Olympic Skier Alex Hall: Hobbies Solve 'What's Next?

Most elite athletes dread the question "what's next?" but Olympic skiing champion Alex Hall has found peace in an unexpected answer: just keep exploring what you love.

Hall, who won silver at last month's Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and gold in Beijing in 2022, grew up on skis. His parents met on the slopes and raised him and his brother in the snow, creating the foundation for his slopestyle skiing career.

At 27, Hall could potentially compete at the 2030 Games in the French Alps. But unlike many high achievers who obsess over their next career move, he's taking a different approach.

"As a person, you change a lot," Hall told Fast Company. "When the time comes where I'm competing less or skiing less, I think I'll have changed enough to where I'll have something else that I really want to do."

The athlete has already dipped his toes into various interests. He's completed business internships and explored different professional paths, though none have fully captured his attention yet.

But Hall isn't concerned. Beyond skiing, he surfs regularly and has developed a passion for video production, among other activities.

Why This Inspires

Hall's philosophy challenges the pressure many successful people feel to have their entire future mapped out. By nurturing multiple interests instead of forcing a post-career plan, he's building a foundation of genuine curiosity that will naturally guide him when competitive skiing winds down.

His approach offers a refreshing antidote to burnout culture: success doesn't require knowing every next step. Sometimes the best career planning is simply staying curious and engaged with life beyond your main achievement.

"I'm sure I'll never run out of hobbies," Hall said. For an Olympic champion comfortable with uncertainty, that might be the most golden mindset of all.