Kate Targett | Season 2019 from Kate Targett on Vimeo.
Kate Targett grew up a competitive freestyle skier from Alberta, Canada. Now 27 and based out of Calgary, she’s one of the rising stars of freeskiing. SBC Skier Magazine recently named her an athlete to watch. She released her season edit last week, and we reached out to catch up.
Tell us about your background in skiing.
I grew up skiing competitively in freestyle—moguls, slopestyle and halfpipe. I competed and trained internationally for three seasons on the Alberta Team, before deciding to retire and follow down another path. I decided to go to university and dabbled with the odd Freeride World Qualifier event. The freeride scene was a totally different style of competing for me. Everyone was super friendly and generally stoked on each other and overall, I liked how unstructured it was compared to mogul skiing. After doing well in a few contests, I decided that I really wanted to focus my energy on filming. Last season I spent my whole winter focused on that goal and I had the time of my life.
You also work as a geologist?
I’m currently not working as a technical geologist, but I do work for an environmental consulting company. We focus primarily on pre-assessment work for major infrastructure projects and this summer I got to spend a lot of time working in remote locations from a helicopter. It was awesome. My position is primarily a field-based role, so this allows me to double up on hours in the spring and fall work seasons and take time off in the winters. Pretty perfect for my lifestyle, as it allows me to pursue skiing, as well as a professional career.
Where was this season edit shot mostly?
I focused all of my energy on filming for this edit last season and it’s filmed all over western Canada. Anywhere from Fernie—Grizzly Basin Cabin Rentals—to Golden, SkiBig3 resorts and Pemberton, BC.
Describe the best day on skis you’ve had in a while.
It was probably the last day of last season. Spring vibes, ripping around in a T-shirt, park laps with all my friends doing questionable sized trains. It was just the best day. I love those simple party shred days where everyone comes out of the woodwork, unplanned and awesome.