Marija Matic is a certified ISIA ski instructor, former national team member of the Serbian Ski Team, owner of the MM Ski-Snow Ski and Snowboard School and founder of the MM Ski Club. We talk to her about skiing, education, obstacles, plans…
How do you like to introduce yourself?
“I am someone who has more than 40 years of skiing experience. From the first day I skied, I no longer descended from them. I ski all year and summer and winter. Practically, I spend 180 days on skis, but I am dedicated to skiing all 12 months of the year, because skiing is my life. Skiing is my PASSION. “
Where did so much interest in skiing come from and how did that passion come about?
“”I come from a ski family, my dad was a ski instructor, my brother was a competitor, and now he is the coach of the Cyprus ski team. They conveyed my love of skiing and that passion was born from a young age and I knew what I would be when I grew up.”
You also shared your passion with others – especially with kids through ski school. What is your “recipe” for successfully working with such a sensitive category?
“I divided my passion for skiing into 2 parts to meet the needs of the children. In part one, I pass on my love and knowledge to kids who are just starting to learn to ski. The second is the competition part, where I share the fate of the children who are competitors because I was myself and still am one.”
What is your recipe for successful knowledge transfer?
“I strive to transfer my knowledge and share my experience as well as teach children the essential values such as persistence, self-discipline, self-control and overcoming obstacles. And what is most important to me is to help strengthen and develop each child’s character individually.”
How many children have had the opportunity to learn from you?
“So far, in my instructor career, I have been able to transfer my knowledge and teach more than 1,800 children to ski. And the Club itself now has 18 competitors, who are mostly my former students.”
What did your career development look like?
“Throughout my life and throughout my career as a ski school, I have experienced many obstacles, including sabotage (the first association in the name of MM was Malo Morgen(only in your dreams)). But I deeply believe that I have overcome all these obstacles precisely because I am a competitor in my soul and because I have such a strong passion for skiing and do not view my job as an ordinary business project. “
Have you ever thought about giving up?
“At no point did I even think of quitting and that just gave me even more strength to fight and move on and finally get to where I am now.”
Are there any things you have to sacrifice for your career and do you repent?
“There have been many sacrifices during my competitive career, both from my family and myself. In order to achieve certain successes and to maintain a certain quality, you have to work hard, cheer and of course sacrifice yourself.
I spend a lot of time a year in the car and travel a minimum of 30,000 kilometers. I am quite involved in the procurement of quality equipment, props, attend seminars at ski school organizations in Austria, but at no point am I sorry or repenting about any sacrifice I have had to endure.”
And to end the conversation: What are your future plans?
“My plans are never ending and my goals for the future are much greater than what I am currently doing. I don’t want to reveal much yet, but my wish is to finally bring skiing to Belgrade.”
source:mmskisport.com
