Back flips and big tricks

Jenny Jones entered the British Snowboarding Championships after riding for just one season in the French Alps.

Now she is competing in some of the biggest contests across the globe. Here she explains how she went from chalet maid to pro snowboarder.

Jenny Jones Pro snowboarder

You could say that it was a pretty rapid rise from being just another snowboarder to getting sponsored.

In 1999, I was in Tignes, France and I met some people who asked me to do a clothing photoshoot for them. Basically they needed some girls who could do jumps.

At the time I was a chalet maid and I was getting paid £80 a week, they offered me £60 a day so I was like, "okay".

JENNY JONES FACTS Born: 3 July 1980, Bristol Rides: Goofy, 152cm board Events: Slope style, Big Air, Half-pipe Achievements: Five British Championship titles; two Vans Triple Crown titles Fave trick: Backside 180 tail grab Sporting idol: Lance Armstrong

On the photoshoot I met a pro snowboarder who thought I was good enough to enter the British Championships.

I was surprised when he asked me. I had no-one to really compare myself to so I had to trust him, but then I thought, "why not? What have I got to lose?"

Those are the opportunities you can't turn down. I was excited but I didn't know anyone and had only done one competition before so I was like, "How does this work?"

I won the overall junior championships and the big air competition. That was in 1999, I started 'boarding in 1998.

During the competitions, I couldn't do anything that great. I could grab my board but because I was quite happy to go big off jumps and having a gymnastics background I learnt how to do back flips.

That got me noticed. When I first went to the Brits, people were saying: "Oh yeah that's Jenny who does the back flips."

It took me about three or four years before I could ride without having to work.

All the time I was doing competitions, getting results and trying to get my photos in magazines. That time was also an opportunity to improve my snowboarding.

Learn the tricks with our snowboard guide

I've been riding for six years now. Anyone trying to go down the same route should recognise that you need to go to competitions so people can see you ride.

You can also get a tape together with all your tricks on or get your mates to take some photographs of you riding.

You can give these to sponsors; they're almost like your CV. You've got to get yourself out there.

I never fully thought that I could make it as a professional. All I wanted to do was get better at riding.

Jenny likes all snowboard styles and enters Big Air, Slopestyle and Half-pipe competitions

When I went out to Whistler in Canada I was riding with a lot higher standard of 'boarders and that made me feel like I was a little fish in a big pond.

In the following years I entered European and international competitions. It was when I took part in America I realised maybe I wasn't so bad at snowboarding.

I like coaching and giving people tips that helped me. It's an aspect of snowboarding I want to develop. That's why I'm helping three young riders on Team Orange.

There's not many coaches around because it's all still quite new but I just ask people. I tell them what I'm trying to do and ask them if they can help me.

Meet Jenny's team

I think snowboarding can be more inclusive. Obviously there's the cool people and they usually have the best style and maybe don't speak to many others.

But there are the others who are still learning. They might have tighter pants or not be doing tricks as well but they're still people. They're not idiots. They're still riding and having a laugh.

Snowboarding is a good feeling. Maybe some people don't get it, maybe some people just get too scared to get to that stage when you just feel a rush of adrenaline.

What other sports give you a massive grin on your face on a regular basis? The gym? No way.

You just don't get the feeling like you've achieved something new on the treadmill, do you?