Lara Walsh

Snowboard Cross

I grew up riding at my home mountain, Mt Buller in Victoria, first stepping on a snowboard at age five. By eight, I’d found my passion for snowboardcross, now competing nationally in Australia New Zealand Cups and internationally in FIS events such as NORAMs and EUROPA Cups. When I’m not training, I love freeriding and exploring the backcountry of our beautiful snow regions, which is really what snowboarding is all about. I strive to bring the same determination, passion and positive energy to both my athletic journey, working towards the 2030 Olympics, and my broader mission: sharing my love for snow and mountain environments and raising awareness of how climate change is affecting our snow seasons, mountain ecosystems, and the places we love to ride. Having spent most of my life in the Australian Alps, I feel a deep connection to our snow environments. Living in Tasmania during the off season, where snow is less common, I hope to help raise awareness in communities that might not see the impacts of climate change on alpine regions firsthand. Through riding, connecting with others, sharing the word of POW, and encouraging people to get outside and experience nature for themselves, I hope to inspire care and action for a better future. I really believe that protecting what we love starts with learning to enjoy it.