Why Erika Vikander is Fighting for Gender Equality in Freeride Snowboarding and Women’s Sports
Women have made huge strides in sports to work towards equality, but there’s still far to go.
As one of the most accomplished competitive snowboarders in the world, Erika “The Viking” Vikander has spent the better part of her life chasing snow and podiums all over the globe.
Over the years, she became disappointed to see the lack of gender equality and care for athletes on one of the most prestigious freeride tours.
Erika took it upon herself to take a stand for women everywhere by calling out some big players and asking for systemic change.
We talk about...
Deciding as a kid to work towards becoming a pro snowboarder
At age 12, deciding to become a pro snowboarder and vowing to do anything to make it happen, “no matter what it takes”
Moving to Park City, UT where there was “Adventure PE” class, then getting kicked out of that high school
Earning a scholarship to a snow sports school instead
How snowboarding was therapeutic as a teen
A competitive nature and wanting to be the very best
Growing up in a household where winning was important
The feeling of not being the best or if you don’t come in first place
How second place can feel worse than third place
The feeling that you could’ve done something better; there’s no perfect run
Going through a period of not being able to afford food if she didn’t win a competition
Shifting the “being the best” feeling from winning medals to feeling fulfilled and like she gave her all
Giving up family time, especially around the holidays, for her sport
Difficulties of keep relationships due to traveling for work
Having an eye on the Olympics, then getting injured and adapting her sport
Always being injured in some way or another through her 20’s competing in slopestyle
Training with the Sochi Olympics in mind, then tearing her ACL at a qualifying event
The struggles of rehabbing from knee surgery
Trying freeride snowboarding to avoid getting hurt again in slopestyle, then coming in second place in her first competition that she entered casually
Deciding not to train for the next Olympic cycle and instead changing the discipline in her sport
Slopestyle vs. freeride snowboarding
Now, feeling healthier and more able to manage risk in freeride
Grieving leaving slopestyle but not being willing to take those falls anymore
Discrimination and roadblocks as a female athlete
The challenges for women to qualify and compete as professional freeride snowboarders
Spending 6 years competing on the Freeride World Tour
Experiencing discrimination as a woman from higher-ups in an organization and seeing men get more opportunities
Being expected to ride in unsafe conditions without feeling comfortable: how some organizations are more concerned with livestream time than athlete safety
Writing an article about a negative experience and getting feedback from other athletes who felt the same
The repercussions of speaking up
The feeling to be camera-ready as a female athlete, and getting pushback no matter what you do
How all genders may use language that can perpetuate unfair expectations (“slut strands”)
Even if things are better than they were, there’s still much to go
Steps toward systemic change in sports and beyond
Finding sponsors and gear who support female snowboarders
Going beyond “pink it and shrink it” in women’s gear and designing a great snowboard
Availability of products and quality gear in shops for women
Picking which battles to fight and knowing not everyone will be happy, no matter what
Sometimes, you need to put yourself at risk in order to take a stand for systemic change
Women’s World Cup teammates were role models for all women in sports
Power in numbers: start speaking up for women, give a safe space for all women to talk about these issues– burning bridges isn’t the way
Just because women asking for the same opportunities doesn’t mean they’re taking away from men
Creating systemic change at both the top and bottom of the sports world, from big companies to schools
The need for equality in all parts of athletics, from offering equal spots to social media exposure to marketing
Creating an upcoming film, “Be Happy,” focusing on the struggles women and underrepresented athletes face and exploring steps toward equality
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