What does your ideal day look like?

If you asked me, I would probably picture the sea, music, and a good conversation among friends in a rather warm setting. For Maria Costa, however, the essentials are different. “A day in the mountains with the people I love. And making a good meal (I really like eating well)”.

That’s not a bad option either.

But, wait, who is Maria Costa? A ski mountaineer. An Olympian! From Santpedor, but living in Font Romeu since she was 15. She is now 23, has a degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, and is studying for a Master’s in Sports Marketing and Sponsorships. Cheerful, active, and eager to experience new things.

Maria takes care of three essential verbs like someone feeding the fire that warms her: eat, sleep, and train. Her parents planted the seed of sport in the eyes of a girl who grew up among green and white, making them inseparable: “Since I was born, we would go up to the mountains on weekends. They made it very easy for me, because they love the mountains too”. Everything is inherited, of course. The good things too.

Her interest in nutrition did not arise until the most important goal of her life did too: going to the 2026 Winter Olympic Games - a goal that, incidentally, she achieved with flying colors - and now, even in summer, outside competition, she still takes nutrition into account to perform at her best and prepare for the start of the ski season.

Before interviewing her, I do a little research about her life and see that she not only skis, but also runs and cycles. Yet there is one thing that, no matter how much I look, never changes: she is always in the mountains. And yes, just as I was beginning to suspect, she strikes the first blow: “I'm not a big fan of the sea”. Well. Never mind. “Last summer I went for one day”. Oh. “I can live without the sea”. Third and final blow. I sigh.

Nevertheless, more unites us than separates us. For example, the power of trust. When I ask her what makes her feel most proud of herself, she does not hesitate: “always having fought and trusted the process. Believing it was possible, that I could achieve it, and continuing even when things don't always go well”. It seems to me that this faith, mixed with highly admirable perseverance, has something to do with the fact that she has reached the senior category of her discipline and is among the best in the world.

“You already have the no. Give it a try”. Exactly. Maria knows she still has a lot to improve, but that should not stop her from recognizing everything she does well. That said, she is clear that, in addition to working on her endurance, she wants to be more organized (“poor roommate”) and more mindful about nutrition and rest: “I was always on the move”. You see, what a problem, some might say. For an elite athlete like her, it is, of course. She was told to go to bed early and do so regularly - and obvious as it may seem, I haven't done that in years.

Luckily for us (and for her, we hope), Maria recommends consuming Salssa. “I genuinely use it, both in races and training. It works really well for stomach discomfort, which I sometimes used to have”.

And most importantly, let's not kid ourselves: “it tastes good”.

Perfect. We also like eating well.