Women of Winter - Maya Billingham

Learning to ski at three, and mastering the snowboard at eight, Maya Billingham has always been an athlete destined to shine on snow.  

Billingham was born into a family of avid skiers, meaning it was only natural for her to make the snow home. 

During her formative years at Queenwood School on Sydney’s north shore, Billingham began competing in Interschools from kindy, with her first race being the Scots Cup. 

Aged just five, she was forever influenced by the supportive and exciting atmosphere, but once eight-year-old Maya tried snowboarding, there was no going back. 

“I started competing in Snowboard Cross at the Australian Interschools competition in 2015,” she said. “I was nine years old and I had only just learned to snowboard..

“My first ‘real’ four-person bracket race was in 2018. I was 13 years old, at the Thredbo Snow Series event. 

“It was a great day with some super fun racing that ultimately led to me falling in love with the sport, and a bonus when I managed to win the grommet division for the day.”

Drawn into SBX by the incredible bonds that can be built between people, Billingham will always love the sport. 

“The challenge and adrenaline of snowboard cross is something I will always love, but the community of people is by far the best part of it,” she said. 

“I have met so many people from all around the world, and together we have shared some of the great highs and massive lows of snowboard cross and this just forms a bond. 

“Being with people that love snowboarding as much as you do is such a privilege - I consider them to be my friends for life.

With career highlights around the world, Maya was recently awarded a NSWIS scholarship and Visiting Athlete position that enabled her to train with Australia’s best riders.

“The beauty of this sport is that there are always mountains to climb,” she said. 

“In August, we raced in Mount Hotham for the Australian New Zealand Cup and Junior “Chumpy” Pullin series. 

“Over the week I was super excited to podium in every race, with a silver and two bronze which allowed me to claim the overall ANC series winner – a distant dream of mine since racing at Hotham back in the grom division.”

Between Italy’s Colere, Les Deux Alpes in France, and Montafon in Austria, it is too challenging for Billingham to pick a favourite location, but she does know that it is her parent’s love that has supported her along the way.

“My biggest influence on my career has definitely been my parents,” she said. 

“The amount of time and love they have put into me has always been one of my biggest drivers to achieve and push myself, not just for myself but for them as well.

“They can’t always attend my races overseas now, but I know they are always watching, as it's often 3am for them in Australia and they always send a ‘well done’ text or phone call.”

As someone who was fortunate enough to be introduced to the sport at such a young age, Maya’s advice to young women wanting to take their snowboarding to the next level is to invest in yourself. 

“For me, realising that I need to be the one to make things happen for myself has helped me get to where I am today, and I know will take me to where I want to go.

“Doing what is right for you, and being prepared to fail, will allow you to succeed and stand out.

“Be yourself, don’t lose who you are, smile and remember how lucky life can be!

“Every experience has given me the resources to plan for the rest of my life, whether that plan works or not is up to me and how much of myself I am prepared to invest in getting there.”

Keep an eye out for Maya Billingham on the international circuit in the years to come as she moves towards her goal of representing Australia at the Olympics.