Young Wānaka skier motivated to work up the ranks

Local New Zealand ski representative Mathilda Watterson is working seven days a week for less than minimum wage, in fact she’s not on a salary at all.

This is all part and parcel of the hoops ski athletes must jump when they are starting out a career in the snow.

Watterson already has an impressive repertoire of achievements in her short career at just 17 years of age.

Last year she was named the national U21 junior FIS champion, the 2025 U21 Slovenian National Junior GS Champion, and she competed at the world junior championships.

She also has a few important competitions coming up; the Wānaka FIS Tech Series, the Australia New Zealand Cup, the National Championships and the 2026 World Junior Championships in Norway next year.

All this means Watterson is training seven days, often twice a day either between strength and agility classes or up the mountain. There is not a minute to work, but still. She has been making and selling neck warmers to help field costs.

"They are really popular with some of the younger ones."

With her sister Isabel, they sell the warmers under the brand Tildy&Iz, at the Wānaka Thursday night markets and often at the Sunday markets too.

Originally from Auckland, she moved to Wānaka when she was 9. Having already spent her youth skiing on family holidays; she started to get more serious and got a coach.

She began skiing at the age of 2 up at Porters skifield. Following this she skied at Mt Cheeseman, Craigieburn, Mt Hutt, Treble Cone and Cardrona where at 6-years-old a family friend suggested she try the racing team.

Her first interfield race was at Coronet Peak and there was no looking back. Her love for the mountains and the outdoors led to a fulltime move to Wānaka.

She said relying heavily on her parents financially was not the best and she would love a sponsor, but knew that getting there was hard graft.

"My parents are my main sponsor.

"Sometimes it is a bit hard when you feel the pinch."

Not only is she a creative sewer, but Watterson has also written a children’s book Abigail the Snail and the Bright Blue Quail.

Watterson is the only Wānaka female New Zealand representative skier and her ultimate goal is to represent New Zealand at the world championships and compete in the FIS world cup circuit. She would also like to compete at the Olympics.

There are over 5000 women in the FIS circuit, so she knows what is ahead of her.

"It is pretty tough sometimes in skiing."

This year at the World Junior Championships in Italy she improved 40 places from her starting position and competed in both the giant slalom and slalom events.

She said Queenstown skier and Winter Olympian Alice Robinson was an inspiration.

"It’s really cool to see someone can be from little NZ and be so competitive."

When she is not skiing, Watterson loves hiking, biking and is also an avid reader. Her "off season" includes the gym, running, biking, hiking, yoga, pilates, pickleball and swimming.