About Me
Hi there, my name is Shawn. I guess you could say my name was my parent’s way of hoping for a boy, but I didn't disappoint too much! Growing up, I was always on the move playing every sport, from softball to swimming, gymnastics to bowling - you name it, I probably played it.
I have developed a deep love for all things active and adventurous. From college crew to mountain biking and triathlons, I'm always seeking out new challenges and pushing myself to be better.
One day, after dedicating twenty-five years to educating young minds, I woke up with an epiphany. I knew it was time for a change. My lifelong passion for sports and fitness had been waiting patiently in the wings, and I was ready to give it the spotlight it deserved. So I took a deep breath, and dove headfirst into the world of personal training with an emphasis on adventure.
As someone who has experienced the challenges of making a mid-life career shift, I'm here to tell you that it's never too late to pursue your dreams. And now, with a degree in early childhood education and an ACE certification under my belt, I'm thrilled to share my knowledge and help others find balance in their health, family, and recreation.
SHAWN BROKEMOND
Q&A SESSION With Shawn
By Colleen Bidwill
Shawn Brokemond is not used to staying still. She’s BASE jumped off 3,000-foot cliffs in Europe, snowboarded down mountains she accessed via helicopter, trained and competed in triathlons, skydived and surfed, and explored her “personal playground” of Marin on mountain bike and foot.
But, the 54-year-old Mill Valley resident and certified trainer doesn’t want people to live vicariously through her, she wants them to find their own slice of adventure. After teaching for 25 years and being gifted with a skydive by her husband when she was 39, she founded Sports Adventure (sportadven.com), helping people integrate adventure, fitness and wellness into their life.
Q: You say you want to see more people of color in adventure sports. Why is this important?
A: I was always involved with sports and I was always the only Black person. I am a snowboarder and taking my son to Tahoe when he was a teenager and younger, we rarely saw Black or Brown people. My son sadly stopped snowboarding because he said, “Black people don’t do that,” and I said, “Yes, we do.” I went to Whistler decades ago, and just happened to be there when an organization’s yearly big ski trip had 3,000 people of color. I was blown away. The lack of diversity in outdoor sports is apparent and I wish it not to be true. I know that the reason can be attributed to the limited access, knowledge and representation, some outdoor activities are expensive. The outdoor industry often lacks inclusivity, making people of color feel excluded and unwelcome. I want that narrative to change. I taught a surf camp last summer at Stinson and most were kids of color through Play Marin and there were a lot of firsts, some of them had never been in the ocean and many of them didn’t know how to swim, but once they went in, they didn’t want to get out. It was amazing.
