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Young Gun | The Mia Brookes Interview

Mia Brookes talks van life, good vibes and cab 1080's

Above: Mia Brookes. Pic: Ben Kinnear.

The Luminaries Series is about shining a light on some of the most inspirational people in our industry, documenting their rise in their given professions, and sharing some of their insights from along the way.

As much as I try and cast it out of my mind, I actually quite vividly remember being 14, I somehow managed to straddle the line between being disagreeably gangly yet not even slightly tall and if you think I dress badly now you should just count yourself lucky you didn’t know me back then. In comparison, you’ve got Mia Brookes; just 14 years old and she already oozes style, both on and off the hill.

With an ever-growing bag of tricks and a nonchalant air to her riding reminiscent of a young
Danny Kass, Mia has been touted as ‘the next big thing’ in UK snowboarding since she was practically still in utero. Some people make snowboarding look difficult, and some people make it look intrinsic – Brookes falls firmly into the latter category.

“Mia’s indomitable talent encompasses every sphere of snowboarding”

Already a well-known face in the GB Park and Pipe Squad, Mia’s had one hell of a season so far, with a slew of Europa Cup podiums, a Rider of The Year nod, and Top 5 finishes in both Best Rail and Best Turbo Knuckle at Absolut Park’s Spring Battle 2021. She’s picked up an understandably solid list of sponsors over the years, making a name for herself with Rome, 686, Dragon and Vans to name but a few.

A phenom in Slopestyle and Big Air, but more recently taking to the streets to launch an all-out urban assault in Finland with the Soap Bar Wax crew, Mia’s indomitable talent encompasses every facet of snowboarding. After hotlapping in Laax with Jamie Anderson, she said of Mia “The best British rider I’ve ever seen”, which sums it up really. But more than anything, Mia is a lovely young woman, who just so happens to be really, really good at snowboarding.

Mia Boosting | PC: Ben Kinnear

How did you get here? What made you decide to get into the competitive side of snowboarding? 

I think I may have started doing boxes and a few small jumps in a park in France and then one day when I was around 5 or 6 there was the English champs at Chill Factore and my parents were super chill about it and we were just doing it for fun. So, we went, and I made some really nice friends and I ended up coming 4th and I think that’s where my journey started.

“The fact people thought I was a boy sort of made me prove myself that I can be better and that girls can be as good as boys”

Was it always the plan? How did it evolve along the way?

I was always riding around, whether it was park or just cruising and just loved it so much that whatever I was doing I was having fun! I’m pretty sure it was when we went to Laax or maybe a few years prior I started to progress more. Laax was the place where I felt I learnt the most and made new friends. I think I was 9 or maybe about to turn 10 when I hit my first small pro line and I was buzzing! Ever since then I’ve always been learning.

 

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You competed with the boys when you were younger, right? Did you find yourself having to prove yourself more because you were a girl?

I’ve mainly competed against girls, but I used to mainly ride with boys, and I think I’ve competed in an all-boys under12 comp when I was younger and won. But I think that because I rode with boys when I was younger, and the fact people thought I was a boy sort of made me prove myself that I can be better and that girls can be as good as boys.

“Before I landed it I was so desperate to get it that I found that I’d hit a wall”

The pool of female talent is getting bigger and better every year, you’ve been a pretty dominating force in the youth sector, and more recently stepping up to the senior level and still killing it. How do you stay on top of it all and continue to up your game?

I think social media is a big one. You see someone trying something or landing something and you want to get that trick or even better it. I also think that the level of riding that you compete against is a big one. You always go to the comp wanting to win and if there are girls there that are better than you, you will push harder to make sure that you eventually get the win and push the sport to another level.

Mia keeps it real | PC: Ben Kinnear

You’ve been earmarked as ‘The next big thing’ for most of your life, do you feel the pressure, or does this just make you more eager to succeed?

For the past month I really wanted to land the 1080 and finally got it but before I landed it I was so desperate to get it that I found that I’d hit a wall and wasn’t stoked anymore. I was so desperate to win at the competition that was coming the week after and I’ve been away from my family and cats for 4 months and I just had a mental block. So sometimes it does get hard and because you are so desperate to land something new or win, you need to be prepared for the mental side and that’s why I think it’s good to have a few rest days just to reign yourself back in.

“I think I really look up to her journey and what she’s been through in her life”

What do you see as your biggest achievement to date?

I think probably my cab 1080 or my two 1st places at the Europa cups just recently, I’m super stoked on that!!!!!!

Steady Rippin’ | PC: Ben Kinnear

You’ve got a growing base of fans and admirers, including some of the biggest riders in the world, but who do you look up to as riders or people?

I think Yung Doli because he’s such a legend and I recently met Jamie Anderson who is so nice, I think I really look up to her journey and what she’s been through in her life. Jess Kimura is also so cool because she makes The Uninvited movies and they are so BADASS!

“I just want to keep pushing the next generation of women’s snowboarding and keep sending it with my homies”

What are you goals for the coming years? Where do you see yourself in the next decade?

I really hope to be doing X Games and hopefully the Olympics and I think the Youth Olympics is in the next two years. I just want to keep pushing the next generation of women’s snowboarding and keep sending it with my homies.

Dropping… | PC: Ben Kinnear

We’re seeing more rad ladies get into the streets, especially with movies like The Uninvited, and you recently had your first street part drop with HIGH RES’N. We can for sure see an X Games Real Snow 2023 invite in your future if you keep it up… Are you looking to get more into the filming side of snowboarding?

Definitely! This season I have been lucky enough to ride with the Crap Show and I am super grateful for that because that has been my dream since I first went to Laax. Yeah, I also went to Finland with John Weatherly to film street which was such a sick experience and so happy that I have done it. Go check out HIGH RES’N

“The fact that most girls are getting to the level of riding that boys are doing is so gooooood”

You travel a lot in your motorhome, how’s it been growing up with the Van Life?

I LOVE IT! I mean it can be cold sometimes but it’s super cool and I am so happy that this is how my parents brought me up snowboarding. Now that I’m travelling more with Team GB I might not have the opportunity anymore so I am glad I’ve done it for literally all of my childhood.

 

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As a young woman, have you ever found it difficult to be part of such a male-dominated sport?

No, I think that now it’s brought more girls into the sport it’s definitely changed and the fact that most girls are getting to the level of riding that boys are doing is so goooood!

“I would say just keep the vibe going”

What advice would you give to the next generation of girls looking to get into snowboarding?

I would say just keep the vibe going, if you’ve got good pals just go shred with them it’ll for sure keep you pushing on.

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