Jenny Jones

Born in Bristol on July 3, 1980, Jenny Jones discovered her passion for snowboarding after initially learning to ski at age 17. Her early career began after a winter spent as a chalet maid in Tignes, France, where she quickly excelled in the sport. Jones’ dedication saw her balance winters snowboarding with summers surfing, funding her pursuits through various part-time jobs, including inspecting cardboard and teaching fencing. This period of intense focus on her skills led her to enter local and regional contests, progressively moving from a hobbyist to a professional athlete supported by sponsorships.

Jones’ career gained significant recognition through her success at prestigious events. She secured gold medals at the Winter X Games in 2009 and 2010, alongside a gold at the Winter X Games Europe in 2010. A silver medal at the New Zealand Winter Games in 2013 further solidified her standing in the sport. Her most notable achievement came at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, where she made history by winning a bronze medal in the women’s slopestyle event. This marked Great Britain’s first Olympic medal on snow in 90 years, significantly raising the profile of snowboarding in the UK.

Following her Olympic success, Jones transitioned from competitive snowboarding while remaining deeply involved in the sport. She began presenting ‘Jenny Jones’ Extreme’ for BBC Radio 5 Live in October 2014, showcasing various extreme sports. In December 2014, she joined Channel 4’s ‘The Jump’ as a coach, further increasing her media presence. As of 2022, she continues to contribute to winter sports as a presenter for BBC Ski Sunday, covers the Winter Olympics for the BBC, and hosts snowboarding workshops. Her impact extends to charitable work, supporting young people through the Snow Camp charity, providing opportunities for them to experience snow sports and develop life skills.