Professional snowboarders often resonate with us for the right reasons. Standout video parts and nail-biting podium finishes are what riders are remembered for, but there's a darker side to this reality. Behind all of your favorite riders is a struggle that you don't see. A struggle that is unfortunately necessary. Whether it's broken bones, multiple concussions, or personal tragedies outside of the sport, there can be no good without the bad. In turn, you have to know what one feels like to fully experience and appreciate the other. That's what makes a standout video part or winning run that much better. Jesse knows this reality all too well—her story is as motivating as it is harrowing.
"Learning to Drown follows the life and career of professional snowboarder Jess Kimura as she unapologetically shatters stereotypes with her own brand of unwavering determination and go-for-broke mentality. After the tragic death of Jess's partner at the height of her career, she spiraled into a cycle of self destruction, grief and despair. Compounded by head injuries and mental health issues, the circumstances seemed insurmountable. Jess's only way out was within — as she faces her deepest fears, she reminds us that not all wounds are meant to heal."
Presented by: The North Face
Photography by: Jess Kimura and The North Face
