Star Skier Eileen Gu Addresses Fan Disruptions, Asks for Space During Training

During a trip to Cardrona Alpine Resort, New Zealand, Eileen Gu—the global superstar and decorated Olympic freeskier—found herself forced to remind fans that she needs space on the slopes while she worked on her tricks.

In an Instagram story reported by the South China Morning Post, Gu wrote on Monday that she was “grateful for all the love” but would “like to kindly remind everyone to not ask for photos while I’m in the middle of training.”

“This is a high consequence sport and many unexpected disruptions, however well intentioned, can be dangerous,” she continued.

Gu added that she’s still “happy to meet everyone and share the joy of skiing,” noting that she’ll do daily meet and greets at the lodge after training ends.

“Thank you for understanding & be safe out there!!” she wrote at the end of her message.

Gu may be the highest profile freeskier on the planet, drawing far more attention than usual in a sport that, aside from Olympic years, tends to create local legends, not celebrities. She has just over 5 million followers on Instagram and, in 2025, was the world’s fourth highest-paid female athlete, according to Sportico, with $23 million in endorsements. 

That renown has led to apparent challenges with fans in the past. In the summer of 2025, during another training stint in New Zealand, Gu said in a social media post that she’d been injured.

Gu expressed her gratitude for her supporters at the time but also asked that they “please don’t record or take photos while I’m training.”

“Being interrupted is extremely dangerous, and even on the chairlift, I need to focus on visualizing and thinking through my movements,” she wrote. “To save time, I’m skipping lunch breaks and minimizing bathroom visits.”

Gu said that following the incident, she flew to Christchurch, New Zealand, for medical imaging. Only months later, though, she was clearly ready for competition, taking two silvers and one gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Since she first appeared in the Olympics in 2022, she hasn’t placed lower than second at the Games in her disciplines of choice: halfpipe, big air, and slopestyle.

The latest request for privacy during training comes ahead of the Winter X Games League draft this week on Wednesday, in which Gu will certainly be a sought-after athlete among the four inaugural teams. She’s part of the initial roster of potential draftees alongside other big names like Alex Hall, Henrik Harlaut, and Mathilde Gremaud.

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