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…   - At age 12, deciding to become a pro snowboarder and vowing to do anything to make it happen - Training with the Sochi Olympics in mind, then tearing her ACL at a qualifying event - Shifting “being the best” from winning medals to feeling fulfilled and like she gives her all - Deciding to pivot her snowboarding discipline from slopestyle to freeride - Spending 6 years competing on the Freeride World Tour  - Experiencing discrimination, unsafe conditions, and inequality as a female athlete - Sharing her experiences publicly then dealing with the repercussions of speaking up - The concept of being “camera-ready” as a female athlete - Going beyond “pink it and shrink it” in women’s gear - A call for systemic change in all parts of athletics, from offering equal spots to social media exposure and from big companies to small schools - Erika’s upcoming film, “Be Happy,” focusing on the struggles underrepresented athletes face and exploring steps toward equality         How to connect with Erika: Website: https://www.erikathevikingvikander.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikathevikingvikander      👋How to connect with Jeni and Angie: https://www.instagram.com/angvswild https://www.instagram.com/jenistembridge https://www.itsangiemarie.com/ https://linkedin.com/in/angie-marie/      ⭐Please rate and review For The Love Of: On Apple Podcasts On Spotify     Shout-Outs: Music: The Kind of Sandwich Island by Shut-ins Thank you to The Ruins, the best wedding venue in Oregon, for supporting the show.   Follow FTLO on IG: https://www.instagram.com/for.the.love.of.podcast/ For full show notes and more: https://fortheloveofpod.com 💕