Words Jill Perkins T here are are people who live just to live, and then there are people who live for something. People who live for what they love because they can’t imagine any other way. That’s Stefi Luxton. Stefi’s passion and tenacity have made her the ultimate snow-boarder’s snowboarder. It has kept her true to her path, dancing through life and structuring her world around the things she loves most. Hailing from a small town in New Zealand, Stefi has become a Kiwi legend, a vetted Mammoth local, an Olympian and the proud owner of the sickest back seven Japan there is (in my opinion). Stefi is a true freeride snowboarder who exudes style and ease at every turn. Introduced to snowboarding in her mid-teens, Stefi has found her way through slopestyle competitions, government sponsorships, traveling the world, and, most impor-tantly, her friends. After a hiatus from professional riding through her mid-20s, during which she pursued time on snow relentlessly, she found herself back in the mix filming and freeriding, cultivating wide-spread respect for her easy style. Her ability to handle every kind of terrain is a true testament to how talented Stefi is. And I am not just talking about physically turning on a board. Recently, she has returned to competing in the freeride space, taking a podium spot at Robin Van Gyn’s Research & Develop-ment event in March, filming, generally showing up, standing out and riding strong at a handful of events. She’s also taken a lead-ership role in filming, encouraging other riders to comfortably grow in that space alongside her. Yet behind that easy-going façade is a highly driven individu-al—a fitness coach, a surfer, an avid traveler who is constantly in motion. She’s pursuing a bachelor’s degree in sport and exercise, and growing her ability to help others find good health through her personal training business. Ultimately, Stefi is a nice person. The type of person who makes people want to be a nicer version of themselves. We all know the saying “nice guys (or girls) finish last.” But this is surely not the case when it comes to Stefi Luxton. Over the past two decades, snowboarding has changed dras-tically. Yet Stefi has managed to effortlessly reshape her life and her career to continuously remain not just relevant but loved and sought after. Stefi can class up any space and make decisions that authentically align with her values. Where others have moved on from snowboarding for one reason or another, she’s always found a way to make it work. Even if it was the hard way. For Stefi, this is the only option. Thank you, Stefi, for being the light that always stays lit when we, as snowboarders, start to lose it. Where are you from? I’m from Wanaka, which is one of the main mountain towns in New Zealand. I was surrounded by the mountains and Lake Wanaka at my doorstep. Growing up, the population was prob-ably around 5,000 people; these days it’s maybe 20,000. It’s crazy to go back and see all the new developments. Where do you live now? I am in Mammoth but travel a lot. I usually spend three months in New Zealand each year. You started snowboarding when you were 14, right? I started skateboarding and snowboarding at the exact same time. I have two brothers, they skateboarded and snowboarded before me and helped me get into it. We had a big group of friends that would go up on the mountain each weekend. Before snowboarding, I skied but would always ask to switch with friends so I could snowboard. When I was 14, I bought a snow-board and boots from the recycling center and that was that. 052 THE SNOWBOARDER’S JOURNAL
The Snowboarder's Journal The Snowboarder's Journal 22.1: Page 52
