Interview by Ian Boll
Photography by Wieste Thomas, Joseph Roby, and Jon Stark
“Genuine, affable, driven.”
“All around freak. Always all-in.”
“Wears cool stuff.”
I don't think anyone likes describing a friend in three words, but Jake Kuzyk, Kennedi Deck, and Gian Sutter respectively nailed it.
If you know Emma, each of these descriptors ring true and her cool goes beyond style, which she’s got. It’s that she’s found what she loves and wants to share it. Like those who’ve influenced her, she aspires to leave her mark, in turn passing on what she's found most fulfilling about snowboarding, and life.
Emma is head-down, but only because she’s assessed the horizon first. She shows up all-in, going up against Jamie in NST, stepping to Pyramid Gap, crushing hellish bike rides, battling back from injury. She levels with consequence by accepting all outcomes, yet behind her quiet confidence there’s a patience to let things unfold as they may. And wherever that patience comes from, that’s the real Emma.
Emma is assured in who she’s become, and snowboarding helped get her here. The question remains: what will she do now that she’s arrived?
Thought experiment: snowboarding ceases to exist tomorrow, just vanishes. First thing you do?
Hmmm… pick up a different sport? I’m sure I would probably move back to Minnesota and try to find a job. I’d move out of Salt Lake for sure, restart, and see what else I could do.
What interests you in that same realm? Is there anything?
No, definitely not. I really like biking and I’m trying to skateboard and surf more, to do things I think are just as fun as snowboarding, but I don’t feel like anything could quite fill the void like snowboarding does.
"It was like those nightmares where you’re freefalling until you wake up."
You really can’t replicate it. It’s kind of a hypothetical, but is it? Do you think snowboarding will entirely end at some point?
Dude, I have that fear. Either it’s going to end at some point, or it’s going to start snowing in Florida or something crazy. It’s going to be one or the other.
What makes you Midwest at heart?
Oh fuck, I don’t know. I feel I’m notoriously like, oh no you go, or thank you. And it’s so hard to say no—that’s pretty Midwestern and applicable to me. You can’t say no, you just ghost somebody instead.
Favorite thing you did on your snowboard last season?
First spot of the trip, first spot of the year—this steep kinked rail in Oslo. I remember it was cold and we all thought it was gonna be a battle. An hour later we were done. Like, to be ready for a six-hour hike day and then get it done really quick is like, oh yeah, you’re welcome bitches [laughs].
How much pressure do you put on yourself and how high are your own expectations?
I would say dangerously high. I think it’s good. I really want to do the best that I can, but sometimes it’s to a point where I beat myself up. Every year I want to film better stuff—that’s pretty natural as a snowboarder. But, I think things come a little easier when you’re able to be more chill.
Seems like you’re figuring out how to manage high expectations while also letting what needs to happen, happen.
Yeah absolutely. Trusting the process. Trusting that it’s still going to work out and you’re going to have a video part. I feel like for so long I was trying to control all of these aspects and that would just get me further in my head. It’s cool to figure that out about myself too, switch up my mindset. You can’t control everything.
You’re thinking about stuff I wasn’t when I was your age. I was just trying to jump off a roof or something.
Dude, I gotta be more like that. I gotta be like, fuck it, let’s jump off this roof.
There’s a middle ground. You’re thinking about it with a little more intention.
There’s so many layers to snowboarding that it gets complicated to dissect it all, but it’s cool to hear how other people go about it or watch how people move on a trip and how they have fun.
So you did a 90-foot air in the beginning of dorothy last year. What was that like, could you describe it in slow-mo detail?
Right off the lip, I swear to god, it was like those nightmares where you’re freefalling until you wake up. I was just looking at the fucking gap going, oh my god this is a nightmare, I might not clear it. The back side of Pyramid, the uphill landing part, looked like Jaws. Midway, I remember thinking, alright I think I’m chilling. I feel like it really wasn’t the time to hit that, and we really pushed it when it wasn’t good conditions. It was pretty gnarly. But it was still a sick learning experience to even build a jump that big.
It’s insane. You did something literally no woman has ever done.
Yeah, fuck. Classic. Wish it was better.
You’re just getting started. You’ve got plenty of time to go back.
Yeah, and that’s cool too—to be motivated to maybe change that story a bit.
So who did you film with this year?
Our filming crew this year was really awesome. We were filming for a Salomon project and it was Gian [Sutter], Finn [Westbury], and Bryden [Bowley]. It’s awesome to trust your friends and filmer. They get how I snowboard, and I know how they do, which is such a different dynamic than when you’re trying to figure it out for yourself.
The ability to trust your crew means they’re not lying when they say, “That was sick.” You and Gian have sort of come into your own filming together. Did you have that trust right off the bat?
Yeah, definitely. I was kind of surprised feeling that so quickly. It’s been awesome filming with him ‘cause we’ve grown up together since filming Foyer two years ago. Going into a project like that you don’t really know who you’re going to get along with and whatnot, but to gain such a close friend out of that was really awesome and kind of unexpected. And to have that honesty and trust is so hard to find.
You and Kennedi [Deck] worked on dorothy together. How was filming together for that?
Yeah, Kennedi is awesome. I feel like I’ve been friends with them for so long, so it’s cool to see how they work and how much knowledge they have. They’ve been making video parts for like seven years, kind of non-stop. You gain so much knowledge with that, and being around it, all I want to do is learn what they know.
It’s so helpful having somebody to look up to and help show you the way a bit. A person you can look to for direction, even if it’s just how to build a spot or something.
Absolutely. Or like, will this spot work? I remember I was on one of these trips for dorothy with Jake [Kuzyk] and Kennedi, and in seconds they’re both like yes or no. It would’ve taken me a day or two to figure out if it doesn’t work and why.
"To have someone resonate with something I put out that represents my snowboarding, to be a light for another individual, is kind of the dream."
What puts you in a good headspace? What gets that frequency in your head going to hit something crazy?
You have to surrender to every trip and each situation you’re in. If I know the next day we’re going to a spot that makes me scared I try to downplay it. Don’t give the spot too much power. I listen to my friends around me and take a couple of deep breaths. That has helped me so much—just be present. Just stay with it. Everything is better when you just take what the day gives you.
You went up against an Olympic gold medalist this year, Jamie Anderson. How were the nerves leading up to that, and what was that NST duel like?
I got the call asking if I wanted to do it and was like, “Yeah I’m down, who would I be up against?” They said they didn’t know yet, but it would be another up-and-coming backcountry rider. A month or two goes by, they tell me, “We’re announcing your duel tomorrow,” and I’m like, “That’s cool, but who am I up against?” They go, “They haven’t told you yet? You’re up against Jamie.” I was like ugh god damnit [laughs]. Honestly, it was pretty sick because it’s a win-win. If I lost, people would be like, “Yeah, it’s Jamie.” And if I were to have won, people would be like, “Oh my god, it’s Jamie.”
She is so chill and laid back, but I was definitely nervous. I won the rock-paper-scissors and decided to go first, because fuck it, let’s get it over with. So I come down, look back up and she absolutely turns it on. She rides the sickest stuff that I totally missed. But in that atmosphere I could only gain confidence and knowledge. It’s inspiring to be in that presence. I feel like I snowboarded well too because I was with her.
When was that in the year?
We went to Oslo first, then I got back and had a week and a half before Natural Selection. So I just went into training mode, wax-on-wax-off style. I was like, okay I gotta jump or at least go do some backcountry stuff ‘cause I don’t want to get absolutely mopped out there. After that I went straight to Japan which was cool.
Tell us about that spot off the ledge into the bank on the water.
We were driving along the coast looking for some dams and it was sitting out there on this little walkway, so Finn and I went to go check it out. There was enough snow on the top level and we all thought it just looked so cool. Boats coming in and out of the harbor. It’s sick too when your homies are like, “This is awesome, let’s make it happen.” I never thought I was afraid of heights, but standing on this edge by the water freaked me out. Gian was squeezing the back of my board each time before I dropped. I needed some solidarity.
How many tries we talking?
I think three or four. The hardest part about it was the speed. Pumping it was kind of tough, and I had to get past this wall in the landing as well.
You had some awesome opportunities while coming up with support from brands. How did all that feel?
I think my first filming opportunity was with Salomon for Hindsight, and that was so out of left field. Definitely did not feel like I deserved it. I really just wanted to show up for this brand that was believing in me, but I got hurt pretty much that whole year, which in itself is saying something [laughs]. It’s cool that Salomon has consistently believed in me. From a year when I got hurt, to coming in and supporting dorothy meant a lot. I’m honored and thankful.
Should a brand support a rider with the hope that they fulfill their potential, or do you let that rider prove themself, then support them?
Absolutely. I’m a strong believer that the more opportunities someone has, the better snowboarder they’ll be. I do think that personality and character, who people are at their core, is more important than snowboarding talent alone. Especially with female snowboarding, it’s important to invest so women have the chance to excel. And they will.
It’s tough because brands are a bit reluctant to throw money at someone who hasn’t proven themself, but you have to take that chance.
If you look at people who were invested in before they earned it, a lot of those snowboarders ended up being really good. Not speaking for myself [laughs].
I’ll speak for you. You came out swinging with that Foyer part. How do you feel looking back on that?
That means a lot to hear. I feel like it’s a nice building block because it’s well rounded, but I want to do it better. I’ve looked up to Marie [France Roy] my whole life, and her parts have resonated with me because she rode everything.
Where do you feel like you’re at in your career right now? It’s kind of a fucked up question…
I feel like I’m at a pretty important part, almost like it’s make-or-break time. I’ve been building up some good momentum with filming over the last four years, and I really want to keep that going. I feel like my best is yet to come. If I can keep riding this wave and continue getting better, I think I’ll get my snowboarding where I want it to be. I’ve always wanted to be a snowboarder who can ride anything. I love that. But I sort of feel pressure to choose between street and backcountry.
"Once you’re fully yourself, you’re so much more confident in snowboarding—everything else just feels a lot lighter. You’re able to fully dive into what you like and who you are.”
What would you rather ride? How does one navigate that?
I grew up in Minnesota, so obviously I love jibbing. That’s what I was raised on. Hitting small jibs and lapping the parks with your friends, skatepark style, that’s always been the most fun type of snowboarding for me. Moving out west though, I love being in the mountains and reading the terrain. I wish one would pull me more than the other, but it’s split. I also feel like once I go full backcountry, I won’t go back [laughs]. Maybe that’s just a narrative I’ve created in my mind.
I think that’s a narrative you’ve created. I think snowboarding is free will and you can do whatever you want.
I haven’t really talked to people about this, so it’s refreshing to hear that after I’ve sort of beat it into my mind.
I think that’s what makes the true originals great. Doing what makes you happiest. And on top of that, it’s cool to keep people guessing.
For so long I’ve felt that to be successful I’ve gotta have a path or plan, and I feel like even just talking with you about it now is refreshing. Like no, I can really take it year by year and do what’s presented to me.
It really boils down to how you want to steer it; to keep it fun, to keep learning and growing. Do you want what you’re doing to be remembered and important?
I feel like the biggest thing for me is to inspire others. To be what Marie was to me for even one other person is a big motivator. To have someone resonate with something I put out that represents my snowboarding, to be a light for another individual, is kind of the dream.
What gets you excited about snowboarding today?
I love when you don’t expect someone to be snowboarding. Seeing Nicole [Haus], and other skaters at Zumiez 100K snowboarding. Seeing different communities of people who don’t really have the privilege to snowboard get that access. Seeing what a group collectively brings to the table and showcasing that on a screen. Things that break up the cycle in terms of what’s “normal” or traditional in snowboard videos. That’s the stuff that inspires me.
What’s a video that’s done that for you recently?
Obviously the Sensesse video, The Uninvited. The Vans video that Mikaela and Kennedi made was sick. Peep Show for me growing up was fucking huge. I didn’t know there were groups of women snowboarding together making a video; that was shocking to the system for me.
You wrote a pride memoir for Torment in 2021 and in it you say, “If you don’t see yourself, then you feel like you don’t belong.” Do you feel like queer representation in snowboarding has grown since then?
Just having individuals in the space who are openly queer is so important. Organizations like Seen Snowboarding are doing a great job providing representation that has been missing. There’s finally light being shown in that direction. But I do think there is always room for more. There are more individuals who could be getting opportunities, and with time and resources, I think they will.
If you think about three years it seems like a lot of time, but in snowboarding that’s just three seasons.
Yeah. In some ways, I don’t think much has changed. But like you said, three seasons is just 15 months in snowboard time. If you compare it to skating, there’s a trip, then a video comes out; everything moves quicker. With snowboarding, it’s all kind of a year behind. But, hopefully, it’s a domino effect. The more people in the space who identify as queer elevates everything.
"Things come a little easier when you’re able to be more chill.”
You also mentioned that snowboarding had become an outlet for you to be creative and confident. Did snowboarding feel like a catalyst to being more comfortable in coming out, being fully yourself?
Being in the snowboard space and seeing other people’s pride memoirs, seeing my friends come out and date people, seeing them be their truest selves, all kind of gave me confidence. I could see myself in them. Once you’re fully yourself, you’re so much more confident in snowboarding—everything else just feels a lot lighter. You’re able to dive into what you like and who you are. If I hadn’t been a snowboarder, I think it would have taken me a lot longer to find out who I was. I’m lucky to have this community and the people surrounding me. To feel so comfortable in my skin is a gift in itself.
You should be really proud of that. You’re inspiring some people here with this.
It’s so easy to get stuck in cycles and not take a step back. But thinking that I could have the same effect on others as the people who came before had on me—that’s really special.
So you get to travel the world with your friends, ride really good snow, and work on fun film projects where you have creative control with brands that support you. How do you make this life better?
Once you take a step back, you see how incredible this is. It’s everything I could ever wish for. Something that’s been cool for me is being involved with brands in creating things like a board or binding design, outerwear, or a backpack—anything that could open the product to a broader audience and use this leverage we have as snowboarders to make an impact.
This is all coming from the outside looking in on Emma’s life. What does the inside looking out say to all that?
That’s hard because what we get to do is incredible, and I’ll always try to remember that. Looking back, it’s easy to be like, oh wow that trip was incredible, but when you’re on the trip not getting clips, in your head thinking you’re wasting a brand’s money, you feel like you’re not doing a good job. It creates this irrational fear that I’m not good enough, that I’m not producing what I’m being paid to produce. It takes experience to know that a trip gone wrong isn’t the end of the world. It’s hard to take a step back and appreciate that—how crazy it is to be there in the first place.
Was there a design to all of this, or did you just go with the flow and end up here?
I’ve always wanted to be a professional snowboarder. I thought the easiest way to snowboard for as long as you can was to be in contests. Moving to Utah, I learned you can be more creative and independent, and I was like, okay that’s what I want to do. Growing up watching video parts, I knew what it meant, but the ability to see where my snowboarding fits in has navigated me through this space, and I’m just thankful for that.
