Host Feet Banks kicks off Season 6 of the Live It Up with ML Podcast with his favourite snowboarder and medieval sword enthusiast, Jess Kimura.
A celebrated badass and street-riding specialist, Jess Kimura is a fearless force of positive change for her sport, founding both The Uninvited Video series and The Uninvited Invitational, an all-women’s shred comp.
Born in Vernon, BC, she rose to prominence through a series of award-winning parts that helped redefine women’s snowboarding. Kimura has earned multiple Rider of the Year honours, and her impact extends beyond her riding, helping shape a more inclusive and progressive future. Her personal journey, including her struggles with loss and mental health, is documented in the acclaimed film Learning to Drown.
She stops by in person to talk about that, firewood BTUs and, of course, animal memes.
Check these highlights:
The Uninvited: Beginnings
Jess: It started in 2017 when I was filming video parts and feeling like all the girls were getting left out of projects. There was basically one spot for women, and if you weren’t in it, that was it. I wanted to make my own project so I could include all the girls. It wasn’t some grand business plan. I just wanted to create something where women riders could showcase what they were doing.
We ended up making three films, and they were well received. There were definitely haters in the comments, but that’s part of putting anything out into the world. More importantly, the films proved there was a huge amount of talent that wasn’t getting the attention or opportunities it deserved.
The Uninvited Shred Comp
Jess: I was always talking with the girls and hearing about their challenges and roadblocks. As the industry started coming around to supporting more women and putting them on teams, the next issue became budget. The opportunities were there, but there was never any money allocated to them.
I remembered how winning $500 here or there helped fund my own progression when I was coming up. That money paid for trips and helped me keep snowboarding. I started thinking about how impactful it would be if there was a way to put real money into riders’ hands. Honestly, I just wanted to come up with a reason to give away a shit-ton of money.
“Honestly, I just wanted to come up with a reason to give away a shit-ton of money.”
Young Riders Today
Jess: Things are definitely more expensive than when I was coming up. The difference now is social media. Back then there were gatekeepers. If you weren’t getting invited on trips or getting coverage in the right magazines, it was hard to get noticed. Now everybody has a camera and everybody has a platform. You can show people what you’re capable of without waiting for permission. That part is better. But the budgets aren’t what they used to be. So while it’s easier to get exposure, it’s still difficult to build a career.
The good side [of social media] is that everyone gets a chance to show what they can do. That’s one of the reasons women’s snowboarding and skateboarding have progressed so quickly. The cameras aren’t controlled by a handful of gatekeepers anymore. The downside is that these platforms are designed to keep people glued to their phones. They’re constantly being optimized to hold your attention longer.
I think people are becoming more aware of that. More and more people are putting limits on their apps or trying to create healthier relationships with social media. At least people recognize that it’s something they need to manage.
“Now everybody has a camera and everybody has a platform. You can show people what you’re capable of without waiting for permission.”
Relationship with Risk
Jess: Watching some of the footage in Learning to Drown was honestly disturbing for me. There were crashes that people told us were hard to watch, and my reaction was always, “Imagine what it felt like.”
I think carrying all those experiences has made me much more aware of risk. Sometimes at the event I’ll find myself telling riders to slow down or be careful, and I know they probably hear me the same way I heard older riders when I was younger. When I was coming up, I just wanted to go harder all the time. Now I understand that having a long career matters too.
Listen to the full convo here.
