Rising Up: Gwynnie Park

From mental blocks to taking home gold at this year’s Bomb Hole Cup, Gwynnie Park is carving out her path in snowboarding.

Gwynnie Park is part of a new wave of female riders who are continuously pushing both the sport and the community forward. Coming out of Salt Lake City, she’s built her riding around “making tricks look as proper as I could possibly do them.”

Hands down, following women’s snowboarding over the past few years has been one of the most rewarding things to witness. Not that long ago, women were still fighting for visibility, space, and recognition. Now, thanks to those who worked incredibly hard to pave the way, the landscape looks completely different, and women’s snowboarding is at an incredibly high level – not just in terms of riding, but especially in the camaraderie within it. “To me, that is what the event [The Uninvited] is about: showing up for your friends, supporting women in snowboarding, and creating space for all of us to showcase who we are and what we can do.”

Taking home the win at The Bomb Hole Cup this season and putting down solid runs at The Uninvited, Gwynnie’s progression has been incredible to follow. But it hasn’t just been about results; it’s also been about figuring out how to handle the mental side of it all. “There were moments when I felt stuck in a rut, and my mind wouldn’t let me attempt tricks I was fully capable of doing. It was infuriating to feel like I was holding myself back.” Working through that and learning to trust herself has led her to find her place between contest riding and the more creative pull of rail jams and street.

“Meeting people from all walks of life and different backgrounds has really put my own life into perspective and helped me appreciate what snowboarding has given me,” she says – a mindset that reflects the strong community around her and the grounded approach she brings into her riding.
Still very much at the beginning of her journey, Gwynnie is clearly on a path to build something solid.

Hi Gwynnie, and thanks again for taking the time to sit down with us. First off, congrats on an incredible season – taking the win at the Bomb Hole Cup and putting down some really solid riding at The Uninvited too.
Of course, thank you so much!

To start, tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into snowboarding, and who were some of your biggest inspirations growing up?
I grew up skiing from a very young age. My parents had me ripping around in a backpack, but I didn’t get into snowboarding until I was about seven. My older brother Owen rented a snowboard on one of our ski trips. I naturally followed in his footsteps. I’ve always looked up to him, and especially now, his work ethic is something I strive for. Once I started snowboarding, I never looked back. It quickly became something that kept me grounded, focused and motivated. I could kind of channel that adrenaline junkie in me that needed an outlet. My biggest inspiration was always Zoi Synott, but not necessarily her contest results; I just saw her style and always wanted to emulate it. The way she stands on her snowboard is just so powerful, and she always goes bigger than everyone else in the game. In my own riding, I was always focused on making tricks look as proper as I could possibly do them.

You seem really dialled into rail jams and street riding. What is it about that side of snowboarding that draws you in, and how has your riding evolved in that direction?
Up until now, I’ve always loved competing because it’s such a huge part of my personality. The contest thing felt like the direction I was meant to take, but slopestyle events didn’t come naturally to me. The girls have gotten so good, and I found myself super stressed out standing in the start gate. I was always a bit of a head case and worked hard the past couple of years to get my mental state strong enough to handle the pressure.

However, in the last couple of years, I have found myself gravitating more and more towards the street and rail game side of things. Rail Jam culture is so freakin fun, and when the crowd is hyped, and the music is going, I just feel invincible and willing to try anything. The stress of having to land every trick first try isn’t there. The mental battle totally shifts in a direction where I trust my body, and I know that I can hike a course until my legs give out. I think my riding continues to evolve in the direction of street because it has become more of a creative outlet for me. I have never claimed to be an artist; in fact, I’m pretty terrible, but I get so much satisfaction from watching clips, trying to figure out the right angle or how I want my arms to be positioned, and then continuing to try it again until it is perfect.

You’re based in Salt Lake City. What’s it been like growing up there, and how has that environment shaped the way you approach snowboarding and see your path within it?
Growing up in Salt Lake has been such a blessing. The snowboard community is so prevalent here, and you can find whatever path you’re looking for. On any given day, you will see some of the heaviest pros riding Brighton; that is a huge inspiration for me. I was able to watch from an early age what snowboarding can really evolve into and the actual level of tricks that are possible.

I think this year, especially, I have experienced the “community” or culture that everyone talks about. There are so many incredible and genuinely kind individuals who have embraced me and provided me with the space to grow within this community. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from some of the best mentors out there. There’s always more to learn and so many ways to have fun in snowboarding. I am grateful to everyone here who has played a role in shaping me into the person I am today.

You ride for Nitro, a pretty iconic brand. What’s that experience been like so far, and what have been some of the most memorable moments riding for them?
The experience so far has been incredible, and it continues to grow into something even better each year. Benny set up my first snowboard at Milo. A couple of years later, I submitted a sponsor-me tape from that season and got my first free snowboard. At the time, that moment meant everything to me and walking into the warehouse every year feels like Christmas. The support they’ve given me has played a huge role in allowing me to pursue this career, and I’m genuinely grateful for it. The Nitro family, from team managers to riders to warehouse workers, is something truly special, and not many companies could recreate it. It’s one of a kind!

You’ve said that The Uninvited is your favourite event every year. What is it about that event that makes it so special to you?
I think The Uninvited holds a special place in my heart because every year it showcases just how badass women in snowboarding are. Riding alongside girls of all ages, from all over the world, laughing, pushing ourselves and progressing together creates an energy that most contests just can’t match. Women don’t have to feel like their category is ever on the back burner because they are the main event. The seasoned women in snowboarding have pioneered such a great path for the younger girls; they don’t have to feel like they don’t belong. This year, especially, I felt so much support. The crowd showed up for everyone despite what felt like a full-on hurricane, and honestly, it was enough to make me emotional.

Events like this can kickstart careers, and getting to watch my friends like Bella Warren stand on the podium and have that moment of recognition and celebration is unmatched. One of my favorite photos from the entire event is one Mike LeBlanc took of me in the crowd, cheering when Bella’s name was called. To me, that is what the event is about: showing up for your friends, supporting women in snowboarding and creating space for all of us to showcase who we are and what we can do.

Looking at your journey so far, what have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced – and equally, where have you felt the most support?
Looking back so far, I think my biggest challenges have come from mental blocks. Injuries are just part of the game, but the physical side of coming back from a crash was never the main struggle for me. There were moments when I felt stuck in a rut, and my mind wouldn’t let me attempt tricks I was fully capable of doing. It was infuriating to feel like I was holding myself back. I wanted to improve faster, but I wasn’t giving my brain enough time to process the fear, identify what I was actually scared of, and then work through that slowly.

In contrast, I’ve felt the most support from my coaches and peers. They’ve taught me coping methods to stop negative self-talk and instead have encouraged me to try again and start telling myself I am good enough.

Have there been any conversations, moments, or people along the way that have really stuck with you or shaped how you see snowboarding today?
That’s a good question. I wouldn’t say there is one specific moment or conversation that’s changed my outlook, but the amount of traveling I’ve done over the past couple of years, especially in Europe and Canada, has given me so many meaningful experiences. Meeting people from all walks of life and different backgrounds has really put my own life into perspective and helped me appreciate what snowboarding has given me. You start to build relationships all over the world, and it begins to feel like there’s no place you can go where you won’t have friends. The Paved event in Innsbruck this year really stood out to me because, even though I was in a different country, it had the same vibes as watching a premiere at my local shop. I love it when you meet people, and there isn’t a worry about when you’ll see each other again.

What made you fully commit to snowboarding? Was there a moment when you just decided to go for it?
I don’t think there was one moment where I just fully decided to commit and throw myself into snowboarding. It’s kind of just been a combination of all the little things. It makes me so happy when I get to ride, and I want to do that for as long as possible. I hope I can help other people experience that feeling too.

You’ve been part of a range of events this season. What has each of them given you, and what are you taking away from this winter as a whole?
I think each event this season gave me something different. The Rev Tour contests really helped build mental strength and taught me how to handle pressure, while the rail jams just fueled the love of snowboarding. They both have their place for sure. Red Bull Heavy Metal especially changed my outlook on the year. It made me realize I can step up to big shit. After that, events started to feel more manageable. I came into them with a new sense of confidence. Looking ahead, I want to carry that into every part of my snowboarding and keep reminding myself that I belong in those spaces. 

And finally, looking ahead, what’s driving you right now, and where do you want to take your riding next?
What’s driving me right now is really my desire to keep learning. Women’s snowboarding is at such a high level, and I want to keep pushing myself while also uplifting others and bringing positive energy to the scene. I’d love the opportunity to film a part that blends both backcountry and street riding. I want to do it all!