Women of Winter | Michaela Davis-Meehan

Michaela Davis-Meehan broke her back as a teenager in 2010, but it was never going to stop her from making a mark on the sport. She started her senior snowboarding career in slopestyle, representing Australia at the Junior World Championships in 2011 and the World Championships in 2015. 

She then started competing in Freeride World Tour (FWT) qualifier events in 2016 and in 2020 made her debut at the top level of the Tour. That season she scored one win and two second places to finish runner up for the overall title.

That victory in Andorra saw Davis-Meehan become the first Australian skier or snowboarder, male or female, to win a Freeride World Tour event.

The FWT is the worldwide circuit of freeride snowboarding and skiing with the best riders in the world competing on the most legendary and challenging alpine faces at the most renowned ski resorts across the world.

We recently caught up with Michaela to see where she’s at ahead of the upcoming season.

At what age did you start your sport?
I started out on skis when I was really young, then made the switch to snowboarding at eight years old. I competed in slopestyle for many years before focusing on freeride at around 24.

Who inspired you as a young athlete?
My big brother Patrick was a huge inspiration for me and the main reason I started snowboarding. I wanted to follow the ‘cool older brother’! 

What do you love most about snowboarding?
Shredding around with friends, getting each other stoked and pushing each others riding is what snowboarding is all about for me. It’s when I ride my best and have the most fun. 

Where is your favourite place to compete?
Baqueira-Beret in Spain was an amazing place to compete. The venue face was great but mostly the atmosphere of the people was what made it so good. The town is full of people that love freeriding and it was a really cool experience to compete with such a big crowd! 

Tell us about your greatest achievement to date.
While competing on the Freeride World Tour and coming second overall was my best result in competition to date, I consider the return to snowboarding after breaking my back one of my greatest achievements.

In 2010 I had a major crash that lead to me having spinal fusion. I think it’s amazing to not only come back to the sport but also to compete at an elite level.

What sacrifices did you find the hardest to make in your career?
By choosing this lifestyle and always being on the road I miss a lot of big events like friends’ weddings, nieces’ birthdays etc and also other sports or hobbies I’d like to pursue but am never in one spot long enough to do so. While I do miss these things, I love everything I gain with this life, the travel, the friends and adventures and wouldn’t change a thing!

What are your plans for the Northern winter season?
I’m going to base myself in Revelstoke (British Colombia, Canada) again after making it my base the past two seasons, compete in a few Freeride qualifier events, chase the ‘pow’ and plan on doing some filming. 

Do you have any advice to young people who want to start competing in freeride?
The best way to start is to get amongst it! Sign up to a junior freeride event. Put yourself out there, see how it all works and meet some awesome people along the way. The vibes at a competition are amazing and very welcoming to newcomers.

Follow Michaela on Instagram @michaeladavismeehan | FWT Profile