When I first started snowboarding there was no grand plan to become a pro snowboarder. I just wanted to be good, like really really good.
I remember seeing Jenny Jones right back at the beginning of my first season in Tignes and I just wanted to be as good as her. That’s it.
“The only thing I instantly knew about snowboarding was the type of snowboarding I wanted to be good at – freestyle.”
Even before I could link turns properly I was way more concerned with trying to do little ollies, or jumping around 180s on the flat. Definitely a case of “run before you can walk”. I wanted to do tricks. Maybe this came from doing gymnastics when I was younger. Or maybe it came from the fact I had a new snowboarder boyfriend who rode the park everyday and I wanted to hang out with him and not embarrass him. And again, be like Jenny Jones.
Since then I’ve snowboarded A LOT, got some sponsors, had a budget and did lots of competitions, and by the end was lucky enough to not have to work a normal job at the same time…basically I just had a really good time for a few years!
If you’re dreaming of becoming a pro then here are a few ideas to help you get on your way:
Work hard at your snowboarding
It goes without saying that you actually have to be semi alright at snowboarding to get anywhere. So with this comes hard work and dedication.
“You have to be prepared to put snowboarding before anything else, to go riding in rubbish conditions and to repeat tricks over and over until you nail them.”
It’s about working on things you’re not so good at and pushing yourself to continuously improve.
You’ll also need to be focused and super motivated to get there. And of course be an adrenaline junky….and perhaps have a screw loose! There will always be those jammy people who are complete naturals at snowboarding but don’t get disheartened – just progress at your pace.
Win the lottery to get started
It’s a bit of a vicious circle in the beginning as you need to get sponsored to help with the costs of snowboarding, but to get sponsored you have to be at the right events/ competitions… which costs money. So it basically means you have to have a bit of money to help you get started.
For me this meant working my a*rse off (one season I was juggling 4 jobs at once!), and snowboarding in the limited free time I had. It was tiring but worth it in the end. For others this could mean getting a loan from the parents or using some savings, or the obvious solution – winning the lottery.
However, if someone wants to sponsor you, even if they are just a small company or not that well-known, accept their generosity and be grateful that someone wants to help you achieve your dream! Once you’re sponsored, it will be even easier to get other sponsors. Then make sure you’re really clear on what your sponsor(s) want you to do in return and then do it!
Go to Competitions
Maybe start with some smaller/ cheaper local ones that are easy to get to and then go to as many as feasibly possible. It’s not really about how well you do, but more about getting your name out there and becoming a familiar face. Eventually when you start doing ok at the competitions and stop throwing up at the start line, sponsors/ snowboarders will start taking notice and remember you.
Make some videos
A “Sponsor Me” video is a good way to get your name out and show people what you can do – literally your best bits! Facebook and other social media platforms make it really easy to spread the word and you can even send it directly to sponsors and literally beg them to take you on. I always find filming makes me more motivated and as a result I tend to put more effort in with my riding. All you need is a mate and you can tag-team-it filming each other. Remember less is more in an edit and the song is everything.
Be in the scene
It does sound pretty shallow, but you need to hang around with the right people and be seen in the right places, as it’s definitely all about who you know. It’s no use doing seasons in Timbuktu (do they even have snow there?) and hanging round with Mr Nobody, as that’s never going to get a UK brand to sponsor you. UK brands want people that are active in the UK snowboarding and social scene.
So do seasons where all the Brits are and spend your summers hanging out in the snow domes. Once you’re sponsored, you can go off the beaten track a bit with your seasons and simply send back content to your UK sponsors. I can’t tell you how important it is at the start to hang out in the right circles. It’s mega fun anyway and your new friends will actually become your lifelong best friends!
Social Media
Sometimes I think maybe I wasn’t actually that good at snowboarding but just smashed it on social media?! What I’m trying to say is that sponsors want riders that are proactive. It’s no good doing all this amazing stuff and no one knowing about it. Being hot on social media is just as important as having actual snowboard skills these days.
So if you like a good hashtag and love a tweet or two, then your luck could be in! Take heaps of photos, start a blog, post videos on Facebook and maybe do some product reviews. Get your own snowboard crew, contact magazines with a story, plan some interesting trips and even organise an event/competition. Remember to document everything you do, even if it gets in the way of snowboarding, as it will be worth it in the long run.
Put ALL your money back into snowboarding
You have to LIVE, EAT AND BREATHE snowboarding. Any money you earn/ win/ steal you must put back into snowboarding. Do anything to get some extra cash, including selling off old products, taking on some extra shifts or eating beans on toast for nights on end. Simply do anything to enable you to do more riding. If you win some money from a competition, then put that money towards going to three more competitions. The more you do, the higher you’ll climb.
Think about your lifestyle
There was a point when I realised that drinking every night was doing me no good! Yes I was having a brilliant time, but my snowboarding wasn’t getting any better, if anything, it was getting worse. So right then and there I quit drinking. It meant I could be out on the hill at 9am every morning feeling fresh as a daisy and I saved s*it loads of money that I could use for travelling instead. I then started to eat more healthily and go to the gym regularly. I felt so much better both mentally and physically and low and behold, my snowboarding began to improve.
Have a good attitude
Be grateful for everything and just be a nice person. Don’t have tantrums when you can’t land a trick or be a sore loser when you come last in a competition, and don’t be mean to anyone, ever! Don’t give up after a bad day and don’t take yourself or life too seriously. Always take the highs with the lows and remember how lucky you are to be leading such an awesome life.
Finally, do it for yourself
Make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons, i.e. you love snowboarding and want to do more off it. Don’t just do it for the glitz, the glamour and the freebies. Yes being a professional snowboarder will give you more opportunities and funding to live the drea, BUT don’t get swept away with it all and lose sight of your initial goal. After all, that’s why you snowboard in the first place.