As a professional skier, Olympian, and official North Face athlete, Janina Kuzma is no stranger to pushing limits. But her latest adventure – motherhood – may be her most profound yet. In her upcoming film Dear Superhero, which will be featured in the 2025 Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour, Kuzma offers a deeply personal look into her journey through pregnancy, skiing, and redefining what it means to be both a mother and an athlete.
A Long-Awaited Journey
Getting pregnant wasn’t easy for Janina. “Because it took me a while, I didn’t want to take any of it for granted,” she shares. “I wanted to live life as normally as possible.” That meant continuing to do what she loved – skiing, adventuring, and immersing herself in the mountain life that has long been part of her identity.
Far from stepping back, Janina leaned in. “Pregnancy didn’t stop me, and I don’t see that changing now that I’m a mum.”
Superpowers and Shifting Mindsets
When she finally saw that positive test, her world shifted – not away from adventure, but deeper into it. “I was over the moon,” she says. “I didn’t feel held back. If anything, I felt even stronger, like I had this superpower inside me.”
Kuzma’s mindset as an athlete didn’t retreat – it evolved. Instead of slowing down, she found herself embracing movement with renewed intention and connection.
Trusting the Body, Trusting the Process
Continuing to ski while pregnant might surprise some, but for Janina, it was a thoughtful decision grounded in body awareness, medical advice, and decades of experience. “I’ve been skiing since I was five. It’s part of who I am,” she explains.
With support from her midwife and GP, she listened to her body and honoured its signals. “I felt physically strong, healthy, and capable. It was about trusting my body and making informed decisions.”
Mountain Moments of Harmony
Some of her most meaningful experiences came during these snowy outings. “Every time I was in the mountains, it felt extra special,” she recalls. “I felt this deep sense of gratitude, like I was sharing something I love with the little life growing inside me.”
Being outside offered peace, energy, and perspective – gifts that motherhood has only deepened.
No Either/Or
For women feeling pressured to choose between motherhood and their adventurous selves, Janina has a clear message: you don’t have to choose. “The most important thing is doing what feels right for you,” she says. “There’s no one-size-fits-all. It’s about following your own path.”
Motherhood, for Janina, has brought clarity to her relationship with risk. “I’m more mindful now, not fearful – just intentional. I still want to do what I love, but I want to come home safely too. It’s made me a stronger guide and athlete.”
A Message to Her Daughter – and to All Women
Asked what she hopes her daughter will one day take from her story, Janina doesn’t hesitate: “That she has the power to choose her own path. That her strength, her dreams, and her voice matter. Being a woman doesn’t limit you, it expands you.”
For women who feel torn or unsure during pregnancy, she offers compassion and encouragement. “It’s okay to feel that way – it’s natural. But remember, you don’t have to meet anyone else’s expectations. Your version of motherhood can look however you want it to.”
Breaking Myths, Building Community
Old myths about pregnant women being fragile still linger – and Janina is keen to challenge them. “There’s this outdated idea that pregnant women need to sit still. But women are so capable – we can be strong and pregnant.”
She found inspiration in the active mums of Wanaka and her fellow North Face athletes – a supportive community that bolstered her confidence. Now, through Dear Superhero, she hopes to return the favour.
“If this film helps even one woman feel more confident or less alone, it’s worth it.”
Falling in Love with the Female Body
Perhaps the most powerful part of her story is how this journey reshaped her relationship with her body. “It blew my mind,” she says. “I fell in love with my body in a whole new way. Women’s bodies are incredible – the strength, the resilience, the ability to grow life and still do what we love.”
Through Dear Superhero, Janina Kuzma isn’t just showing what’s possible – she’s carving a new line for what adventure, motherhood, and womanhood can look like, on and off the mountain.
Stream the 2025 Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour now right here on Adventure Reels TV
