremont St. nightclub door.