Women of Winter | Briony Johnson

Snowboard Freeride athlete Briony Johnson has learnt to become proficient at a juggling act: balancing her career as an athlete with her profession as a Terrain Park Manager. 

Earlier this year, Johnson became Australia’s first female Terrain Park Manager, after spending several years learning her craft with the team at Mount Hotham. 

As an athlete, Johnson has been a regular on the Freeride World Tour since 2018, and recently achieved a career best rank of #5 at the FWT Qualifier - Europe and Oceania. 

We caught up with Briony ahead of another huge domestic season to hear how she is settling into the new role. 

What is your current role? What skills and abilities do you use? 
I have stepped into a senior role as Terrain Parks Manager at Mount Hotham. I have spent the past six years working alongside some great Park Managers and Groomers along with other park crew to learn how to build, design and successfully run a Terrain Park. 

These skills include knowing the difference in the types of jumps we can build by our CAT machines and how to shape these by hand (using a rake) as well as the different types of takeoffs designed to hit rails and other park features. 

I need to be able to design a park by choosing features that complement each other to create a flow-on effect across all levels of ability so that everyone can enjoy the park, not just the passionate park riders. Of course, this role is made easier if you are someone who enjoys hitting the park yourself and understanding what makes a successful park.

What do you love most about being an athlete?
I love the grit, the hustle and the hard work. I really enjoy the training process, giving it your absolute best and the behind-the-scenes stuff that most don’t see, that’s where the magic happens.

I am hugely competitive, always have been and I love competing. I love the rush, but I mostly enjoy the feeling I get when the hard work pays off. Being an athlete can take you around the world, there’s never a dull moment and it's full of excitement and that’s just the best!

How do you juggle your career and being an athlete?
It comes with some sacrifice and learning how to balance the two. It can be hard, especially when I’m working full time where the work is extremely physical. There can be times on your days off where the last thing you want to do is get up early, chase the good snow and ride for myself to try to get some “on snow” training in or try to squeeze gym sessions in around big working days. The only way it works is because I love it and I’m dedicated. I love my job and I love snowboarding. However, I am lucky because my training both on snow and in the gym help my performance at my job.

How does it feel to be the first female Terrain Park Manager in Australia? 
I wish I wasn’t the first! I wish there were more females who had come before me and sat in this chair that I now sit in. But I am so proud. I feel grateful to be given this opportunity for my own growth but more importantly to represent females in what has always been viewed as a male dominant role. 

To be the first female Terrain Park Crew member to now take over as Manager is a bit wild, who would have thought I would get here, I couldn’t have predicted it, it’s a lot to soak in being “the first” of what I hope is many to follow. I’m feeling excited and motivated to get into the season and showcase some of the ideas I have for Hotham Parks.

What are your goals for this season as an athlete?
Coming home from Europe in April, I didn’t want to leave, and I knew I wanted to go back. It was a huge achievement to compete across the European FWTQ Circuit and make the cut for the Challengers for the fight into the FWT. 

My goals for next season are to go back with more confidence and really throw myself outside of my comfort zone. Last season I sat back a little bit, soaked it all up and just enjoyed it. This time round there’s a fire in me and I’m excited to see what I can produce with it.

What are your career goals for this season at Hotham?
To grow in this role. To push myself. To learn off all the incredible leaders that I’m surrounded by here at Mount Hotham. 

I want to prove to everyone that this isn’t a man’s job, that I’m more than capable to succeed in this role, and I know I can do it. I’m really looking forward to the challenge and to seeing where this position might lead me within the company, further into my career and in the future. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time – from both a career and athlete perspective?
As an athlete I see myself continuing to compete for as long as I keep enjoying it and hopefully becoming involved in a few more film projects. I would like to continue to travel the world and ride amazing mountains. 

From a career perspective, I would love to get the opportunity to get involved with some internationally recognised Terrain Parks and in the hope to do more specific event builds. 

I also hope to dive more into using my knowledge as a competitor as well as a strength and conditioning coach and combine them. As a female athlete I have grown up with male coaches, and while it may have suited me and my personality it’s not suited for every female and there is an enormous benefit to having a female coach. I would love to lean more into my strength and conditioning coaching for Female Freeride athletes and help shape the next generation of competitors, maybe even one day if Freeriding becomes an Olympic sport, I can be on the coaching team for female winter athletes.

What advice would you give to young women wanting to pursue a career as an athlete but also working full time?
I’ve always said “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”. If you want it, write your goals down where you can see them every day, small goals, and the big pipe dream ones. 

You won’t be motivated everyday but it’s the days when you push through that will make the difference, so go ride on the horrible weather days when everyone else sits inside, go put in that extra 1%. But the most important thing is to have fun with it, you’re more likely to be at your best and perform your best if you’re doing it with a smile on your face.