A new nude calendar features a group of U.S. ski racers in much less than their usual attire for the slopes.
The “Under The Suit: The Bodies Of The Ski Team” calendar has numerous American skiers coming together to try and raise funds for the travel costs of competing on the professional ski tour. While the U.S. ski federation funds the costs for A-level athletes, B- and C-level ones have to pay their own travel costs, which can range from $15,000 to $35,000 a season. The calendar’s cover shot can be seen below; be warned that it does feature nudity. First, here’s a video some of the skiers involved put together about this project:
Some of the skiers involved also spoke to The Associated Press about why they took this approach:
The original idea for the calendar came from Brennan Rubie, who is racing at “C” team level.
“It’s tough for us because we have to raise a bunch of cash,” the 25-year-old Rubie told The Associated Press. “We’ve all reached out to our parents, our parents’ friends.”
Athletes should get up to $4,000 each from sales, which Rubie says is “a big chunk of money that can really take some stress off.”
Jacqueline Wiles, a member of the “B” team who is also unfunded, features on the calendar taking off into the air — naked except for a ski helmet, gloves and boots. Teammates Breezy Johnson and Alice McKennis are also in the calendar.
“I think the target is raising around $110,000,” Wiles told the AP recently at the French resort of Val d’Isere. “They want to get all the calendars out before Christmas … to be a stocking stuffer.”
Here’s the cover shot of Wiles (who’s seen in World Cup competition above) training in Chile:
This seems like a smart idea for raising some funds. Other athletes in Olympic sports have found great success with the calendar approach, from curlers to rugby players, and the skiers who have to pay their own way on the expensive World Cup circuit can definitely use the cash. Don’t think that the B- and C-team level designations mean these athletes aren’t skilled, either; reaching that level is incredibly hard as well, and some athletes have gone from self-funded lower-level success to World Cup triumphs. But they need money to get there, as the statement on their “About The Project” page indicates:
As members of the National Team, we represent the best skiers in the country, and compete with the best in the world. Each day whether it is in the gym or on the course, we are working to become quicker, faster, stronger, and more consistent – so that one day, we might stand on the top of the World Cup Podium, or represent our country at the Olympics. These are our are goals, but to get there we need your help.
Without the hugs from mom and dad, the big checks hidden inside goofy holiday Hallmark cards, and the cheers from the sideline or finish, none of us would have been able to make it this far. But as professional athletes, it is difficult to come back to the same group of supporters every season asking for financial help to allow us to pursue our dreams. Even though we are constantly making progress, the thought of letting down those whose hearts beat for ours can feel like we have achieved nothing.
This year we’re trying something different. We wanted to come together as athletes and teammates, to help each other raise the money that our governing body could not provide. We will not have been the first to produce a nude calendar. But in choosing to do so, we have the opportunity to show our supporters to take a look at the lives, personalities, and strengths of Ski Team athletes through a new lens.
It’s also great to see that already-funded two-time Olympic champion Ted Ligety and Olympic super-G silver medalist Andrew Weibrecht took part in this as well to help their teammates, with Weibrecht telling the AP “It’s cool to see everyone come together.” And there are further benefits; as with ESPN The Magazine‘s Body Issue, showing athletes like this can help to present positive body images. Wiles said she’s received positive feedback from mothers worried about dangerously-slim role models and anorexia, saying “Everyone really likes the idea of displaying our bodies in a very athletic, powerful position. We work hard to be physically fit for our sport, and I think it’s really cool to show our fans and family what our bodies go through. However, there are challenges to nude calendar shoots, as teammate Alice McKinnis told the AP:
“In New Zealand, we did it at a ski resort and there were other people hiking a different ridge. They could see me,” McKennis said. “When Jacqui (Wiles) and I went off the downhill jump in Portillo (Chile), there were definitely a few creepy spectators. One of our coaches, helping drive us in a snowmobile, actually stopped and yelled at them.”
The shoots may have been challenging, but the racers say they’re proud of the end product, and hopefully sales from it will help make training and competing easier for them. If you’re interested in the calendar, you can purchase it here; calendars are $60 in the U.S., $84 internationally, with shipping included in both cases. You can also donate any amount you want to the cause at that link, and donations are tax-deductible.