BARRIE, Ontario — Charlie Beatty (14) has big goals to make the National Freestyle Team (Slopestyle, Halfpipe and Big Air) with dreams to compete on the world Stage at Winter X-Games and of course the Olympics (2026). There is no doubt Charlie will reach every one of his goals with his hard work and dedication to his sport.

Charlie has been Freestyle skiing for nine years now and skis for the Ontario Park & Pipe team.

His journey has not been one without challenges; Charlie had a set back at age 7 where he had reconstructive surgery on a severed ACL. It had him down and out of training for a while. However, after a lot of physiotherapy, strength training, perseverance and setting goals, he came back stronger than ever once he recovered. This sport is definitely tough on the knees.

Charlie loves the way skiing makes him feel creative while in the air.

“Dropping into a 50 feet jump and spinning off axis, upside down is the greatest adrenaline rush in the world,” Charlie said.

Preparation is a key part of pre-competition for many athletes. Charlie is no exception; he uses his own little techniques to get his “pre-game” mind in check. Charlie visualizes his runs in his mind, hip hop playing to get his pre-run vibes and a customary tweak (Charlie is a little superstitious); remembering to button up the top button of his ski jacket just before taking the drop into his run (a little ritual he adopted from Coach Ethan). These tiny tricks must be working because Charlie is climbing to the top of Freestyle Ski rankings.

Charlie is easy going with a great sense of humour and always tries to see the positive in any situation. This attitude makes being a team member a natural thing for this athlete. He loves to socialize with teammates and his good friends.

In fact, his easygoing nature and being a part of team has taught him the importance of supporting your teammates. In Freestyle skiing, unlike many other sports, the team cheer on one another even in competition. “We respect each other and the hard work and dedication each athlete puts into their sport, not to mention the intensity of the dangerous maneuvers they all face when in the air.”

Being a part of a high-performance team and in the heart of competition it’s easy to forget about the little details that make up the sport. Charlie remembers a time where he was in a Big Air competition and missed one of his grabs (when you cross your skis and grab the back tip with one hand) while spinning and flipping in the air. It cost him a spot on the podium that day, and taught him “how important it is to focus on the small details. I learned that the grab is just as important as the big tricks.”

When not on the slopes or practicing his tricks on a trampoline he loves to be in the kitchen cooking. Being a part of a team of athletes, there are nutritionists who work with and teach the team to be mindful to fuel their body properly, striking his passion for cooking.

This last year and a half have been particularly tough on athletes and those kids with scheduled activities. Many Athletes have had to stop training because of lock downs; in Ontario all of the ski hills were closed for an extended period of time, lasting almost the entire ski season. Charlie felt this as well, but also expresses his regret for local ski hill owners and the likelihood of their suffering through all of this.

Charlie is no stranger to remote learning, starting high school next year at Eastview Secondary he will continue to do work on the road while he is training all the way in Switzerland, Yukon and as far as New Zealand. Those are some good “Air Miles!”

While waiting for the upcoming winter season Charlie has had the opportunity to use his jump skills at the Horseshoe Resorts Bike Park. He is sure to enjoy this summer job since he loves building jumps and teaching others to downhill. What a great way to keep fit and enjoy the off season to the fullest.

Some of the best advice Charlie ever received was from one of his ski coaches Geoff Lovelace. He believed you should always be working on your craft even in the off seasons and says, “You have to work harder while others are not so that you can maintain your competitive edge.”

It’s no wonder that this young man is such a great athlete already at this young age starting at just 5 years old and working his way up through the stages to now being a top sponsored athlete and Olympic hopeful from right here in Horseshoe Valley.

Charlie ends his interview with his life mantra: “Don’t practice till you get it right, practice till you can’t get it wrong!”

Good luck Charlie! Keep up the dedicated hard work and positive outlook and you are sure to reach those goals! Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for this freestyle skier, and keep cheering him on in the 2026 Olympics and the X-Games!

To see Charlie’s talent in action check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gNK10Gs-cA.

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