As we are currently in the depths of winter, there is no better time to visit the snow than now. As Jindabyne is only two-and-a-half-hours away, the ski resorts are a perfect getaway from Canberra. With the cold front producing powder-like snow, we are at the peak of this snow season.
Each year the snow resorts experience a high volume of tourists that travel far and wide to experience the nation’s highest peaks and to enjoy its slopes. Even if you’re not an experienced skier or snowboarder, rest assured there are instructors that can guide you and provide expert tips!
Before we make the much-loved pilgrimage to the snow with our friends and family, we sat down with professional snowboarder, Jess Rich, to talk all things snow and what it’s like being apart of Burton Women’s Team this year.
Jess is an Australian snowboarder who at the age of 26 is going to compete at the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang.
What do you love most about being part of the Burton Women’s Team this year?
The best thing for me is that I have such a great team, with all the best riders who are very supportive, and with the best gear from Burton – what’s not to love?
How did your love for snowboarding start?
I didn’t start snowboarding until after I finished high school, which I guess is rare these days in the competitive snowboarding scene. The first year after I graduated I moved to Whistler in Canada, there I completed a season and learnt how to snowboard. That’s where I found my passion for the mountain lifestyle.
Were you able to pick it up quite quickly?
As a child I surfed, so the balance of being on a board enabled me to pick the sport up quicker.
What snowboard are you sporting at the moment?
I ride the Burton Talent Scout snowboard and it’s the best board I’ve ever ridden. It’s part of Burton’s Pine Collections.
So what makes this board so special?
It’s a regular candid board, so it’s really stable. When hitting big jumps it’s important to have something you feel comfortable riding. The board can transition to riding rails and still feels soft enough to do tricks on rails and ride the whole mountain.
Snow gear seems to be all the rage these days, are there trends we should look out for this season?
Yes there are snowboarding trends just like trends in regular fashion apparel. This year there’s lots of overalls with flannel shirts. Popular trends in the girls range are tapered pants and jackets. The colours that are trendy are the earthy tones.
The big goggles were definitely in last season, but this year the popular trends are the spherical lenses and wider frames.
What goes through your mind when you’re snowboarding? Is there a different mindset you have when you’re competing compared to when you’re going down slopes with your mates?
It’s definitely a different situation in a competition. The nerves definitely get to me a bit, but more than anything you try and mimic what you do and how you’re feeling when you ride with your friends. When riding with friends, I am not thinking about every single detail opposed to a competition when you think about every single component of that run.
Looking back in your snowboarding career, is there a particular moment that sticks out in your mind or has stuck with you?
The most recent was in February, I was in Korea in PyeongChang and I was riding the Olympic course. I got scored eights in the world field on the track that I will be competing on at the World Olympics. My score was a pretty big highlight for me. I know where I stand and that I have two years to improve to succeed in winning a medal at the 2018 Olympics.
If you had a visitor for a day that was pretty keen on snowboarding, which resort would you take them to?
I would take them to Perisher, that’s my home resort and I think it’s the best for different types of snowboarding. There are different parks for each level from beginner to advanced.
What’s next for you? How do you continually challenge yourself and get better and better at snowboarding?
The biggest focus right now is the 2018 Winter Olympics. I kind of start there and work backwards to where I am now and where I need to be. I like to do yoga as I heard there are many benefits for snowboarders. I need to be focused to learn new tricks, hit bigger jumps and train so I am fit enough for competition day.
