I’m at the LAAX European Open Switzerland, a definitive stop on the World Snowboard Tour at the home of snowboard freestyle, LAAX.  Attracting the biggest names on the global tour, the LAAX Open has long been one of the most critical and enjoyed stops of the tour, with the riders stoking out on LAAX, which was purpose built for snowboarders.  It’s incredible facilities include the world’s biggest halfpipe, indoor training hubs, and of course, the unparalled and stunning riding terrain.  I’m here to see for myself the incredible highs snowboarding has come to in this leg of the European Open, and to chat to none other than slopestyle QUEEN, the reigning Olympic Gold slopestyle medallist, the incredible Miss Jamie Anderson.

Competitive sport is an exciting arena.  Every so often a fresh and exciting, raw and disuptive talent emerges to shake the field up, and herald the arrival of a new crop of competitors vying for the top spot.  Enter Tahnée Seagrave, next up in the series of WHY I interviews delving into the minds, motivations and passions of a slew of diverse, talented, and highly inspiring women.  Downhill mountain bike racing could be fairly new to many of you, and with the first thing coming to mind normally being that this is one GNARLY sport, I was interested to chat to 21 year old Tahnée about her life in this adrenaline-charged world.

There are certain people you meet in your life who proffer those serious pinch me moments.  As an ardent and voracious little runner when I was a child, and having grown up in Greece, home to the 2004 Olympic Games, Dame Kelly Holmes always stood out to me as someone of incredible inspiration, someone on that lofty pedestal of athletic ability and success, physical and mental prowess.

It isn't easy coming up with an introduction for the astonishing, multi-talented force that is Hannah Bailey.  Recent recipient of Campaign Magazine's "Digital Maverick of 2016", Hannah Bailey's precocious talent, drive and motivation for what she believes in has seen her manage PR for some of the biggest action sports brands in the world including her current position at non-profit charity Skateistan, found her own creative agency, Neon Stash, and write and shoot (a talented photographer to boot) for a multitide of outlets including Dazed and Confused.  A tireless promoter of creativity, of positivity, of women in sport and just women generally being rad, being imaginitive and being original, I am so excited to introduce Hannah Bailey to the "WHY I" mix.  Kick back and settle down for a killer read with the awesome Hannah.