Discover The Athletes Inspiring Change – And Why On Is Their Go-To Brand
When asked to describe themselves, both Sierra Quitiquit and Jordan Marie Daniel use the word “passionate”. As athletes, they are united in their love of mindful movement, a deep respect for nature, and a drive to achieve their goals, which range from sporting accomplishments to elevating marginalized voices and climate activism. Here, we get to know them both a little better…
Sierra Quitiquit – professional skier, climate activist and model
What exercise do you do to complement your training as a professional skier?
“I love to do anything outside – running, climbing, hiking, skateboarding, surfing, Pilates, yoga; the more time I get to spend breathing fresh air and getting the blood moving through my body, the better I feel. If I’m honest, I don’t always feel like exercising, so I try to build a lifestyle around playing outdoors and enjoying mother nature.”
What do you like to wear when you workout?
“It’s important to me to be comfortable when I work out, so all of the On gear is perfect because it’s Swiss-engineered, so there is a lot of thought and precision put into every detail. I have injuries from skiing, so a supportive shoe is really important to me – all of the On sneakers give a lot of support, but the ‘Cloudultra’ ensures I can run without pain. I’m also obsessed with how light all the performance apparel is. For my everyday shoes, ‘The Roger Centre Court’ in All White is perfect – I wear them skateboarding, to the airport or, more recently, I paired them with a hot-pink pantsuit [I wore while] visiting NATO HQ.”
“I have injuries from skiing, so a supportive shoe is really important to me – all of the On sneakers give a lot of support, but the ‘Cloudultra’ ensures I can run without pain
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As a sports star and model, how do you balance what must be a very busy schedule?
“I have certain little routines that I take on the road with me; simple things that help to keep the wheels on my bus. I drink a lot of water, try my best to eat healthy, I schedule and prioritize exercise and sleep. I start every morning by writing down three things I feel grateful for and write out a schedule for myself, so I can stay on track and focus on what I need to accomplish. I’m recovering from a pretty significant [case of] Lyme disease, and have realized how much stress negatively effects my health. That’s why I’m more committed these days to adopting a lifestyle with minimal stress.”
You use social media as a platform to raise awareness for the environmental-protection movement. Tell us about the work that you’re doing…
“In 2018, Meg Haywood Sullivan and I co-founded an environmental non-profit organization called Plastic Free Fridays, to invite more participants in the environmental protection-movement through the act of refusing single-use plastics. It’s been a really fun journey to build community, activate campaigns, work on policy and use creative energy to protecting mother nature. I also work with other non-profit organizations like Protect Our Winters, Oceanic Global, and SeaLegacy on their efforts to make the world a better place. Most recently, I’ve been invited by NATO to represent the US as a creator of its ‘Protect the Future’ campaign. Getting involved with politics is my favorite big lever for positive impact, but staying grassroots and amongst the community is key for progress. Climate activism can be thankless and tiresome work, and I’ve been at it for nearly 15 years so I’m at a point where I’m just trying to find more joy in my work and go the distance.”
What are your ambitions for 2022?
“I’m running a half marathon in the fall. Because of my injuries, I haven’t been able to run for almost a decade so I’m starting from scratch and loving this journey. Also, Plastic Free Fridays is producing a study on the impact of microplastics on human health, which will be released in 2023. But my biggest goal is to stay grounded, happy and healthy.”
Jordan Marie Daniel – competitive runner and Rising Hearts founder
What has it been like returning to running after having your son?
“At four months post-partum, I am so happy to be running again, even if it’s not the mileage or pace I’d like to be at. I’m grateful to be able to put one foot in front of the other and learn this new body of mine as it slowly gets back to what it was… I’m really looking forward to Čhaské (our son) joining me on my runs in the stroller to learn what it’s like to be on the lands, experience what I love, and learn that running is more than just for fitness. I want Čhaské to know running is healing, is prayer, is community and that you can run with purpose and for something that is important to you that can help others.”
What tips would you give to pre- and postnatal women when it comes to running?
“The best tips I can offer from my experience is to be kind to yourself, to listen to your body, and know that running may not be the same for a while, and that you may have to find other forms of movement to support your body and baby. I highly recommend focusing on pelvic-floor strengthening pre- and postnatally. Also, it’s okay for your body to feel foreign when you try to run for the first time.”
Tell us about some of the ways in which you use your platform to elevate Indigenous voices…
“My platform isn’t just mine, especially on social media and through [my organisation] Rising Hearts. I use my platform to be honest and transparent in sharing what I do, the hardships, the successes, the struggles, the adversity, and the things I advocate and fight for. My platform has grown, and I know I am able to have more visibility than others, so the least I can do is to help amplify Indigenous voices. I also help foster intersectional growth and collaboration amongst all of our communities, putting in the work to influence social change for a better, safer future for everyone.”
“Running can help me to re-center… I love wearing On ‘Sprinter’ shorts for incline running, [but all the styles] are breathable, flexible, and feel like they support this new body of mine
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Does running have an effect on your mental wellbeing as well as your physical health?
“Running can always help my mental health. It can cheer me up. It can help me problem-solve. It can help me disconnect from the day-to-day and re-center and ground myself. Sometimes, it can also bring me stress if I have a lot going on in my life, especially with advocacy intersecting with my running – that’s been new to navigate but I’m figuring out a way to make it meaningful and purposeful, while still taking care of my mind, body, and spirit.”
What do you like to wear when you run, and why?
“I love running in the On ‘Performance-T’, ‘Tank-T’ top, and ‘Active’ shorts. The ‘Sprinter’ shorts are my favorite for more workout-based and incline running, [but all the styles] are breathable, flexible, and feel like they support this new body of mine. As for shoes, I love the ‘Cloudultra’ for trails, ‘Cloudmonster’ for comfort on the roads, and the ‘Cloudflyer’ for quicker runs and workouts.”
What are your running ambitions for 2022?
“To get back into racing and prayer running. I have signed up for a handful of half marathons, plus 50kms, and will hopefully end 2022 at the California International Marathon and get as close to a 2-hour, 45-minute [race time] as I can get. At each race, I will be uplifting the advocacy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR), and amplifying ways to learn more about this issue and epidemic – as well as ways for non-Indigenous peoples to take action.”