Q&A with Bea:

Hey Bea! Our community is so excited to meet you and learn a bit more about who you are. Can you share a little intro? Where you’re from, what you do etc.

Hi, I’m Bea Kim! I’m a member of the US Women’s Halfpipe Snowboard team. I’m 17 years old and a senior in high school. I’m from Palos Verdes, CA, a suburb of Los Angeles. 

What does your perfect day at the mountain look like?

The perfect day on the mountain has to be a bluebird powder day. There is no better feeling than riding powder when the sun is out.  

Do you have any pre-competition rituals?

I eat the same thing every morning for breakfast when I’m snowboarding…two hard boiled eggs, apples and peanut butter.

When did you know you wanted to go pro?

When I started snowboarding, I dreamt of being a pro snowboarder, but I was only 8, and I don’t even know if I really knew what that meant. In 2018, however,  I went to Korea to the Winter Olympics with my family, and I saw Chloe Kim and Maddie Mastro competing in person. That was such an awesome experience. I think that’s when I decided I really wanted to go to the Olympics.

How did you feel being named the POW Alliance Member of the Year?

Shocked! It was such a huge surprise and such an honor. The POW Athlete Alliance is made up of so many amazing athletes doing incredible things outside of their sport, and I never thought they would consider me for the award. I joined POW a few years ago, and I’ve always wondered how I could contribute or get more involved. This year so many people in the POW community supported me so that I could find a way to contribute to the cause.

What are you listening to these days?

Olivia Dean!

As a thrifting pro, got any tips?

Don’t go in with any expectations. I always just go hoping to find something fun or different, but I rarely go looking for anything specific. It’s fun to find something unique. I also love finding things that are perfect for someone else, like my little brother.

Favorite slopeside snack?

Trader Joe’s Powerberries. 

What competition has meant the most to you?

Definitely the LAAX Open. In 2023, I got hurt at LAAX right before the comp, and I was out fo the rest of the season. It meant so much to come back a year later and end up on the podium. The Laax Open is such a fun event. It’s at night under the lights; the crowds and the energy are indescribable, so to get my first World Cup win there was the best.

How do you stay grounded with school, life and sport?

Sometimes it is so hard to stay grounded between school, life and snowboarding. The absolute best way for me to stay grounded is to spend time at home. There is nothing better than spending time with my huge family; eating good food; and just relaxing. I am super lucky to have the best friends at home too. When I get home from a long training trip or competition, I love getting to spend time with them roaming the city or just sitting around laughing.

Where is the coolest place snowboarding has brought you?

The Arctic! This summer I was invited to speak at a leadership summit on a ship in the Arctic. It was a once in a lifetime experience. There were 120 of us from all over the world, and I had the chance to share my experiences as a professional snowboarder with scientists, ambassadors, climate experts, artists, entrepreneurs, and others. It was really amazing being able to connect with so many different kinds of people and to be able to experience the beauty of the Arctic together. The highlights were the massive ice shelf, polar bears and of course doing the polar plunge!

Thanks Bea! We can't wait to follow along this season!