Julia Mehner - SUNLIGHT Adventure Crew (ENG-INT)

No calligrapher could draw more beautiful curves in the snow. Julia Mehner is one of the most soulful skiers in the Alps. She plays with the snow – whether it’s hard-packed groomer or fluffy powder. In summer, Julia’s on her bike, and year-round, she’s in her SUNLIGHT camper…

Julia, you're originally from the German Erzgebirge region but as a young alpine ski talent moved southwards to attend the school at the national training center in Berchtesgaden. Now you live in Innsbruck/Austria?

Yes, though I’m rarely there, especially in summer. That’s when I’m constantly drawn out into the world. For me, traveling is like getting to know new parts of myself – it inspires me, makes me more creative, and opens up my perspective.

You’re probably opening up perspectives in your studies too…

Absolutely. I’m just finishing my Master in Architecture. What fascinates me is how many facets this field has: imagining new spaces, creating atmospheres, and working creatively across all different scales. For me, architecture is a way not just to see the world, but to help shape it.

Where does this longing to explore come from?

I’ve been on skis since I was three. Until I was 19, I raced in the German Ski Federation. Since I was a kid I’ve seen so much of the world – races, training camps, always on the move. I think that’s where my drive to explore and experience new things comes from.

When you ski, there's this sense of stillness combined with speed. How does that work?

For me, skiing connects things that seem contradictory: it feels like floating, yet you sense every force of gravity. When a line works or a turn sits perfectly, you enter a flow that’s completely quiet. Powerful, but calm.

And then there’s nature: the mountains, the vastness, that sublime quality that makes you feel small in the best way. Out there I feel free. In this fast-paced world that gets lost in numbers and comparisons, I find my balance outside. The mountains remind me that we’re just a small part of something much bigger. That grounds me.

What draws you to camping?

For me, camping is a return to what’s essential at the core: peace, freedom, and simplicity. I love sleeping outside, whether it’s in a mountain hut, a tent, a hammock, or a camper. That simple life out there has become something rare. No noise, no distractions, no expectations. Just nature, silence, and the feeling of being part of the landscape. Camping lets me slow down and reminds me that you really don’t need much to feel truly alive.

What landscapes feel most like home to you?

Well, two completely different landscapes. Probably that also describes me best. The North, especially Scandinavia, gives me incredible peace. That raw weather, the endless expanse, the powerful, immense nature. I feel sheltered there. It’s peaceful, vast, honest. And for skiing, of course, a dream.

The South, particularly southern Spain and southern Italy, touches me in a completely different way. The warm light, the sea as a boundless force of nature, great food – and the Mediterranean mentality fascinates me. What matters is family friendship, being together. People define themselves less by possessions, and they seem happier. That lightness inspires me. I think I need both: the calm of the North and the warmth of the South.

What does nature teach us?

That we’re not the centre of the world. In the mountains, in the forest, by the sea, numbers, expectations, and comparisons disappear. What remains is a feeling of connection, of authenticity. Nature reminds me of our origin, of what’s essential: we’re part of a greater whole, and that’s exactly where peace comes from.

What’s your ultimate camping hack?

Quite simply: keep everything as minimal as possible. Less really is more when you’re on the road – less weight, less chaos, less distraction. The more stripped-down your set-up, the more space there is for what matters: peace, nature, and the feeling of freedom.