truebluefan

After four years with the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, former NorAm dual moguls champion McKenzy Golding (Squaw Valley, CA) is retiring from the sport, according to Freestyle Program Director Polly-Jo Clark.

Golding, a moguls skier who developed her talents with the Squaw Valley Freestyle Team, said her decision to leave was not an easy one.

"It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make, but last winter got me thinking about things - I'm in school at UCLA and I'm going to Paris this summer - and I just figured maybe it was a good time to step back and move on with my life," Golding said. "I'm still pretty mixed about the decision."

"Mac has been a quiet and thoughtful member of our Team. She doesn't mind sitting in the back of the van with her Jackie O sunglasses on contemplating her day, listening to her iPod," Clark said. "Her retirement from the Team means new and exciting challenges for Mac and that's cool. We will miss her, but as I've said with respect to any retirement, she will always be a member of USSA and Freestyle as an alumni.

"She is an amazing person that I am glad to know! It's difficult when someone moves on, but I also get just as excited to see what else Mac will take on and be successful with."

Golding said that although she feels drawn to her sport, she wants to focus on a new direction in her life - her education.

"I'll be down at UCLA and I hope to get an internship in marketing or advertising. I'm majoring in communications so that's the next step for me," Golding said. "I'll also be studying globalization in Paris this summer and then I'm going to come back and focus on my school work."

According to Golding, she will miss the experiences with her teammates and traveling the world more than anything.

"I'm going to miss the team spirit, especially in the last couple of years and getting to work with great coaches," Golding said. "I also got to ski the World Cup full time, so traveling around the world to do what I love to do was so incredible. Nothing else can compare to that."

Golding's best World Cup result was garnered during the 2007 season when she finished eighth in dual moguls at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, UT.

With a slight weather difference than what she's used to in Los Angeles, Golding expects that she'll be thinking about the team for a long time to come.

"I think about being down in Los Angeles next winter where there's no snow and I'm not skiing at all and it makes me think about everything that I'll be missing out on," Golding added. "It was hands down the best experience of my life so far."

__________________
UFC 112: Invincible