February 16, 2014 - Written by: Lauren Williams

Jenny Jones – You Badass!

Jenny Jones. Olympic medallist, XGames gold-medaller and all-round badass. She started at the bottom and has worked the ski-season slog in chalets, in a cardboard factory and as a doughnut seller to pay her way through training her bad-self to be as awesome as she is.

There are a few things we can all learn from Jenny that don’t include cabs, grabs or backside 540 rodeos. Chasing those dreams, sticking to your guns and being so determined to succeed that you’re finally confident enough to take on the whole world, no matter the world says.

She’s sponsored by Oakley, Nixon and Salomon. She is the first person to ever win a medal on snow for Team GB. She’s inspired so many young Brits to hit the powder and try something new (watch out winter 14/15, you’re soon to double your applications for chalet hosts!) I’m split between being totally jealous and in complete of awe of our snowboarding ambassador from the South West. She just did it. Stuck up two fingers to the system – sacked in the conventional career and chased those dream (and powder) around the globe.

(Image via)

I mean, how many of us can actually say, “Yeah, I’m doing exactly what it is I want. I’m really damn happy”?

I thought as much.

Even I’m going to hold my hands up and say it: I felt that I needed to get that degree and settle into a job and a career. I’m now over two years into said career and my feet are so itchy I’m about ready to take off. That dream is out there, just one flight away to being a full-time life lover and freelance writer. So close to cutting myself off from the online world and stepping into reality and experiences and hundreds of interesting people. But it’s scary – I’m 25 in two weeks (OH EM GEE) and by the rules of society and the majority of my Facebook feed, I should be thinking about buying a house, settling into a steady relationship and advancing my way through the corporate world.

The thought of all these scares the life out of me. The two words settle down make my skin crawl just like the word moist makes most of us cringe. It implies staying in and being sensible, watching telly on a Saturday night rather than sitting on a beach with a beer in hand and a glorious sunset in front of you.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining – life is pretty damn good. But sometimes, being totally broke and living of 50p a day and slumming it in hostels beats a steady and reliable salary. It’s all about perspective.

So Jenny, I’d like to say thank you for two things. One: for bringing to the surface my love for snow and mountains and that wonderful alpine air. And, two: for reigniting something inside me that wants to travel and write and just be.

No more dreaming. No more saying “one day”. But setting a date and a goal and making shit happen.