Scottish shred star, Vaila Chapman is only 18 years old but has already a decade of snowboarding to her name. It was only 3 years ago she turned to freestyle where she quickly began to win competitions, got added to the GB team and was snapped up by sponsors such as GNU and Celtek. Here she tells us a bit about her life on a board.

I started snowboarding when I was 8 years old, almost 10 years ago, which is crazy to think and makes me feel old!! I only started competing in the British scene 3 years ago and after my first 5 competitions I picked up my first sponsors, Apo and Westbeach. I’m still with Westbeach 3 years later!

I was later accepted onto the GB National Park and Pipe team when I was almost 15, just under a year since I started freestyle. Since then I’ve been ranked 1st overall female snowboarder in the UK and Scottish dryslope, indoor and overall women’s champion and hold many more titles. I am proud I have come so far with my snowboarding.

I began to travel and pick up more sponsors. Through exposure from competitions and Facebook posts I got loads of ace support within 3 years! From Celtek, funi, GNU, Westbeach, Horizon Watches, Newmilns ski slope, Boardwise (where I’m going to be working over the summer!), Pieute (homegrown Edinburgh street wear brand), Bern (who’s helmets I’ve always loved) and Ultra Sport (in cooperation with Bern).