By Michael Mastarciyan
For some North American World Cup ski racers, tired from a long season on the road living out of suitcases, summer is a season best savored from the sedentary confines of home sweet home.
This is not the case for Julia Mancuso.
To know Jules, as her friends call her, is to know that the word ‘sedentary' is NOT part of her vocabulary. What you do find - if you take time to leaf through the Julia Mancuso lexicon - are words like, vagabond, wanderer, adventurer, and bohemian.
"I love to travel. I guess it's the fact that for most of the year I live out of a suitcase, when it's time to settle down, it can be tough for me to get back into the rhythm of staying at home! I am always busy at home though too - it seems when you live in a place like Maui everyone wants to visit," Mancuso says.
Since the end of race season in late March, Mancuso has been circling the globe like a human satellite, crisscrossing the skies en route to action, adventure and perhaps most importantly, reunions with family and friends across the planet.
Jules' first stop - Morocco - for some well-deserved R&R after a historic season that saw her reach Olympic heights no other female U.S. skier has ever achieved - two silvers at Whistler and a gold at Torino - making Mancuso the most decorated female alpine skiing Olympian in her country's history.
"Morocco was a fun trip, it was also a bit of a whim! I wanted to get some sun close to Europe before testing skis!" Mancuso says recalling the trip where she took her first camel ride!
Next on the itinerary - the good ole' USA. Back on home soil for a quick pit stop in Los Angeles to see some friends. Then off to the Bahamas for a celebrity weekend event before heading back to Mancuso's home base and favorite place on earth - Maui - for a little surfing, a little hiking, some snorkeling with dolphins, a photo-shoot for a VISA ad campaign with world renowned photographer Poby, a wedding and a honeymoon - her sister April's - not hers!
"It was great to get to spend time with my sister before she starts her medical residency in Michigan. She is going to be so busy in the next years, and Michigan is a little bit out of the way for me, but I guess I will just have to add even more miles to my summers," Mancuso says with a chuckle.
But even life in paradise doesn't last forever. Before long, Mancuso puts her surfboard back in her garage and is on the road again. This time it's off to the Windy City (Chicago) and then on to the Big Apple (NYC) for some business and pleasure before heading out to The Hamptons on Long Island, New York's ritzy eastern tip for some upscale East Coast sun and fun with the polo crowd.
"I always love visiting NYC. It has great energy. I grew up in a small town so going to the city is always a treat! Then to top it off with the Hamptons! I tend to flock to the beach, and those beaches are nothing like I've experienced before, never ending and so peaceful," Mancuso says.
After some good times on the East Coast and another photo shoot for NIKE in New York, Mancuso heads back out west to California for some quality time with her family and her sister April's graduation from medical school. Then it's back to the airport and a long haul flight to northern Europe for a ski-related reconnaissance mission to Norway to get a first-hand peak at the summer time training habits of her good ski buddy Aksel Lund Svindal and his crew of Attacking Vikings.
"I had a really great time in Norway. I think one of my favorite things was how the sun never really sets! I have a lot of energy so that was perfect for me! I never wanted to sleep! We spent a lot of time at the gym and exploring on mountain bikes," Mancuso says.
After Norway it's back down to London and a visit with her BFF Chemmy Alcott for a little Wimbledon, and the requisite strawberries and Devonshire cream that come with it. Then back to the USA for the ESPN ESPY Awards in Los Angeles (Mancuso was nominated for Best Female US Olympic Athlete) before going home to begin packing for the US Ski Team's upcoming on-snow camp in New Zealand.
"I am really lucky to have so many friends around the globe. It does get tough to balance where to spend my time, but I look at it as this is the time to figure out where I like to be and see as much as I can - I know I will have to settle down someday. I am just about to leave for New Zealand, and believe it or not - I am not that excited to leave home yet! I could use another month of summer!" Mancuso says with a big smile.
"I definitely do my fair share of traveling in the off season, but that also includes chasing the snow! I have a lot of skiing planned for this summer to try my new Volkls. Also adding a Spyder photo shoot into the mix. It's gonna be a lot of fun! Things are going great so far and I am stoked."
