The following article was originally printed in the December 2025 Issue of Slush. To get more articles and subscribe, click here.

Interview by: Stan Leveille

Emma Crosby is one of those riders who enters into the scene quietly and then, without warning, becomes the person you suddenly realize everyone else is watching. She’s not loud. She’s not campaigning for attention or trying to bend the spotlight in her direction. Instead, she’s been building—slowly, steadily, the kind of momentum that doesn’t feel fabricated.

The results are starting to stack. She ended up the most-covered rider in Snowboard Mag’s Exposure Meter. She went rounds with Jamie Anderson in NST Duels a few years back. She dropped some of the most tasteful street clips of last season in My Clay Angel. And now she’s in the thick of another two-year project with Salomon. 

What we talked about in this interview is everything orbiting the riding: the kid who got to name her sister after Mia Hamm, the road bike masochist, the humble-to-a-fault Minnesotan who became legitimately good at jumps. This is Emma in conversation—measured, honest, funny, and quietly carving out her own space.

You actually were given the opportunity as a child to name your younger sister and that you named her after Mia Hamm. How old were you when your parents gave you the keys to name a human life?

Emma: I was 10 years old. Just hit the double digits.

And so obviously a pretty big U.S. Women’s Soccer fan at the time. Run us through your process at that age of how you came to decide the name. I’m guessing your sister’s name is Mia and not Hamm.

E: Yeah, [Laughs] Mia. I was a big Mia Hamm fan for my whole life and loved soccer. My parents were like, “Oh, we’re having another one, you guys have any name ideas?” My other sister was included, but we can just ignore that little fact.

Brandi Chastain Crosby can be excluded.

E: Yeah, exactly. Brandi can be excluded. And then I was like, “Oh, Mia.” And they actually kind of like that name—let’s do it.” And I was like, “Perfect.” It’s unfortunate because now Mia Crosby’s soccer career has ended. She did not follow in the direct footsteps of Mia Hamm, but that’s okay. She’s a very good person.

Was she hyped about it?

E: If anything, maybe she felt some unwanted pressure. But I think she likes her name.

These are my only two soccer questions in this interview, I promise. But I also know you got into film school because of a documentary you made about your soccer team—is that right? did you actually go to film school?

E: No, I didn’t. I applied to USC Film School. I wanted to do something with video, which is funny now because of what I do for snowboarding—it all comes back full circle. I was really intrigued by the USC film program and heard it was great for getting into film. Part of the application process was creating your own documentary. So I made one about our soccer team going to state. We didn’t win state, but I did get in! So that’s a pro.

And what made you decide not to go?

E: It’s like a million dollars a semester. So I settled for Westminster College.

You clearly have a creative streak—you designed the Abstract board with Gian, and also an ad that ran in SLUSH. How did that process come about?

E: I’ve always liked creating things, and I think it’s nice having opportunities to see what you can do. With the board, Desiree [Melancon] helped me a bunch—gave me paint and spray paint and told me to just sit in the garage and figure it out. That’s how the board came to be. The ad was just fun. I looked at some inspiration, wanted to do a collage-type thing, and then put it together to see how it looked. Having the freedom from Salomon to make something with no constraints was huge for my confidence.

I always enjoy talking to a fellow road biker. What’s the appeal of that for you, especially as a snowboarder?

E: Absolutely. I think it’s about getting better at something—that’s a common thread with snowboarding. But there’s also a devious part, where you’re exhausted and want to give up but you can’t. Like shoveling or hiking a stair set when you’re drained but keep going. It’s the same with biking. You’re tired, over it, but stay in the headspace and push through. It transfers directly to snowboarding. It’s a form of punishing myself in the summer so I’m ready when winter comes.

Yeah, there’s that curve where you resent it at first and then crest into this happy place.

E: Totally. At the beginning of the season, I’m like, “Why the fuck do I even do this?” But then I find myself riding again the next day like, “Well, here we go.”

Let’s talk snowboarding. How do you find spots—are you a Google Earth person?

E: Yeah, kind of the same as everyone else. I cross-reference Google Maps with Google Earth. I like Google Maps because you can move the little character down the street, but Google Earth gives you layers and topography. I use both.

Is there one thing you always look for when scouting?

E: Hills. When you have hills, you have handrails. Schools are a classic too. And suburbs outside the city usually hold snow longer and are easier to work in. Compact cities can be overwhelming—you need boots on the ground. But once you’re there, using Google Earth to scout what’s nearby is super helpful. I’ve found a handful of spots that way.

You’re someone I’d describe as humble to a fault. I can imagine that can be a struggle with a pro snowboarder, because your job is to kinda puff your chest and be out there. But I find you to be a great example of a pro snowboarder. Do people come to you for advice?

E: Maybe one or two people, but not really.

Are you an advice asker?

E: Yeah, definitely. Being on trips with people I look up to, I learn a lot from watching and asking. I probably ask for too much advice. But you know when you ask multiple friends and they all say different things? You just take what resonates with you.

That’s good advice—you just gave advice.

E: No one even has to ask.

Minnesota isn’t really known for its big jumps. How did you get so good at them?

E: I’m honored you said that! Growing up, I did a bunch of USASA contests and Nationals. Those are slopestyle-based, so jumps were the focus. Everyone around me was training for that, and it rubbed off. Jumping came more naturally to me than rails, which is funny coming from Minnesota.

Did moving to Utah expand that?

E: A hundred percent. Utah made jumping way more accessible—three jumps in a row, backcountry, powder. I didn’t even ride pow until I moved there. It opened up a new side of snowboarding for me.

Are you the kind of person who tries to control the aux in the van?

E: No. My music is kind of sad, and I have a hard time reading the vibe. I’m always in the van with Brayden—aux is his thing. Finn DJs a bit too. Between them, the aux is covered. I like listening to other people’s music. Whenever I try to play something, people are like, “Dude, let’s just go home.”

I remember you recently went on a big hike with Katie Kennedy. Any good stories from that trip?

E: There’s so much people can learn from Katie. Her and I are similar—we don’t hike all summer, then pick the hardest one and just send it. There was definitely a point where we realized we were in over our heads and went silent for two hours. But she’s the best vibe—always cracking jokes, singing the same song, keeping it light. I wouldn’t want to hike 12 hours with anyone else.

What was the hike, and how long was it?

E: It was the Timpanogos hike, and we took the longest route possible—like 13 or 14 miles at high elevation. 

Last question—anything you want to plug or shout out?

E: Yeah, we’re working on the second year of the two-year Salomon video, which is exciting. Thanks to my sponsors, my friends and family—and to Mia.

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