Sonia Jean

“Snowboarding taught me that falling down is just part of the journey.”

Born and raised in Haiti, Sonia found her passion for snowboarding during a trip to Canada when she was 18. She moved to Sydney for university, but the lack of snow made her miss her sport. She eventually found a local snowboarding community and started competing in amateur tournaments. Her proudest moment was when she won the Australian Snowboarding Championships in 2019. When she's not shredding the slopes, Sonia is a social worker and uses her language skills to help Haitian immigrants settle in Australia.

What was the biggest challenge you faced when learning how to snowboard?

Definitely the cold! I had never been in a place with so much snow and the first time I went out, I wasn't dressed warmly enough. It was a steep learning curve, but I eventually got the hang of it.

How has snowboarding impacted your life?

It has given me a sense of freedom and taught me to push myself beyond my limits. It has also connected me with amazing people all over the world who share the same passion.