Exclusive Web Interview with Jenny Jones

June 02, 2009 @ 6:13 AM - Features: Interviews

Is it annoying that slopestyle isn’t in the Olympics?

Sometimes it bugs me but other times I think it’s a blessing. I imagine it would be quite stressful with all the outside coverage, a lot of people watching who don’t know much about snowboarding and giving their judgment. At the same time it’s such a momentous event and it would be rad to feel like a true contender for an Olympic final or Olympic medal even. I imagine the mellow vibe around slopestyle contests would change though. The freedom of expression and the spontaneity might get a little lost. There would be a lot more coaches around, stricter rules and judging criteria etc. It’s something I notice more in the half pipe.

You started snowboarding at 18. Could that happen now? Or to turn pro do you need to start a lot earlier?

I think it could for sure still happen now. Anything is possible.

There’s seems to have been a lot of injuries to the top female pros, including yourself, this winter. Is that an inevitable consequence of people going bigger and harder or just bad luck?

Actually this winter season I’ve had the least major injuries of a winter (which I am so friggin happy about!) However I know what you mean and yes there are injuries and sometimes I think it’s inevitable but who’s to say you can’t get through your whole career without any massive injuries. There are a ton of variables in riding each day, snow conditions aren’t consistent, park builders aren’t perfect, the weather changes and your concentration isn’t always 100 percent. There are so many chances for things to go a bit wrong and a lot of those times you get away with it, just bumps and bruises. At the end of the day it’s all part of snowboarding and that’s half the reason most people like it, the element of risk and challenge involved. Take that away and yeah you might never get hurt but would it be as fun?

How scared do you get in comps? And does anything else in life scare you, like say surfing?

I get nervous more than scared. I get scared of injuries, scared of massive surf with shallow reef, monsters under the bed, getting sagging boobs when I’m older and being forced to eat half cooked eggs with that horrid whitish transparent bit on them, oh gross!

Haha ok, which up and coming riders are you excited about?

Sarka Pancochova, the young ripper from the Czech Republic, (backside rodeos, 720s and great style). Aimee Fuller, the young British chick and some Scottish lasses I have been hearing about.

Do you think snowdomes are helping British talent come through?

For sure, I think it’s great to have the domes.

Who’ve you enjoyed riding with this season?

Lisa Filzmoser, Hana Beaman some funny days sleddin’ and riding and some funny nights out too.

You’re in the new all-girls movie Stance, how was filming that?

I may have some small part but I didn’t film all year as I was competing a lot. I will be stoked if I get one or two shots in there, it was tough filming, great fun with the girls though. Just landing tricks in powder is a bastard sometimes and yes that is me jumping over the river and not making it and slamming. Yes that was the hardest slam of the season and yes I tried it twice and still didn’t make it and yes it bloody killed. You win some you lose some I suppose!

Jenny Jones is sponsored by Oakley, Billabong, Salomon Snowboards and Les Ettes