PJ Barron - Skier
What’s your earliest holiday memory?
Caravanning in Stirling in Scotland on our annual trip. The caravan was in the shadow of a hill and overlooked by the Wallace monument. This was our holiday destination for quite a lot of my childhood. We did lots of outdoor things and there were also many touristy and historic sights in the area.
What was your worst holiday?
The worst travel experience with skiing was when I flew home from Canada when Terminal 5 opened in Heathrow and they lost my ski bag with all my gear in it. I didn’t get it back for three weeks!
What was your best holiday?
One of the best was a water sports holiday with my school. We went to Disneyland and then to the Ardesi in France, canoeing for three days before going down to the south coast to do water sports in the sea. For skiing, Canmore, Alberta in Canada is my favourite destination. I lived there for three months and it’s fantastic: the people, the club and the place itself.
Your recommended holiday reading?
I spend a lot of time reading sports books, especially cycling ones. I've recently enjoyed Michael Phelps's book and have just finished My Championship Yearby Jenson Button. I did quite enjoy the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson.
If you had your pick, who would you bring on holiday?
Probably my training partner Andrew Musgrave. We’ve known each other for a long time, we room a lot together when we are away, we get on well and he’s good fun to be around.
What’s your favourite place in Ireland?
I enjoy visiting Dublin, it’s where my grandmother is from. I also like Wicklow where my mother’s cousin and aunt live. I’ve spent more time in the North, near Belfast where my grandparents moved.
If budget or work were not a restriction, what would be your dream holiday?
I’ve always wanted to go to Australia. I think it would be amazing. But I quite enjoy biking and wouldn’t mind going to the French Alps to do some cycling. If I didn’t have university, I would love to take a holiday somewhere sunny at the end of the ski season.
Where will you go to next?
I’m going to Lillehammer in Norway at the end of this month where I’ll train before going racing.
- PJ Barron represented Ireland in the men's 15K Cross Country Skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
- In conversation with
Genevieve Carbery