Pro Snowboarder Kimmy Fasani on Chasing Snow and Landing Double Backflips
While most of her female counterparts stuck to manicured snowboard parks, Kimmy Fasani opted to carve out her terrain in the backcountry with the boys. Her fearlessness paid off at age fifteen, when she was crowned USASA National Slopestyle Champion three years in a row. In 2011, she made headlines again, becoming the first woman ever to land a double backflip in both the park and the powder. Her commitment to an active lifestyle isn't limited to the winter months, either. In the off-season, Kimmy stays in shape by rock-climbing and biking. It's no wonder she works up an appetite. "I love cooking!" she says, listing curries and sushi among her specialties. She also has a sweet tooth: Last year, she became a co-owner in Mimi's Cookie Bar, an eco-friendly, organic bakery in California.
1/9In addition to being one of the leading women riders in the sport, this Burton athlete has a college degree, co-owns a cookie bar, and always makes time for Gossip Girl.
Photo courtesy of Dean Blotto Gray2/9"I was born in Lake Tahoe, and I skied from when I was two to twelve. But my mom got me a snowboard when I was nine years old for Christmas, and I would go out after my ski races. Then, when I was fifteen, I started competitively snowboarding. I had a group of guy friends that influenced my desire to ride and push myself, and I was pretty fearless. I had a gymnastics background, which helped!"
"I went pro at around age 23—late! But going to college was a huge goal for me. I wanted to have a backup plan. Snowboarding is an amazing lifestyle, but if you get hurt you need to have something else. I went to school for business marketing, and hopefully I'll be able to take that somewhere after my snowboarding career."
Photo courtesy of Dean Blotto Gray3/9"My schedule is pretty unpredictable and spontaneous; it just depends on where it's snowing and where there's going to be blue skies. That kind of dictates everything. But typically from November to December, I'm home, and then January through April, I'm on the road. It's pretty crazy. During the winter, I just chase the snow constantly."
"In the off-season, which for me is fall, I road bike, mountain bike, rock climb, and run stairs. Stairs are great for endurance. It's a quick workout but you get a lot out of it. I work out in the gym, too. Even on rest days, I'll go walking or on a hike. I incorporate that with a really healthy diet, too."
Photo courtesy of Dean Blotto Gray4/9"I wasn't the first woman to do a double backflip, but I was the first to do it in both the park and the backcountry. It was a very cool moment. For me, the mental focus is so important. I visualized it. I watched videos. I wanted to know exactly how it was going to feel or look before I did it so I knew I was safe. I've had so many girls approach me and say how inspired they were just to see that it was possible. For me to know that I was able to push myself to do it and to prove that we can do whatever we put our minds to—that's the biggest thing that the trick taught me."
Photo courtesy of Dean Blotto Gray5/9"I usually eat scrambled eggs and veggies for breakfast. I eat a lot of salads for lunch. During the summer, I try to cut back on my carbs. I eat a lot of fish and chicken, and tons of veggies—lightly steamed or sautéed. I love to cook, so I'll make things like curry and sushi at home."
"I try not to eat too many sweets, but I'm a part owner in a cookie shop, so...[laughs]. It's called Mimi's Cookie Bar. It's all organic, and we have vegan and gluten-free options. My role is mostly just to give my two cents and to taste everything!"
Photo courtesy of Dean Blotto Gray6/9"Burton brought me on to represent their AK collection, which is the backcountry line. The clothes are sophisticated and simple, but also really technical. I have just enough pockets, and I stay waterproof and dry. The AK line does a good job at giving you those feminine lines that you want. I'm not a really girly girl, but at the same time I don't want to be mistaken as a guy out there!"
"I get to have one hundred percent input in the design process with Burton. We're already working on the line for next year, and really trying to create the next best thing. We want women to feel comfortable out there and look trendy, but most importantly, we want them to stay dry. So being able to incorporate all of those things is huge."
Photo courtesy of Dean Blotto Gray7/9"I teamed up with Elemental Herbs, which is a natural sunscreen company. I'm re-applying sunscreen all day long, and I try to wear facemask as well. I use the Elemental Herbs SPF 30 sunscreen. It doesn't feel oily or greasy; it's nice and light, and it doesn't leave you white."
"I keep my hair in a braid with a beanie or my helmet. That seems to be the only way I can keep it all contained so it isn't getting snow all over it."
Photo courtesy of Dean Blotto Gray8/9"In the park, I always listen to music. I just got the new Santigold CD. It's so good. It's been really fun to ride to, but I listen to a mix of music: Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Florence + the Machine."
"Right now I'm reading What I Know Now. It's an amazing book of short stories about extraordinary women and letters to themselves at a younger age."
"There is one TV show that I watch, and it's [laughs]. I've watched every episode from the day it first aired. All the characters are great, but Serena, or Blake Lively, does such a great job."
Photo courtesy of Dean Blotto Gray9/9"I would say that my biggest accomplishment is being able to travel the world and progress women's snowboarding. Snowboarding has definitely become more popular with women since I first started. There's this sense of fearlessness right now. The younger generation has such an open mind about the sport, whereas the generations above us were creating it, so there were maybe more limitations because they didn't know what was possible. Now, young girls see what the guys do and they're like 'cool, let's do it.'"
