I have visualized myself on top of that podium countless times, especially thanking those people who helped me get there… It takes a team to be chasing the top. And there is a bigger picture – other than wanting to be World Champion – which I remind myself of when my judgement is clouded with a million different things. Call it the ripple effect – when one of us breaks a barrier, it is like we all level up. It is about sending that message. If I can do this, you can too. To see women in the sport push their limits to land something no other woman has done is inspirational. When you see the impossible made possible, that is where real fire stems from.
If I am honest, not landing a third essential trick in that first heat in round one knocked away a lot of my confidence, especially knowing I could do much better. Getting sent to the elimination round made my visualized podium get very blurry, and doubt and fear were spread across my entire body. On top of that, the elimination round included one of my biggest idols, Angely Bouillot, and my closest friend on tour, Zara Hoogenraad; both are top performers and lead the way for the women of Big Air. It felt like a final; I like to focus on my own game rather than on who I am against, but I knew in this heat I had to play smart and give it every ounce I had. Without the mental support from my sister, I am not sure if I would have come with the same fire. Right before my heat, she gave me a kiss on my cheek and said, “Våga lyckas”, which means dare to succeed, a quote from my mental coach that I told her really lights something in me. When I felt the power in my 8m Orbit Pro, I found my flow state, and had one of the best Big Air heats of my life. My favorite part was landing a big kiteloop board-off. Then, I rode a good semi and made it to the final.
