Adia Leidums, a three-year-old, enjoys going on adventures and giving herself pep talks, especially in the snow. In 2021, the youngster from Fernie, British Columbia, Canada, became an internet sensation after a video of her skiing while mic’d up went popular on social media. The video captured her boldly skiing on the slopes of Fernie Alpine Resort with her father. As she flew down the snowy hills and through the trees, the chatty child could be heard giving herself a pep talk despite the hurdles.
Adia’s parents, Courtney Haeusler and Erich Leidums, decided to release the footage online. What was the result? People got to see what a beast she is on the slopes—and how she lovingly coached herself the entire time! “Going over you, ice,” she was heard saying. “Going around you, ice.” When she reached an incline, she reminded herself to “walk like a duck.”
Her father, Erich, got the idea to attach a microphone to Adia a few years ago from a hockey dad who mic’d up his son during practice. The boy’s narration and self-monologue were so entertaining that he decided it was worth recording Adia’s self-talk as well. “When I was using my go-pro without the mic, I would try to get closer to her, and after she fell and got up she’s have something to say to the camera but I always had to get really close,” Erich told me.
“A microphone picks up whatever she says. “Any sigh, laugh, or giggle is pretty adorable.” The slopes were scary, but that didn’t deter Adia’s inherent curiosity. As she skied passed a one-eyed monster cutout on a tree, she exclaimed, “Hi, one-eyed monster.” Her little preoccupation caused her to fall, but this little one is a trooper. Instead of making a fuss about her mishap, she quickly spat the dirt and snow out of her mouth and got herself up as if nothing had occurred.
Adia was ready to go after cleaning herself up. “I think that was a good fall,” she added before heading down the hill. “This way!” “We are going this way.” Erich released the film on TikTok and Instagram, and the whole video of her ski is available on the family’s YouTube account, That Mountain Life.Adia’s skiing video received millions of views on TikTok. Viewers praised the girl not only for her skiing abilities, but also for how she communicated.
“She is adorable. Erich commented, “It’s cute as anything.” “It steals my heart for sure.” Another video of Adia is making the rounds on social media. This time, the father and daughter embarked on a fun backpack rescue trip on the snowy mountain. Erich’s rucksack unexpectedly fell when they were riding a gondola lift and having food.