My name is Deja. I am 15 years old and I live in Glasgow, Scotland. Skiing is what I have wanted to do for as long as I can remember. This GoFundMe page is to help me continue my career in competitive freestyle skiing. Up until now, I have been supported almost entirely by my grandparents. They have used the money from their savings to support me, but now that I am competing internationally, it is too expensive, and I need to find new ways of funding my progression. Below is a short introduction about who I am and what my goals are.

I found out what skiing was when I was 4 years old. I was standing in the window of the indoor ski slope in Glasgow, watching people sliding down the wee hill. I didn't know what it was or how they were doing it. All I remember was thinking to myself, ‘I want to do that’.

I spent the next few months going on and on about it to my grandparents. A few months later, I found myself on the beginner's slope, getting to experience the same thing I had become obsessed with a few months earlier. Little did I know how obsessed I was going to become.

The months passed, and I was able to continue skiing regularly. Thanks to my Grandparents who supported me, driving me all over the country to and from the ski slope, to compete and train. Spending their savings so that I could continue to progress. Over the months, I reached levels I genuinely never could ever have imagined.

After 2 years passed, I started freestyle a discipline with all the freedom you could want. I was still only 6 at the time, and the skis I had were taller than me, but this was when I really fell in love with skiing, being able to jump and slide and spin and grab made me free, I could go skiing and only think about skiing and not anything else.

Through freestyle skiing, I got to ski with the skier I first watched through the window when I was 4 years old. I had achieved something I didn't realise I could, and the feel of accomplishment made me want to ski even more. After some 6–8 months, I was doing the three basic tricks like 180s, 360s and hitting the boxes. After my coach saw me do all that in a short amount of time, he told me that I will go pro someday.

I am now 15 years old and have spent every year since I was 4 years old living and loving skiing. In the last 5 years, I have achieved more than I ever thought was possible. I have earned the titles of British Indoor Champion, British Outdoor Champion, Scottish Champion, English Champion and Welsh Champion.

I am now starting the journey into international competition. Last year, I got my FIS B License for competition. I have taken part in 5 FIS competitions and even achieved a 5th place finish in my first Europa Cup Rail Jam in Krakow Poland.

My results in international FIS competitions have been good enough to secure me a place in Europa Cup. This will be my goal for the coming 2025/26 winter: To compete in Europa Cups and finish high in the overall Continental Cup standings, so I can secure a spot on the FIS World Cup circuit.

Some of my other goals are to be invited to compete at the X Games in slopestyle, big air and knuckle huck, as well as being sponsored by Red Bull, but most of all, I want to ski for as long as possible and not just compete but share this amazing sport with others as well. This is why when I turn 16, I will be doing my instructor qualifications and passing on what I know to other kids who might fall in love with skiing the same way I have. Being a qualified instructor will also give me the chance to earn money to support my skiing career.

I would like to thank all of the people who have supported me so far and those who are kind enough to donate and support me going forward. You are helping to make the dreams of a 4-year-old come true.

Follow My Journey