Maisie Hill: Rising Star of the Snowboard World

She was obviously thrilled to be back on the snow where she belongs. In fact, she informed me that her and her equally enthusiastic dad, were on the very first lift of the day.

“There’s not much to do at the moment but ride piste, but it’s amazing! I get to speed everywhere!”

Maisie has only been snowboarding for 5 years but already has a medal cabinet that’s bursting at the seams. This year alone after bagging 3 golds in Slopestyle, Half Pipe and Boarder Cross for her age group, she took gold in the British Women’s Half Pipe competition in Tignes.

It doesn’t stop there. She’s won more silvers and golds than she can remember. You’d think this would make her confident and pretty sure of the future, but the modest teenager very much recognises how hard she’s going to have to work to get to where she wants to get. Which in her words is “as far as she can”.

Maisie started snowboarding in England on a dry slope. She admits to pretty much hating it when she first started. She had no idea she was going to be good at it and really didn’t enjoy practice.

“Dad would literally have to pull me by my hair to go boarding [only joking]. I did skiing before but didn’t like that as much.”

Maisie’s dad however, knew his daughter was good and decided to move her to the mountains. Maisie says it was only after they came to Morzine in 2010 that she realised snowboarding was for her. However, despite being in the environment she loved, moving to France had its difficulties. She had to start school in France at the age of 10 without knowing a word of French, which she admits was really hard.

“I didn’t understand anything. I had to learn French, but after two years it just clicked”

She’s now bilingual and calls France her home. She has no desire to return to the UK and loves the mountains and the people who live here.

Whilst talking to her, its easy to forget the Maisie is just 14. She’s mature, grounded and above all a really interesting person to chat to. She clearly wants to spend as much time on the snow as she can, but knows that doing her school work is just as important. She says she finds it hard and that sometimes find herself out on the hill thinking “I should be revising”.

“I’m fitting it all in. But perhaps I should be fitting school in a bit more!”

It’s not all been plain sailing for Maisie. She had a really nasty accident this year doing a 'crippler' in the pipe. After I looked at her slightly blankly, she explained that this is like a back flip. She’d landed it once before and thought she could easily do it again but unfortunately it went wrong leaving her with a nasty break. She assured me that she’s fully recovered now and when I saw her on the hill after we chatted, she certainly looked like she was doing OK!

So whilst most girls Maisie’s age are choosing what subjects to take at school, and what jobs they might go into in the future, Maisie is pretty sure she knows where she’s headed. Her ultimate dream is to represent GB in the Winter Olympics.  

“My favourite is pipe. When I’m doing pipe, I’m the happiest I ever am”

I asked her which competitions she’s focusing on and the answer was simple… “I want to win them all! I can do it”

I have no doubt that she can - and we wish her all the luck in the world! 

Here's a quick run down of her achievements to date:

2015
*WOMENS BRITISH HALFPIPE CHAMPION !!

*Gold French National Slopestyle under 16's
*Gold British Halfpipe under16s
*Gold British Boardercross under16s
*Silver British Slopestyle under16s
*Silver British bangers+cash rail jam under16s

2014
* Gold British Slopestyle under16s
* Gold British Boardercross under16s
* Gold British Half Pipe under16s

* Silver French Boardercross under16s

2013
* Bronze British Boardercross under16s

2012
* Winning local events and charging around

Follow Maisie on facebook and take a look at her website. 

Maisie's Current Sponsors: Stardust Factory, Volkl, Panda, Stupd Clothing, Retro Rentals, Avoriaz Snowpark, King Surf. And you can also support / sponsor her youselves!