In late August this year I received an invitation to the Freeride World Tour 2025. The FWT sees the world’s best free skiers and snowboarders compete in a series of toured events which take place on what’s known as ‘backcountry’ or ‘big mountain’ – dangerously steep and mountainous terrain. I will be competing against the best in the World over 6 events in Spain, France, Canada, Georgia, Austria and the finals in Switzerland. My first event is mid-January 2025 and the Finals will be in Verbier at the end of March.

As great of a surprise as this was, it has left me financially unprepared.

I am a self-funded athlete, and I need your support for my pursuit to become the first Australian snowboarder to be Freeride World Champion in 2025. As this is not an Olympic sport, I receive no government funding and currently have no monetary sponsors. When I'm not on snow I am training hard and working to save to get me to these events. I am seeking to raise $30k to cover my expenses for this 3+ month journey. Your kind tax deductible donations will be put towards flights/travel, insurance, food & accommodation, coaching, lift tickets and pre-season training. 

I will be one of 8 female snowboarders in the world competing in the extreme Freeride World Tour and the only Australian athlete to make the FWT in 2020, 2021, 2023 and now 2025. 

I started my rookie year on the FWT 2020 with a silver podium in Hakuba, Japan and again making history finishing on top of the podium in Andorra in March; the first Australian, male or female, skier or snowboarder, to take Gold in this event. With the Verbier Extreme Grand Finale cancelled because of COVID, I finished the FWT in 2^nd. I have achieved a few podiums over the years, but I again broke records winning first place at Kicking Horse, Canada, in 2023. Despite that win, and finishing 4^th overall for the season, I had to spend a year on the Qualifying Tour in 2024 in the North American competition, where I won the last event of the season. My hard work has now been rewarded with a wildcard for season 2025.

It hasn't always been easy. A potentially career ending accident resulted in a broken back in 2010 when I was competing in an elite slopestyle event in Mammoth, California. This required two gruelling surgeries, involving the implementation of multiple screws and rods to allow the ability to snowboard again. I’ve also had to recover from a knee ACL reconstruction in 2018.

I was previously on the Australian Olympic Shadow team for Slopestyle and competed in the FIS World Championships for that discipline. Andorra will host the first FIS Freeride World Championships in 2026 as the FWT prepares for possible Olympic inclusion. I would like to encourage more Aussies into the Freeride competition, and into the backcountry in general.

Through my passion for adventure, I hope to continuously inspire and encourage everyone I meet to explore more, follow their dreams and fill their life with adventure.

Thanks for your support in keeping the dream alive! 

I have a separate corporate sponsorship package that includes a motivational speaking gig from me (outside my comp schedule) – please message me for the details.

Follow me

Instagram @michaeladavismeehan

LinkedIn Michaela Davis-Meehan

To stay up to date when the comps are on and to watch the live stream you can sign up to the FWT newsletter for reminders, check the Freeride World Tour website or follow me on instagram.

Competition Dates (comp days are 1 day, 1 run. This includes weather days)

Baqueira Beret, Spain... 18th - 23rd Jan

Val Thorens, France....... 27th Jan - 1st Feb

Kicking Horse, Canada.. 7th - 13th Feb

Georgia...................... 23rd Feb - 1st March

Fieberbrunn, Austria..... 8th - 13th March

..........FWT Final qualification cut..........

Verbier, Switzerland...... 22nd - 30th March

Recent interview for Mountain Watch