Top image of Julie-Ann by Jorli Ricker
Over the past decade or so, snowmobiling has gone from a fringe activity - used only by drunk Quebeckers on a frozen lake or the odd snowboarder seeking fresh lines - to a mainstream activity, both in the sled-shred/ski scene as well as a winter activity in general, enjoyed by tens of thousands across the country. Along with that, in the Whistler-area specifically, has come a boom in the number of ladies choosing to take on the task of taming a 600 or 700-pound beast. For along with pulled backs and cloths that stink like two-stroke comes the opportunity to regularly find yourself amongst the clouds, on top of a far-off mountain peak with nothing but your best friends and a few cold beers.
One of those women is Julie-Ann Chapman. This Montreal-native moved out west in 2007, chasing the classic snowboarders dream of living the life of a ski bum in a resort town. Always with a smile on her face, Julie-Ann quickly carved out a good group of friends, eventually finding her place in the community of Pemberton, 20-minutes north of Whistler and with more of a ride-you-horse-to-the-store kind of vibe. Along the way, in 2007, she found the sport of snowmobiling and was quickly hooked. As you'll read below, it quickly became her main passion (in the winter anyways!) and somewhere along the way she had the bright idea to take her passion, share it with others, and start She Shreds Mountain Adventures, a tour company specializing in women's snowmobile clinics.
Now in it's second year of operation, She Shreds gives women who might otherwise not have the courage to head out with a bunch of macho dudes the opportunity to experience a new sport in the company of like-minded and friendly people. Turning a passion into a career can be a lifelong endeavor but Julie-Ann is clearly on her way and has nothing but the best intentions in mind. And she takes a mean photo as well - after you're done reading this interview, check out the badass gallery above of action from the filming with the infamous Slednecks crew!
33MAG: How did you get into sledding and what attracted you?
Julie-Ann: I got into sledding for snowboarding, like everyone else in this area pretty much. Only thing is though I stopping bringing my board up! I think the fact that is was a new sport to me and the feeling of progressing at a new sport is what attracted me the most, from there I was hooked.
At what point did you realize this was going to be more than just a casual hobby?
When I saw I could make a living of it at the same time as enjoying my hobby to the fullest. Becoming a sled athlete, sled photographer and starting my company She Shreds Mountain Adventures I then realized that it is not only a passion/hobby of mine but a way I could make a living and enjoy life to the fullest.
Julie-Ann sending it!
Where did the idea for She Shreds come about?
A lot of brainstorming, research and motivation! I have taken snowboard clinics, horseback riding clinics and mountain bike clinics, so I wanted to tap into a market that hadn't been touched before - snowmobile clinics for women! Then one day a buddy of mine, Dave Norona, said: "why don't you do snowmobile clinics for women". After that day, I went into full action and started She Shreds Mountain Adventures.
What are the goals of She Shreds?
Some of the main goals for She Shreds is:
-To get more women involved with the sport. Not only in BC but all around the world.
-Show women a safe and fun environment to get stoked on sledding
-Show them avalanche safety and travelling safely in the backcountry with sleds
-Allow them to progress at the sport and build their confidence at their own comfortable pace
-Show them an adventure they have never experienced before
How is this winter going for She Shreds? Any more big trips?
This winter has been absolutely amazing so far! Thanks to my right hand helper and main coach Stephanie LaRoy Schwartz, She Shreds have been able to successfully do over 15 clinics this season with over 50 participants. Steph helps me with the large clinics such as the Revelstoke clinic where we had 13 girls all at different skill levels. There won't be any more big trips this season, but next season I have some in the works to travel to different countries to teach some She Shreds clinics! Very excited for this!
Happy campers
What is it about coaching women's sledding do you enjoy? I assume you're not making huge money here, why bother?
So many things I enjoy about it!! Seeing ladies just stoked about the same passion I enjoy, the work out, seeing a client progress so much in 1 day (or 2 days), each day being a different adventure, the wonderful thank you emails or comments I get on the She Shreds Facebook page after I teach a clinic, the insanely beautiful scenery we are surrounded by each day, the return clients coming back for more and the list goes on. Just loving it!!!
When I got my first sled ten or so years ago, it was pretty much just filmers and riders going up, now there are dozens of trucks at every zone on every sunny day full of eager sledders. Are you ever afraid of there being too many people out there?
I agree with you. The sport of sledding is on a bit of an uprise, and not only skiers and snowboarders going up sledding now, but more and more winter enthusiasts and more sledders in general are going up now. People are starting to realize that BC is one of the best places on earth to snowmobile in because of tour companies such as Ride With Chris Brown, Geoff Kyle's Freeride and She Shreds. BC has been getting ALOT of exposure as far as backcountry sledding goes in the past could years. Am I afraid of there being too many people in the back country? Not going to lie it has crossed my mind a couple of times, but I have no control over it really, so I'm not going to stress about it. As long as everyone going up respects the mountains (boundaries such as water sheds, moose closures, etc.), respects others in the back country (not hitting jumps that haven't been hit yet and are settling for a sunny day, or high marking a landing) and everyone is avy trained and smart about it, I feel like we could all work together to enjoy what life has given us - such a beautiful back yard to have the best time of your life in.
Avalanche education is ALWAYS part of any backcountry activity
Broken backs and near-paralyzing crashes seem to be part of the professional sledding game. Do you think as the machines get more powerful and the riders get better that things are going a bit too far? A bit too dangerous? Where is the line and what are the chances a Sledneck will even recognize it?
I don't think it has to do with the new machines coming out at all, I mean look back to Slednecks 4 when Garth jumped over the house on a super old MXZ chassis and landed short, or when Chris Brown did the double drop 2 seasons ago and completely mangled his body. They are all amazing riders, riding old sleds or new sleds its just a matter of bad luck I think. Its a passion to them and they will keep doing it and keep pushing the limits. Sometimes there is a hurdle that will put their riding on hold for a bit such an a bad injury, but you just have to stay positive and keep at it! Its just like snowboarding or skiing, its a passionate sport to some people that involves some risks, sledding might be a bit higher risk thats all seeing you have a 600lb machine between your legs. There are certain lines that some decide not to cross, such as avy danger in the landing or an obstacle in the landing, and i have seen some of the riders decide not to hit it that day, but most of the time they will come back to hit it another day when risks are lower.
Hanging with the Slednecks must get pretty rowdy, let's hear a good story!
If you consider the word rowdy meaning absolutely mind blowing then yeah these guys are pretty rowdy. Slednecks hires me for shooting photos of their riders as well as doing some of their marketing, but it's not really a job, these guys are my buddies and I ride with them almost every day. They aren't chaotic-roudy when they are riding, they are mind blowing-rowdy! Ill be sitting perched taking photos of Tyler Blair dropping a cliff one second then the next second I turn my head and Dan Treadway will be whipping his sled 50 feet off the ground. Then 2 minutes later Kalle Johansson (KJ) will go and to the same thing they did and go 3x bigger and land past each of their bomb holes by 100 feet. Each day I go up with these guys is a good story, so its hard for me to pin one down for ya. I think the day I went out with KJ and Treadway last March and banged out the cover for Slednecks 15 DVD was an epic day. If you want to follow my daily stories feel free to like my athlete page on Facebook - Julie-Ann Chapman. You'll get your fill of fun stories sledding in the back country!
A lady and her trusty stallion
Thank you's: Thanks 33MAG for giving She Shreds a spot light! And thanks to all my sponsors who support my dream as an athlete and She Shreds Mountain Adventures: Klim, 509, RSI Racing, Dayco, Valley Chainsaw Ltd., Ski Doo, Snowpulse, Mammut, FOX shocks, Toyskinz wraps, Slednecks, CFR racing, C&A skis, Bulldog Decks, Diva's Snowgear, inReach Canada, Orion Screenwords, joydigger.com, Niex toques.
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