Alumni Athletes in Action: Jasmine Whittaker ’22

Jasmine Whittaker ’22: Finding Balance on the Slopes

Jasmine Whittaker ’22, a Boston College Alpine Ski Team junior, credits her success to staying present, maintaining objectivity, and applying the skills she developed at Holderness to balance academics and athletics. Her mindful approach has helped her achieve consistent results, foster strong team dynamics, and navigate the competitive nature of collegiate skiing.

“Something I’ve been working on this year is accepting my results and looking at them objectively,” says Jasmine Whittaker ’22, reflecting on the start of her junior season with the Boston College Alpine Ski Team. With a focus on consistency, she’s staying present on the slopes, refusing to get caught up in the highs and lows of competition. “When I’m fully present during a run, I can reflect afterward—bringing my body back to the moment and analyzing what I was thinking, seeing, and feeling while skiing.”

This mindful approach has propelled Jasmine toward her goal of finishing in the top 30 of every slalom race in the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association season. A highlight? Her impressive 8th-place finish at the Dartmouth Carnival. “Each race is an opportunity to perform mentally,” she says. By maintaining objectivity, she has elevated her expectations without adding pressure.

“Whether I have a good or bad run, I focus on what I did well, what I can improve, and then move on to the next day of training.” She credits Holderness for preparing her—both athletically and academically—for the demands of college skiing.

 

At Boston College, Jasmine quickly adapted to balancing the rigors of academics and athletics. “The schedule at Holderness was the same. If I missed school for a race, I had to make it up—which is exactly how it works in college. I learned how to manage that school-ski balance early on.” Holderness also gave her the tools to succeed on the slopes. “I learned how to build strong relationships with coaches. In college, we have a big ski team, but I know how to advocate for myself—how to ask for help and get what I need, even when my coaches are juggling multiple athletes.”

Managing relationships and fostering a healthy team environment is challenging in a sport where individual and team success must coexist. Jasmine credits Holderness with teaching her how to navigate these competitive dynamics. “At Holderness, I learned how to manage those competitive dynamics in a team where you're competing both with and against your best friends, and it has helped me so much in college. At BC, I'm skiing for my team. Yes, my individual results matter, but they matter because they contribute to my team’s success. However, at the same time, only six people go to the carnival every weekend, so I'm competing against my teammates every single day in training.” 

As she looks back on her skiing career, Jasmine offers this advice to young athletes: “The person who goes the farthest in skiing is going to be the person who truly loves it. Now that I'm getting towards the end of my ski career, I wish I could go back to my younger self who was crying because of a bad race and show her that what matters most is enjoying yourself, celebrating your teammates, and truly enjoying every single moment that you get on the hill.”

About Jasmine

Hometown: Kirby, VT
College Major: Finance and Management, Minor in Managing for Social Impact
Holderness Highlights: Soccer, ski racing, lacrosse

View her Boston College Eagles profile.