Interview by Coral F. / age 12
To say that Chris Anthony has achieved a lot in his life would be an understatement. Chris has been an extreme skiing champion, a featured athlete in ski movies, a writer, a TV host, a motivational speaker, a member of the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame, and an award-winning film producer for his documentary “Mission Mt. Mangart,” a film that chronicles the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division and their extraordinary feats in and after World War II. For his work on this film, Chris was inducted into the Warrior Legend Hall of Fame by the 10th Mountain Division. But beyond all of his celebrity and awards, what remains most important to Chris is his passion for helping kids, and he uses all of the aforementioned experiences as a tool to do just that.
For more than 30 years, Chris has been dedicated to helping youth experience outdoor recreation and learn valuable life skills. His commitment led him to create the Chris Anthony Youth Initiative Project in 2013, and through the organization Chris has engaged with more than 85,000 students through speaking opportunities at schools, film showings, and by bringing kids from underserved communities skiing, often for the first time. Chris uses his experiences from world travels and skiing, as a tool to share stories and create educational and experiential opportunities for kids to learn about confidence, risk taking, positivity, dreaming, and more.
Our writer and interviewer, Coral F., a 12-year-old skier, first met Chris when he was a guest speaker at her school in Boulder, Colorado. Inspired by his message, Coral interviewed Chris to learn more about his Youth Initiative Project and all that it encompasses.
You’ve done so much to promote skiing and the outdoors. You were a professional skier and in ski movies, you help inspire kids to ski and adventure, and you made an award-winning movie about the 10th Mountain Division. What are you most proud of?
I’m really proud of how it all links together. I’m happy that my parents provided me the opportunity to go skiing when I was young, which a lot of kids don’t get. We’re lucky that we had parents who love to ski and introduced us to the mountains. Skiing has taken me on a wonderful journey to amazing places, and then in movies, and eventually provided me the opportunity to go into classrooms and speak with kids. When I was a little kid, an athlete came into my classroom and spoke to us and inspired me to set goals for myself which set me on the right direction. And here I am now the athlete that gets to go into schools and share that journey and inspire kids… That makes me happy, and it’s all linked together. It’s all one circle.
You also bring kids skiing who otherwise might not have the opportunity or resources to go to the mountains. Can you tell me more about that program?
I raise money through my Youth Project for a lot of different programs, including bringing kids to the mountains to ski and snowboard. At some of the schools where I speak, the students don’t have the same opportunities to go skiing. So, I raise money to hire a bus, hire the ski instructors, get the equipment, and take those kids up to the mountains, which is truly a joy because it’s something they may not get to experience otherwise.
What inspired you to want to help get kids get into skiing and the outdoors?
When I was a little kid, I was unfocused and got into some trouble. I had dyslexia and wasn’t a great student. What really helped me as a kid was the opportunity to be in the outdoors and focus on a sport, such as skiing. Since it helped me, I wanted to help others. I think taking any kid from the classroom and putting them on a mountain they’re going to learn something which is pretty important. And it also puts a smile on their face which is pretty rewarding.
What else do you do as part of your Youth Project?
The Youth Project has four parts to it, and your school has been involved in part one, where I speak with students about different topics. Part two of the Project is focused on the schools that are underserved and don’t have the same opportunities. This is where I take the kids out of the school and to an experience in the mountains. I’m now able to take those kids up into the mountains, and pay for the entire trip for kids that didn’t get the opportunity that you and I have had, to experience the mountains.
The third part of that is building educational programming, the stuff that I bring into the classrooms. As you know, I produced a film and that falls under the educational programming. I’ve been using that film and touring it and raising money for the Youth Project so that I can take kids on those great experiences. And the fourth part of the Youth Project is about snow science and avalanche education for youth. There are a lot of mountain town schools where kids have access to go into the mountains but don’t know the science and dangers of the mountains. So, if they can learn about that they can mitigate risk and be safer, and still enjoy the mountains.
What advice do you have for kids who want to ski?
They need to first find a way to get an opportunity to do it. So they need to seek out programs like mine and others that help kids get the opportunity. There are a lot of programs available, and my advice is that any kid who gets the opportunity should take advantage of it because it’s a wonderful way to get outside, and sliding down a hill is pretty fun.
My dad and I always bring snacks to eat on the chairlift. What’s your favorite?
I try to bring healthy stuff, and what I like on the chairlift are Clif BLOKS energy chews. They’re easy to put in your pocket and they taste like candy but they’re packed with energy and good for you. But I really like going to the lodge and getting French fries and hot chocolate.