Hello! My name is Vanessa McFarlane and I am one of only a handful of women in the world competing at a high level of big mountain snowboarding.

Most people don't realize that very few athletes can support themselves through competitions and sponsors alone. Competing at the highest level demands everything: constant training on and off the slopes, high quality gear, travel, and the ability to optimally perform, no matter what life throws at you. Life does not just pause when you're competing.

Athletics has always been one of my main purposes in life. Prior to my snowboarding career, I was an NCAA diver with goals of making a national team and even Olympic trials. I reached my limit in diving, but those years of hard work and dedication translated on the slopes a few years later, and I never imagined being where I am.

The competition is growing and women deserve to be a part of that growth. I'm not just riding for myself, but also for other female boarders that deserve recognition in a male-dominated sport.

I’m now heading into my 3rd competitive season, still rebuilding financially, and taking a year off would mean the end of my competitive career. I’m not willing to let that happen.

This season is already off to an incredible start. This summer in Chile, I competed in a major qualifying event and finished 4th place. I'm proud to say that I was the only American woman to break into the top five. It was a breakthrough result, and it pushed my world seeding and regional rankings to their highest ever.

I've been able to hit huge milestones with previous donations, sponsorship, a job, and savings, and this season, I'm planning to go even bigger. My goal is to make the IFSA Challenger Series - the gateway to the Freeride World Tour . And who knows, maybe I even qualify for the tour this season.

Any donation, big or small, makes a difference. The costs go towards travel, competition fees, expenses while I'm traveling, and gear. If you can't contribute financially, I would be honored if you would consider sharing this GoFundMe with someone who might be interested in supporting female athletes.

Thank you for believing in me, for supporting women in freeride snowboarding, and for helping keep this dream alive. I am determined to give everything I have—on every mountain, in every competition.

With gratitude,

Vanessa