Name: Charlie Stealson

Age: 22

Location: Morzine, France

Sport(s): Snowboard and Downhill MTB

Instagram Handle: @charlieradish 

What does SheShreds.co mean to you?

SheShreds to me is everything that I stand for in woman's action sports.  I feel really strongly that we can achieve anything that the guys out there are achieving.  It’s just unfortunate that up until very recently there has been a real lack of motivators for woman out there, however through supportive communities of like-minded women and more media coverage I really believe that we can all make the change. Through SheShreds I have been able to chat with and meet so many other amazing ladies who are doing amazing things in their sports. It’s such an inspiration to see us all come together and get everyone involved, I love how at SheShreds it’s all about building each other from the ground up.

How did you get hooked on your favorite action sport(s)? 

Snowboarding was pretty much a no-brainer for me, I always wanted to skate, but was shockingly bad at it, so I went on my school ski trip one year when was 13 and was determined not to be bad at snowboarding. I was the worst in my class... until day 3, then I had that moment when everything clicked and have never looked back. 

Downhill however was a little more complicated than that, I used to love mountain biking when I was younger, and would go out every weekend with my dad and get lost in the woods, I was about 6 at this point. However when I was 10 I went out on a road ride with my dad, and as it was only a road ride I didn't wear a helmet. I was fearless when I was younger, so I went hurtling down this big hill, no breaks and hit a big patch of gravel, slipped and fell off. I suffered a major brain hemorrhage. I will never do a sport now without a helmet. Thankfully my dad acted really fast and I got to the hospital and suffered no lasting damage, apart from a massive scare.

So needless to say this put me off bikes for a long while, I didn't actually start mountain biking again until I was 20, and I have fallen back in love with it. I just hate to think where I could have been if I had just worn a helmet that day.

What challenges do you face being a female in the sport?

For me it’s the constant assumption that you don't know what you’re talking about, or you’re not that good.

I went riding in the winter with one of the GB board-across team members, and I always remember him saying "it’s so nice to ride with a chick who can keep up, I'm not having to always look back and worry about you" ...cool, yeah I can manage to ride down a run, also surely you have some girl team mates who are pretty skilled on a board?  And also, "look at you, trying to impress me, going in front and spinning" again, thanks but I'm just snowboarding, I'm not trying to impress anyone, I'm just having fun. Would you say that if I was a guy?

Where is the most unusual or exciting place you have done your sport? 

Mountain biking in Pila Italy, its epic.


Favorite thing about SheShreds products?

I'm all about the winter hoods!!

Who/what are your inspirations

This is where most people say some kickass pro, but to be honest my biggest inspirations come from the local girls in my town, I'm so lucky to live in a place where the talent level is so high, being able to watch the girls in my town killing it in the park or sending a massive gap on their bike, just makes me think if these are people who I actually know, maybe one day it would be possible to be on their level. #fangirl