Spencer O’Brien grew up in Courtenay, BC, in a family who enjoys just as much as she does snowboard. At 11 years old, her father taught her how to ride and then she started competing, following the footsteps of her big sister; Meghann.
Her life long dream of competing in the Olympics is finally feasible now that Slopestyle has been added to the program. She began her career in Halfpipe and had to make the transition to Slopestyle when her local mountain announced that they wouldn’t build and maintain a pipe at the station anymore. At 17 she moved to Whistler with all her savings, which was about just enough to do a whole season.
Considered to be one of the world’s most progressive Slopestyle snowboarders, and voted Transworld’s Rookie of the Year by fellow riders in 2008. O’Brien has competed primarily on the World Snowboard Tour, the world’s largest series of freestyle snowboarding events, which has made her a Four-Time Winter X Games Medalist and won the 2012 World Snowboarding Championships. In 2013 Spencer won gold at the FIS World Championships, helping her qualify for the Olympics. O’Brien will be challenging for the top of the podium when her event makes its Olympic debut at Sochi 2014.
Outside snowboarding, Spencer enjoys cooking, baking, fashion and hiking. When she is away from home for a while, she misses having her own kitchen.
For Spencer, It’s important to give back to the community. She’s involved with the Alliance for Climate Education, Nike S7 program that promotes health and wellness in Aboriginal communities and she has donated equipment to the First Nations Snowboard Team.
For Spencer’s full bio visit: http://www.canadasnowboard.ca/en/team/?id=96