High Style Star on the Slopes: Molly Flynn Soars to Victory in the Eastern Freestyle Championships

Winthrop Middle School sixth grader Molly Flynn is soaring to new heights in her stylish athletic career. And by heights, we mean very high above the ground. And by stylish, we mean she simply dazzles in freestyle skiing.

Currently ranked one of the top freestyle skiers in New England, Molly took home the first-place award in the slopestyle competition at the Eastern Regionals this past weekend at Bristol Mountain in Bristol, N.Y. The gifted, 5-foot-5-inch athlete was second in the aerials event and claimed fourth place overall. She also competed in moguls.

Molly, who is 12 years old, began skiing at an early age in Stowe (Vermont). “When she was 3, she had skiing lessons at Waterville, and then we moved to our permanent spot at Loon Mountain,” said her mother, Deb Gendreau-Flynn, who along with her husband, Rowland Flynn, are active skiers. “We didn’t teach her. We chose to have experts teach her,” said Deb humbly, adding that her daughter seemed inclined for the “bumps and jumps” of freestyle skiing.

Winning at
competitions

By the age of 7, Molly Flynn had entered her first competition at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, N.H., prevailing in her age category.

This season, which runs from late November to the beginning of April, has been a breakout year for Flynn. She has won six separate New England competitions in New Hampshire and Maine.

“There are usually about 16 skiers my division,” said Molly. “Most of the skiers do spreads and spins.”

Asked how high off the mountain she elevates, Molly replied, “Very high. It’s very exciting, but it’s a little scary sometimes, because you’re very high in the air.”

“On aerials, you go straight in and over one huge jump,” explained her mother, Deb. “You do 180 and 360-degree spreads. When Molly does a slopestyle run, she does two different rails or boxes, and then two other jumps.”

Molly also trains in her sport during the off season, attending what is known as freestyle ramp camp. “At camp, I ski-jump into a big airbag, so you can practice your tricks off of that,” said Molly, who also plays soccer.

Molly inherited her athletic prowess from her parents. Deb Gendreau-Flynn grew up in Connecticut and was a soccer player and competitive skier. Rowly Flynn, who grew up in East Boston, played ice hockey at Malden Catholic High School.

“I want to thank my parents for always letting me go skiing and letting me have this opportunity,” said Molly.