We bumped into Faye Young on the slopes of Mayrhofen last week, during the infamous shred festival that is Snowbombing. Her big smile shining out from under her goggles and giant hoody, we spotted the 19 year old shredder a mile off and couldn’t have been happier to see her. The sort of rider who is always enjoying herself and up for riding with a crew, this Northern lass reminds us what snowboarding is all about; fun and progression. The latest news from Nikita is that Faye has joined their family, so we wanted to find out more about what she has been up to and where she came from…

Interview and photos by Hannah Bailey

I love the freedom snowboarding gives you, getting up on a morning and knowing you can just go ride for as long as you want with no other worries is the best feeling.

When did you first get on a snowboard?
I learnt to snowboard about 6 years ago. They built an indoor dome about 20 minutes away from where I live and I remember going to watch all the snowboarders through the window like a kid at the zoo and just thinking ‘yeah I want to do that!’ So my parents bought me lessons and I went from there. It took me a while to get into the freestyle side of things but I eventually met the right people and they helped me realise that riding rails and jumps were fun, haha!

When did you realise snowboarding was more than just a side hobby?
I spent my first 3 years snowboarding mostly indoors and once I had finished school I realised I wanted to do a season in the mountains and ride everyday. I’d picked up a few sponsors from doing well at the UK competitions and I just wanted to go out and ride and make the most of the opportunities I’d been given.

What are you up to at the moment?
I’m currently in Mayrhofen, Austria and I’ve been out here most of the season. It’s the last week of the resort being open so I’m trying to make the most of it!

What do you like about Mayrhofen and the scene out there?
I love the park here, it has such a quick chairlift and the rail setup is nice and progressive.  The girls out here are all really nice too, so I’ve made a lot of friends here and they are all so fun to ride with. They support each other and always have smiles on their faces .

What have you got planned for the upcoming spring shred season?
I’m hoping to stay in Austria through the summer and ride Hintertux glacier for a while. Also I’m really looking forward to the Spring Break/UK Boardtest in Kaunertal, Austria next month!

You were previously riding for Special Blend and Forum…but now Nikita have adopted you to their family, how did that come about and how do you feel about it?
I was really gutted when I heard Forum & Special Blend we’re in their last season of production, I’ve been a part of the team for a few years now. They were my favourite company when I first started riding so to have had the honour of being on the team was amazing. Lucky for me, the lovely Darren & Lorraine from my shop sponsor Subvert Boardstore had a word with the guys over at Nikita and they we’re keen to get me involved with the team. I was so excited when I spoke to them on the phone! It’s given me some fresh motivation to push my riding and I can’t wait to ride my Nikita setup!

What is your favourite thing about snowboarding? And being a girl in the industry?
I love the freedom snowboarding gives you, getting up on a morning and knowing you can just go ride for as long as you want with no other worries is the best feeling. Being a girl in the industry is great; the girls I have met through snowboarding are all super nice and friendly. I love that there are more girl’s events happening now and I want to make sure I do more of them next season!

Like us, you’re a Lomo fan too, what do you like about analogue photography?
Yeah I really love the Lomo camera’s, I like shooting a roll of film, forgetting about it and then being stoked when you get them developed and remember where you were when you took them. I have a Lomo 360 spinner camera and it takes amazing panoramic shots. I need to make sure I get a photo in every resort I visit!

What was on your last roll of film?
I’m not totally sure what’s on there! Probably some shots from Austria in May last year…

Faye is sponsored by Nikita, Subvert Boardstore, Anon, Celtek & Bluebird Wax