The boardsports-fanatic, blogger and PR shares her story and reminds us how radness is relative and imperfections are perfect
Interview by Anna Langer
I’ve always been attracted to the lifestyle and buzz of boardsports in general, but I’ve not always been a participator. Actually when I was young I was a bit of wizz at ping pong and other racket sports, not really transferrable skills for boardsports! When I left school I didn’t know what I wanted to do or where I wanted to be, I felt really lost in the world! Then one lonely January I had to get away and I ran to the snowy mountains. Since then boardsports have been my life and I was really lucky to get a job in the industry when I was done doing seasons.
I love how when you are snowboarding, skating or surfing you are in the now! Your problems disappear, you’re right in the moment feeling the wave or riding through the trees. I think when you take up boardsports it can be tough to learn and therefore hard to stick with it. But like most things in life, if you put the effort in you will be rewarded! I feel really strongly that people, especially girls, shouldn’t be put off because they feel they aren’t good enough or cool enough. I hate that pressure that these activities can elicit.
Radness is relative!
As long as your enjoying yourself that’s what matters! I snowboard, I attempt to surf, and I literally just took up skating. I’m no pro but I’m passionate! Right now I’m spending all the sunny days London can provide hanging out at skateparks, ripping my jeans, bruising my elbows and making new friends. It’s never too late to get involved!
Neon Stash was born from lots of colourful ideas! I wanted to collect together all the projects I had been working on in one place. I’m really lucky that, working for brands like DC, I’m in a position where I get to go to really cool events and meet amazing people within the industry; surf, snow and skate. I love being creative and it’s only really been the past few years that I have let it loose; my outlets are mostly photography, tie dying and writing. But in a professional sense, Neon Stash is a PR and creative freelance agency that also works on campaigns and special projects.
Analogue photography gives me a buzz, its unpredictable nature! It’s an obsession of mine but also a collection, a hobby and sometimes even my day job. I love rocking up to events with my alternative equipment like my LC-A or Lomokino, and snapping alongside all the digital camera users and iphones, they look at me intrigued. With analogue you consider the shot before you have even snapped it. It’s one of 36 not one of a million. My favourite shots tend to be the ones with flaws. Like the 35mm camera I took to the Dominican Republic when I went to surf there last year, it cost me a pound and had a gap in the back so all the shots had light burns in them. I think it’s a mentality I have with life, that imperfections aren’t bad things. When I was younger I wanted to be perfect, but actually that’s boring and hey, no ones perfect!
I’d say I am an ambitious person but to be honest, I’ve never really had set goals for my life and I think that’s been a positive for me. No pressure, no expectations. I owe a lot of people for giving me a chance. It’s been a matter of taking every opportunity that comes my way. And any achievements are just added bonuses. I couldn’t be more amazed with where I am right now in life, but it’s taken a lot of hard work and commitment. I’m in a position where I work on fun creative projects and am running my own company, but it’s not a dream come true, as I never imagined it could happen!
Time moves quicker as you get older. I’m going to try and make it go slower! In twenty years time I hope I’m a rad skater, still snowboarding and surfing. Everyday adventuring… I can’t see my love of boardsports not being in me and hopefully it will be part of my life forever, personally and professionally! I want to have a lot of stories to tell. I’m going to be one of those old people that tell strangers their life stories…
If I could magic wand my life I’d be Jess Kimura x Sally Fitzgibbons x Lyn-Z Adams… all in one!
Last year I had my ACL reconstructed and being inactive made me realise how precious your health is. We are surrounded by a heap of things each day; people, products, choices, but in the end it’s your health, family and friends that are constant dependable elements! I have such a variety of ace people in my life, I really love that, friend diversity. In terms of my work and Neon Stash, it’s my creativeness and ideas that are valuable… Oh and the notepads I write them down on! I can’t go anywhere without my notepad.
