She’ll Be Right Spotlight Series
New Zealand Snowboarding teamed up with She’ll Be Right to spotlight the people that embody the spirit, vibe, and essence of She’ll Be Right. SBR isn’t a competition, but rather a celebration of incredible girls, women, and non-binary individuals in our snow community. SBR is about providing opportunities, community, and a platform for participants to progress in the industry.
The NZSB judging panel have selected Brianna Delfs as the standout rider for She’ll be Right 2025. Every rider threw down some amazing tricks. Bri embodied the spirit of She’ll be Right from creatively riding the course, trying new tricks, and encouraging those around here to get out of their comfort zone and try something new.
She’ll Be Right founder and organiser Cayley Alger sat down with Brianna Delfs to dig deeper into snowboarding.
Standout rider: briana Delfs
Interview by Cayley Alger
I was so excited to do this interview. I first crossed paths with Bri back in 2012 at a Remarks girls camp, I’m fairly certain she was teaching me how to boardslide, and I managed to successfully zeach my way across a dancefloor. I really looked up to her that season; she’s probably one of the reasons I got into riding park and have found myself in love with the community that surrounds it. It felt like a full circle moment to have her not only attend She’ll Be Right (flying in all the way from Aus now) but to be selected as the standout rider of the whole event. She’s best described as “the part of the beer that no one wants but always comes with it, the froth at the top.” She made it to the finals of the Uninvited and has been known to [‘unknowingly’] put her snowboard pants on backwards, though to be fair, they’re so baggy it’s hard to tell. She spent the entire day of SBR pushing herself in her own riding, working with filmers and photographers but, more importantly, pushing others to do the same. In Bri’s words, “I've started physically [with their consent], pulling girls by their hand up to the front so they stand in front of the drop-in and claim space.” Her energy is infectious and hard to miss, and for that reason, NZSB selected her as our standout rider! Team, I give you, Brianna Delfs!
Brianna Delfs by Ally Grace Moore @allygracemoore
What gets you up the mountain?
Psychologically, what I think it really is, is that we can be our best, most lighthearted and most fun selves when we're snowboarding and when we're out in nature, especially when we're on a snow-covered mountain. And so I really think it’s wonderful - and wonderfully healthy - to try to be that best version of yourself but also get to interact with other people's best versions of themselves. The kindest, the most stoked, the most energetic, motivated and self-challenging. That's what gets me up the hill. That's what I really enjoy.
How did you get into snowboarding?
I did an instructor gap year course when I was 18 instead of going to university. Somehow I passed levels one and two. Honestly, barely, the examiners said, ‘your riding isn't there now, but we think it'll get there, so we'll give this to you.’ From there, my roommates told me about getting an instructor job in New Zealand. I was 19 and went, ‘oh yeah, that sounds great. What's a working holiday visa?’
When was your first season in New Zealand?
That was 2010 at Coronet Peak. I ended up getting hired as a ‘try-out.’ As in, I wasn't offered the job immediately, I had to try out for it. I remember feeling like a gender-diversity hire back then, and definitely did not feel like a snowboarder - but I also remember really trying to push myself to keep up with the other instructors at clinics and icy early morning laps. I’m so touched that the friends I made in that first season are still such important people in my life - people I really look up to.
And what inspired your interest in riding park?
In my first season, they put a box down at the back magic carpet, a big dance floor, and I would go hike it at lunch breaks. I had no concept of edge control, my stance was way too wide, but I thought, ‘board slides are my new favourite feeling in the world.’ The next season, I realised all the ‘cool freestyle girls’ with their tall tees and tight pants worked at Remarks, so that’s where I went. I said to myself, ‘I'm going to wear knee pads and fall down on so many rails.’
Do you remember a defining moment or period when you realised this is what you wanted to do?
The short answer is no, haha. I am so grateful for snowboarding, but sometimes I get a bit existential about it. In those moments I just zoom out, breathe, and reflect on opportunities, experiences, and friendships, and try to be kind to myself. This sport has rewritten my DNA, there’s no denying that.
That being said, for a very brief moment, I fantasised about being a half pipe rider. I remember standing at the top of a pipe when I was 19 or 20, after watching a lot of X Games and thought, ‘I think I can do this. I think I can be a professional halfpipe rider.’ Then I caught my heel edge, hit my head and thought, ‘I don’t want to do this!’
Brianna Delfs by Ally Grace Moore @alleygracemoore
[Thankfully she kept doing it.]
Fast forward to being 34 years old, I made the finals for The Uninvited this year. That was a ‘hell yes!’ moment, but also imposter syndrome to the max. I was like, ‘what am I doing here?’ I was thinking, someone else should have my spot, these are the girls I watch videos of, not girls that I share a course with.
The imposter syndrome, how did that feel or how did you get past it and actually compete?
Whether it’s a contest or just a park day, I always try to snowboard in a way that makes me proud when I look back at it. It’s hard because everyone has to deal with their snowboard ego, it’s a sport filled with egos and performative pressure. When your ego is braided into your performance, it’s not sustainable for your mental health. I've been trying really hard to focus on, how can I be proud of myself today? I took that to the contest as well. Instead of ‘oh, I can do that massive trick too. Let me make eight attempts out of the 10 hits that we have.’ That’s not being true to your own style. That's trying to keep up in a different way.
How was being at finals [of The Uninvited], and did you meet Jess Kimura?
It’s been said but it can’t be said enough, women’s snowboarding, both the culture and the progression, is so healthy right now and has so much momentum. There was a group of us at the top who were over 30 years old, so this contest means something very different to us than it does for someone who is 15 or 16 or even 20. I wanted to be aware of the total celebration that The Uninvited is, and keep that lightheartedness at the top of the course.
And if I met Jess? Yes I did. I cried meeting her, and I cried meeting her mum, and I cried meeting MFR, who was one of the judges the first year.
Photo by Nicola Sharrat @nicoloasharratphotos
How was She’ll Be Right this year? It was your first time attending, what did you think?
The whole day was a dream. I’ve been stalking the socials for the last two seasons and so wanted to be a part of it, but I didn’t fully understand the connection between riders, filmers, photographers, and shapers until Amee explained it on the drive over. To know its roots then show up and see this beautiful, logistically mature, and high-energy event being executed so successfully is just awesome. Before I flew to NZ, I knew maybe 1-3 people at the event, so going over the hill, it felt like heading to summer camp, hoping I’d make friends.
And you made some friends?
Yeah! Being in the smaller group earlier in the morning was nice, shoulder to shoulder with super strong and creative riders. Then rocking up to the setup and seeing dozens of girls hiking and hitting features, that energy was amazing. I wish it could’ve lasted forever.
Did you have a favourite moment from the day?
I had three! One was watching you running the breakfast and thinking, ‘Coaching those girls' camps way back when actually had an impact on you’, that’s crazy!’ I’m in awe of your passion and drive, and am honoured to play any role in your snowboard journey!
Christy Prior and Brianna Delfs doubling down on the down rail. Photo by Bri Woolnough @briwoolnough
Another was holding hands with Christy Prior before hitting the rail together. Christy has been my snowboard hero and role model since my first Remarks season. She rides with such style and power and really brought this strong, clean and active aesthetic to women’s snowboarding, and has been so continuously generous to the community.
Bri giving some riding advice. Photo by Deanna Gerlach @dgerl
And the last was just being at the top of the drop in and having girls go, "Oh, I don't know if I can do that." And all you have to say is, ‘You can do that!’ And then they do it! And then they come back up and their faces are just exploding with joy and they have people to share their accomplishment with, but then also they can be proud of themselves for taking that quite large step out of their comfort zone. So, watching that multiple times. Multiple times! I’ve had so many interactions that have been so meaningful to me, I just hope I can pass on that stoke.
What’s next for you?
I'm [a little] afraid that if I say this, I have to make it happen… All right. I'm working on submitting a research proposal to try for a PhD for a second time.
A second one!
Haha no! A second attempt. ‘I failed’ (COVID self-cancelled) the first one. It sucked to do that, but circumstances really changed.
Wow, that's amazing. So what's this PhD about? It's about action sports and community building. So, a part of even justifying coming to She'll be Right was like, well, it's good for my research.
Maybe you’ve already answered my next question, but where will we see you in five years? With a completed PhD?
That’s the big goal! I have big snowboard goals as well, so I hope in five years I’ll be working that balance between being the snowboarder I want to be, and doing work in the fields I see as important. I want to be writing and talking to people and exploring, progressing and being outside.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
When I got into The Uninvited finals, I was needing a bit of moral support, so I called a friend back in Australia. He said, ‘Just do you, snowboard the way you do, don’t try to be anyone else.’ I think about that a lot. My boyfriend - who I met at Remarks! - also says, ‘You do your best snowboarding when you’re having the most fun.’ And I think he’s right.
And equally, what’s the worst advice you’ve ever received?
A professor at university once told me to stop dressing like a teenage boy. Didn’t appreciate that [or change the way I dressed.]
If you could go back and say anything to yourself on one of your first days of snowboarding, what would it be?
Keep hiking, and fix your frontboards! Yeah nah but also, write down your goals – performative, process, emotional, whatever - and remember that your heart rate slows down when you exhale.
What would you like to see more of in the industry?
True commitment to sustainability and a stronger push for social justice, but also making sure snowboarding stays fun and joyful for everyone doing it. There’s some very real inclusivity, environmental, and sustainability questions with this industry, I would love to see these addressed in a super honest way.
As a last word, I want to really thank the team behind SBR - these spaces are so important and I don’t know if the full butterfly effect of these events can ever be communicated or quantified. It could not get any more grassroots than a snowboarder wanting to create opportunities for other women in the industry. This is already so special, thank you for welcoming me back, and can’t wait to see what else comes of it!
Video by Kirsty Marshall @forgettingkirstymarshall