Community

Notes of a Northerner

New Zealand explorer and snowboarder

“I love the freedom, the chance to explore new terrain otherwise inaccessible without a board. I love the rush of completing a run, hitting some fresh off piste pow and I LOVE the snowboard community and stoke here in NZ.”

Admitting to buying all the gear and having no idea, Sophie completed her first snow season in Queenstown 5 years ago when she had absolutely zero snow experience. However, from the moment that she first strapped in she was hooked and is now about to complete her 7^th snow season.

A self-described fun, free and chill rider, Sophie explains; “I'm not into the park or tricks as such, I just love snowboarding the runs and off piste and exploring the club fields here in NZ. The three mountains we ride here in New Zealand have incredible terrain and an awesome touring map so jet getting on the lift and exploring wherever we fancy is my main game when out on the hill.”

Sophie's greatest achievement in life (so far) is completing the Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal.

When she isn’t riding you will catch her hiking, chilling, reading, shooting (Soph is a photographer by trade) and running her online social media business. Oh, and she will be doing all of that with a Soy Flat White in hand or a cuppa tea (she is British after all).

When asked what social causes she supports, Sophie replied; “Mental Health foundation New Zealand. I am a huge advocate for mental health, and I will continue to use my platform and voice to be a safe place for those who need it. I also share my own journey with mental health and how I have used positive change in my life to overcome what I thought was the worst of it.”

Sophie's favourite styles:

• The new ROJO Sherpa mid layer range

“Perfect for on mountain, off mountain, snowboarding and hiking. I am all about being comfortable, warm, and cosy during all my outdoor activities!”

Aussie skier ft. tough tits (co.)

“I love the adrenaline rush and the absolute stoke you share when riding with your mates”.

Bridie is a two-stick kind of chick and learnt to ski when she 7 on a family trip to Mount Buller; “I still remember looking down Bourke Street and bawling my eyes out in fear after leaving the bunny hill for the first time. I had to ski between mums legs, but the second I realised I could do it myself I slipped out and sped off down the hill leaving poor mum behind. From that second I was addicted.”  

Perhaps best known at Perisher for skiing and jumper over REALLY big spring sink holes, Bridie’s self-described riding style is as smooth as smooth peanut butter and loves to listen to a bit of ABBA, disco and Sunny by Boney M when riding, “It just gets my blood pumping”.

Her favourite place her sport has taken her is Lake Louise, “I’d look up at the view some days at work and drool would start to trickle down my chin.” When this chick is not on the mountain you can catch her surfing and hiking with a Iced long black in her hand.

When asked what social causes Birdie supports, she replied; “RU OK, B4BC and Disabled Winterspots Australia all do some really cool sh*t. I’m really passionate about empowering women in the snow too and currently in the process of starting Tough Tits Co! A project aimed to inspire, empower and promote women behind the scenes and on the front line of the Aussie snow scene. We’ve got some really exciting stuff planning for this season! Wahoo!” 

Favourite ROJO styles: 

“Oh man, anything they’ve got with leopard just tickles my taste buds. Yum.”

Austrian sun child explorer

“What I love most about the sport is to spend time outside, to be up in the mountains and enjoy the snow… Otherwise winter would suck if I could not go snowboarding or skiing”.

Angela does not discriminate and loves to both snowboarding and skiing, “especially ski touring, I love the mix of both”. Learning to ski when she was just 3 years old, Angela describes her mountain style as, “layback and enjoy” and loves to listen to all kinds of music, from indie, to rock to a cool 60’s sound.

Noting that one of life’s simple pleasures is a good black coffee whilst completing a sunrise hike in Tryol, it will come as no surprise that in the summertime Angela loves to spend her time mountain bike riding, hiking the mountains and doing lots of yoga. She writes, “Most of the time I go somewhere near the water, like a river or a lake, to chill and soak up the sun… I am always somewhere beautiful in nature.”  

Favourite ROJO style:

• Shelby Sherpa Hoodie

Skier  

#1 in her Mum’s heart 

“There is nothing quite like hot chocolate & powder days”  

Based in Rossland BC, Canada Hollie did not have a choice when it came to skiing. Her parents had her on the sticks before she could walk and her Dad would to take her out of her on mountain day care to run some hot laps at lunchtime…what a legend!  

A true outdoor gal in winter she’s skiing & hiking and has a new love for snowmobiling. In the summertime you can catch Hollie mountain biking at the lake, camping and roasting marshmallows. Oh yeah, also wake surfing, wakeboarding, knee boarding and tubing! 

You may recognise Hollie from our imagery but this lady is not just a pretty face! “Growing up in a very small and isolated Canadian community I’ve grown up and realised the huge amounts of racism, homophobia and general intolerance that goes unchecked and unrecognized in our area. Through this I have tried my best to educate myself and others in the direction of being and becoming BLM, Indigenous Rights and LGBTQ+ advocates.” This girl will move mountains! 

Hollie's favorite styles: 

• Apprentice Beanie
• Moby Beanie

“As someone who has been lucky enough to see the upcoming/unreleased ROJO gear I can say the best is yet to come… That being said, I have always been a huge fan of ROJO beanies, they never go out of style”.  

Snowboarder  

“I love how free it makes you feel, and the adrenaline rush you get. Snowboarding in Japan would be up there with some of my best memories, snow so deep that you feel like you need a snorkel. Riding with friends on a sunny day is something I love as well, especially when you get out there with the girl gang”.  

Ash started out riding when she was 20 during her first season at Mt Buller, Australia. Although at the start she spent most of her time on her butt looking like Bambi on ice, once she picked it up she couldn’t get enough of it.  

Ash has been lucky enough to explore different resorts all over the world, but her favourite is Japan “The quality of the snow is amazing!” She has also spent some time in the US a few years back and can’t go past Heavenly Resort, Lake Tahoe where the mountains are massive, and the views are spectacular.  

Ash loves to keep active and believes that sometimes there is nothing quite like putting in your headphones and just walking. “We are lucky in Australia to have these wonderful mountains with such great wildlife all around.” Her playlist ranges from Flume to Bob Marley to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and another fun fact…. she hates hot drinks!!! Crazy for someone who loves winter so much! 

Ashlea's favorite styles:

• Aiden Retro Mitt
• Skivvy Base Layer Top

“I love all the ROJO mitts! My hands stay toasty and warm and they have the cutest little details. I’m also a massive fan of their baselayers, they are so versatile. I love wearing them on a sunny day under my bib for a pop of colour and they just look so fun!”  

Halfpipe Snowboarder  

Rankings:  USA #3; International: #21 

“What I love about snowboarding is the creativity and freedom it gives me. Whenever I am boarding, nothing else matters. Snowboarding lets you put your own style and twist on your riding... I love escaping to the mountain and riding my snowboard however I want.” 

When Zoe isn’t throwing a Fakie or a Poptart, or competing on the DEW Tour (where she finished 4th at the Women’s modified half pipe) you can find her hiking and adventuring through the mountains in Salt Lake City. A self-described fun, flirty and festive rider (the 3 F’s), Zoe spends her winters training out at Avon, Colorado & listening to Future, Migos and Travis Scott while riding. 

Like many snowboarders Zoe started skiing at 2 but switched to snowboarding at the age of 5 when she begged her Dad to teach her. Being the only snowboarder on their home mountain Zoe would watch her Dad in awe and luckily her pestering paid off as she made the switch – safe to say she has not looked back. (A special thanks to Zoe’s Dad for being such a legend!) 

After a ride you can catch Zoe sipping on a chai latte with extra cinnamon or a hot chocolate, stretching, eating lots of yummy healthy food, reading and cuddling her 13-year-old Labradoodle. FYI this poochie has some serious street cred as he joins Zoe at training days and pipe competitions. 

No doubt Zoe is one to watch and is making some serious noise on the pipe. She supports animal welfare and environmental social causes and is a beautiful human inside and out! We know Zoe is just scratching the surface of her potential and we are so proud to have her on the ROJO team.   

Zoe's favorite styles:  

• Aster Jacket
• Va Va Boom Pant

“It is one of the warmest, most comfortable winter coats I have ever owned! God bless ROJO for that.” 

Australian XC skier  

#1 Sprinter in Australia; Current Aus/NZ Continental Cup winner  

“I love where skiing takes me outdoors, I love the contrast between the most beautiful blue bird weather to even the most howling blizzard days. As a cross country skier, you have to love the hurt and grind, the desire to be the best I can be is what keeps me grinding.” 

Kat started cross country skiing as soon as she could walk, her parents being dual Winter Olympians in the same sport may or may not have influenced this... Kat would like to insist that she was not forced into it at all saying “It was just something we did as a family”.  

Kat is based in Falls Creek, Australia and then Davos, Switzerland for her winter/winter lifestyle and has collected some extraordinary experiences over the years with her sport has taking her to some unique places including, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Romania, and China! 

Her riding mantra “Look good, feel good” clearly works for this lady who finished 32nd in her last world U23 championship! 

She loves listening to Kanye, or any sort of techno or goa? when sprinting on the track. 

Working as a ski patroller and likes to mix up her usual xc trails with some alpine skiing when she can. She also has 5 horses, a dog and a cat and supports equality for all beings.  

Kat's favorite styles:

• Shelby Sherpa Hoodie
• Anja Beanie

“I love everything but if I had to name one thing it would be my Sherpa Black Hoodie, I love how warm it is, it’s like a coat”.  

Snowboarder  

“I love snowboarding because of the community! There’s nothing better than spending the day with the girls trying new tricks, laughing, and just having an epic time.” 

Alex started riding in high school after instantly falling in love with the sport on a school trip and has now been riding for 15 years. Talk about impressive! Although COVID put a spanner in the works for Jonesy’s usual season plans, she tries to venture to as many of the Australian resorts as possible throughout the season. Her favourite place that snowboarding has taken her is Revelstoke and Mt Baker, “They’re just two resorts that take your breath away and have such amazing terrain.” 

Although Alex’s style is “very loud” when she is riding, she actually doesn’t listen to music when she is snowboarding, “I kind of just like listening to the sounds around me”. When she isn’t on the hill, she’s planning the next snow adventure with her friends. In the summertime Alex keeps fit by surfing, running, doing yoga or CrossFit and tries to squeeze in a little overseas snow trip.  

Side note: You wouldn’t be a fool for thinking that Alex has 7 dogs, she actually doesn’t have any, but she just takes so many photos of her friends dogs that people think that she is the crazy dog lady (we love you Alex).  

Alex' favorite styles:

• Task Jacket
• Snow Day Bib
• Velvet Full Length Pant 

“I have way too many to choose from, but my top choices are the Task Jacket in Cameo Rose, the Snow Day Bib and all the velvet base layers. Thanks for keeping us ladies looking good team ROJO.”  

Australian XC skier  

Australian Open Age Ranking: 5th; 1st U20 Female in Sprint events Australia; 2nd U20 Female in Distance events Australia  

“I love how cross-country skiing combines my passion for skiing with endurance sport. It is a sport that can look so graceful, yet it is so challenging. You have to be mentally tough and extremely fit. I love the feeling of crossing the finish line and collapsing on the ground in exhaustion, knowing I have given it my best shot. I also love that I get to spend hours outdoors, particularly in the alpine environment. I have a slight obsession with sunrises and sunsets – there’s nothing like skiing with a pink sky, fresh snow and some tunes.” 

Emily began Alpine skiing when she was just 4, thanks to her beautiful mum’s passion for the mountains. At the age of 12 her best friend asked her to compete in the school’s relay team but when she put on her cross-country skis for the first time she spent most of the day on the ground absolutely defeated. However, she kept at it and learnt to love the sport! Just two years later she qualified as the youngest member on the Australian junior cross-country team and has been training 6 days a week year-round ever since.  

Emily’s favourite event at the moment is a skate sprint. A skate sprint is where individuals do a time trial as fast as possible around a 1.2km-1.8km racecourse and then progress into head to head heats. Each race takes around 3-4 minutes and is exhausting and exhilarating.  

A powerful, tactic and speedy skier Emily is based at Perisher, NSW and Davos, Switzerland for her winter/winter lifestyle. Lucky for Emily, Davos is her winter paradise; “It is breathtakingly beautiful and has hours of trails through valleys and forests to ski. The town lights up at night with all the cute traditional houses in the mountains and has the most beautiful sunsets.” 

Emily is also studying a Bachelor of Health Science at the Australian National University and is a proud advocate for climate change and the role winter sports can play in this conversation; “I support Protect Our Winters (POW), a climate advocacy group for the winter sports and outdoor community. They act against climate change to ensure the protection of our precious alpine playgrounds!” What an absolute gem! 

Emily's favorite styles:

• Bailey Jacket
• Team Beanie

“I am obsessed with my black Maggie Boots. They’re so pretty, warm and perfect for winter whether you’re walking through a winter town or trudging through some deep fresh snow.

I’m so grateful to have ROJO’s support. I love that the brand represents a strong group of women who all get out there in our beautiful outdoor environment. I feel so lucky to be a part of this community.” 

Snowboarder

#1 in having the most fun

On why she loves her sport: “Obviously, all the people you meet and the places you get to travel! But also having something that’s given me purpose for so much of my life. Everything has always revolved around planning the next trip, saving for anything snowboarding related, keeping fit and healthy for snowboarding. I feel lucky to have that.”

Amber’s riding has taken her all over the world and some of her favourite places she has ridden includes Iran and Kazakhstan! While in Iran Amber also filmed a documentary called “Persian Powder” which has been played at international film festivals and won best picture at the Women’s Adventure Film Festival. Oh yeah, and she did all of this plus competing internationally while undergoing her Bachelor's degree!

A fast and fun rider, Amber is proving that age is just a number (dirty thirty say what?!) as she is learning how to backflips for the first time, although she isn’t claiming it just yet so watch this space! (We think that since she has been riding for 20 years that she has this in the bag). Her favourite trick would have to be a smooth back-5 but these days Amber sticks to free riding and loves a good cliff drop!

Amber’s go to order is a small double-shot cappuccino and when she isn’t on the snow Amber spends her time surfing!

“I work with a lot of people in aged care and disability sectors, so I'm a big supporter in improving the treatment, lives and awareness for those living with a disability.”

Amber's Favorite Styles:

• Task Jacket
• Task Short Cuff Mitt

Surfer 

“I love surfing because I am always improving, and I get to hang out with friends.” 

Although she is only 14 years old and has been surfing competitively for about 7 years – half her life! Emily splits her time between Torquay and Byron surfing year round no matter the weather chasing the surf, sun and waterfalls. Her favourite spots to surf are: Jan Juc, Winki, Broken Head and Snapper and loves to throw a back hand rio and a cheeky forehand carve. 

In 2019 Em made the quarterfinals for the Australian Junior Surfing Titles in Western Australia and is a self-described girly, flowy and powerful surfer.  

Emily is also a proud supporter of environmental causes like “Fight for the bight”.  

Emily's favorite styles: 

• Bridie Jacket
• Judy Jacket

“The jackets are great to put over my wetsuit to keep me warm in between surfs and I love the colours. I also love the hoodies and jumpers because they match with everything and are really comfortable.”  

Surfer  

Jess grew up by the beach and rode her very first wave solo wave when she was just two years old and started competing when she was 9 years old. A controlled, smooth, and flowy surfer, Jess’ signature trick is a forehand cutback  

Splitting her time between Torquay and Byron with her sister Em, Jess’ proudest achievement so far is getting to the final in the Woolworths VIC Grom competition. 

On the weekends after a surf you can catch Jess with a Hot Chocolate going for a beautiful waterfall hike with her friends!  

Jess' favorite styles:

• Shelby Sherpa Hoodie
• Womens On the Job Beanie

“I live in the hoodies and love the t-shirts”.  

German snowboarder

“Being on the mountains and feeling the freedom and the satisfaction of being surrounded in nature is why I love snowboarding”.

Martina learnt to snowboard with her best friend on a little hill close to Munich in Germany over 20 years ago. A self-described motivated, passionate, and powerful snowboarder you can catch Martina exploring the resorts of Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

Winning the Austrian Masters and Chill & Destroy German finals are some of her best achievements to date. And when Martina isn’t riding you can catch her surfing and wake boarding and supporting social causes such as Youth snowboarding development.

Favourite ROJO style:

• Main Street Microfleece Shirt

Snowboarder  

2012 Australian Athlete of the Year  

“I love riding because of the places you go and the people you meet”.  

Lauren is “always seeking adventure” and loves to pop a nice switch back 180 on a kicker – it is her favourite trick and who can blame her it is ours too!  As a kid her family used to take snow trips together and her passion grew from there.  

Lauren has always felt at home in the mountains and often visits her family farm in Merrijig, at the base of Mt Buller in Australia but the place Lauren describes as having “the most amazing mountains” is Breckenridge, Colorado. 

When she isn’t on the hill Lauren paddleboards, hangs with her toy Maltese poodle Terra, studies psychology and runs a beautiful home wares and gift shop with her Mum. What a smart cookie!  

As well as proactively supporting, working and volunteering in the mental health and wellbeing space she is passionate about corporate social responsibility ”particularly sustainability of the environment, ethical labour and animal welfare.” 

She is also a big fan of some spaghetti toast and a chai latte (Love you Lauren, never change).  

Lauren's favorite styles:

• Main Street Microfleece Shirt
• Society Mitt

“The main street microfleece shirt is perfect for spring and winter riding”.