(Because the truth is—she’s the blueprint.)
This winter, something kind of wild happened. About five different grown, badass women looked me in the eye and said:
“When I grow up, I want to be like Jessy.P”
At first, I laughed. Because, let’s be honest, I still eat cereal for dinner and regularly lose my keys in the fridge. But then I was flattered. Deeply flattered. And also a bit stunned. I thought: What do they see in me that makes them say that? What do I have, or who am I, that inspires that kind of statement?
It wasn’t until I was riding down to the parking lot in Valemount this past weekend, laughing and sharing stories with Amber Heberling and the amazing crew she rallied for a weekend of pure joy in her backyard, that it hit me like a snow-covered pine branch to the helmet:
Everything they admire in me… Julie Lemieux inspired it first.
The OG Blueprint
I met Julie back in 2014. At the time, I was just another wide-eyed rider trying to figure out how to survive tree lines, throttle control, and social awkwardness at sled meetups. Then came Julie—real, raw, funny as hell, and tougher than a frozen carb boot in January.
She wasn’t trying to impress anyone. She wasn’t following trends. She just was.
Authentic, rooted, crass in the best possible way, wildly generous, wickedly witty, with a heart as big as a ski hill. She could rip a line most wouldn’t dare to touch, then go home and cook up something from her garden as if she were starring in a backcountry episode of Top Chef. Julie lives in the middle of the woods in Bralorne, BC. She grows her own food, cooks from the land, and laughs through everything life throws at her. She’s a pioneer of extreme backcountry snowmobiling and a fearless alpine dirt biker who’s pushed limits for women riders long before it was hashtag-worthy. She’s never too busy for a stranger, and never afraid to tell you the truth straight-up—whether you’re ready or not.
She’s also the type of woman who gets tangled in a tree well and turns it into a punchline before you’ve even stopped panicking. That’s Julie.
Everything I Am, She Sparked First
All those traits people see in me now:
Honesty;
Sass;
Humour;
Openness;
Kindness wrapped in grit;
Even the ability to show up being real, even when shit gets hard…
It all started with Julie.
She was the first person who made me feel like I didn’t need to change who I was to belong in this industry. That you could be a badass rider and still laugh at yourself. That strength isn’t about pretending you’re unbreakable—it’s about knowing how to glue yourself back together with duct tape and humour when things fall apart.
Julie never tried to be anyone else, and in doing so, she gave the rest of us permission to be ourselves.
A Legend That Shaped Legends
Today, Julie is facing her biggest battle yet: cancer.
But, let’s be real, cancer doesn’t know who it’s messing with. Julie’s tougher than anything that’s ever tried to take her down. She’s facing it with the same grit and grace she’s brought to every single obstacle in life.
And I just hope—sincerely, deeply, from the bottom of my grateful heart—that she knows the ripple effect she’s created.
She shaped me into the so-called “professional athlete” that others now look up to. Not because I chase podiums or sponsorships (although hey, I do enjoy a good free hoodie), but because I carry a little piece of Julie Lemieux in everything I do.
When I Grow Up… I Still Want to Be Like Julie Lemieux
Because legends don’t just ride mountains—they shape people.
And Julie Lemieux? She’s the kind of legend that keeps growing gardens, growing riders, and growing hearts.
Julie, if you’re reading this, thank you. Thank you for being exactly who you are and for teaching me how to be loud, bold, soft, and kind—all at once.
You were my role model before I even knew I needed one.
And if anyone else is wondering who they want to grow up to be like,
trust me… pick Julie Lemieux. You won’t go wrong.
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