From Alberta to the Olympics: Shannon Abeda’s Unlikely Path

Three-time Olympian Shannon Ogbnai Abeda joins Fresh Corduroy for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on identity, pressure, and carving your own path in the sport.Shannon opens up about growing up the son of Eritrean immigrants in northern Alberta, discovering ski racing on a small local hill, and what it took—physically and mentally—to push toward the Olympic stage. We talk about resilience, navigating expectations, finding belonging in a sport where few looked like him, and why he continues to race with purpose far beyond results.Along the way, Shannon shares the moments that shaped him, the challenges most fans never see, and the mindset he’s carrying into this next chapter of his skiing life.If you love stories about grit, growth, and the people pushing the sport forward, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.