Ashleigh Stebbeings (Groen)
WBC Athlete | 2024 Overall World Champion
Quicks Facts
Age: 33
Hometown: Eton, QLD - Australia
Hobbies: These days, most of life outside of barefooting revolves around Payton—and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I may not travel as much as I used to, but I still love exploring new places across the U.S. and around the world. It’s something I’m really excited to share with Payton as she grows up & as a family.
Outside of that, I’m all about a solid gym session, a motivating podcast, or getting lost in a good book. I enjoy staying busy, but I also really value the slower moments—spending quality time at home with Ben, Payton, Baskin, and Baylan.
Titles & Records
2012, 2014 & 2023 IWWF Female Athlete of the Year
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2023 & 2024 IWWF Female Barefoot Athlete of the Year
Currently hold all three Open Womens World Records (10100 pts, 17.2 & 23.4m)
6 x Open Womens Overall World Titles (2009, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2023 & 2024)
22 Open Women Individual Event Gold Medals
3 x Junior Girls Overall World Titles (2005, 2006 & 2009)
12 Junior Girls Individual Event Gold Medals
2009 Open Women’s World Games Overall Silver Medalist
5 x Asian-Oceania Open Women’s Overall Champion
11 x Trick, Slalom, Jump & Overall Australian Open Women’s National Champion
First female to trick over 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000 & 10000 points in the trick event
First female to jump over 22 & 23 meters in the jump event.
Third women to invert longline in a tournament
Has represented Australia on every Open Worlds Team for the last 20 years (2004-reserve, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2023 & 2024)
Represented Australia at four Junior Worlds Team (2003, 2005, 2006 & 2009)
Personal Bests
Tricks: 10,450
Slalom: 18.6
Jump: 23.5m
How it started . . .
I grew up around the water—my family and I were always waterskiing from a really young age, mostly just as a fun way to spend time together. We went camping a lot, and one day when I was about 7 years old, we saw some people barefooting out on the water. That moment stuck with us.
Not long after, my parents bought my older brothers and I barefoot suits, and we decided to give it a shot ourselves. We used a kneeboard and tried stepping off it longline, but I couldn’t quite get it—the board was so big that it would just bounce, and I kept faceplanting.
Then one day, my dad came across an ad in the local newspaper for a “come and try” barefoot clinic at the local ski club through the Central Region Barefoot Club. The minimum age was 10, and I was only 8 at the time, but after speaking with Donna and Ray Ivory, they agreed to let me give it a go after watching me ski on a pair of combo skis.
That day, I learned how to do a deep-water start on the boom—and I was immediately hooked.
From there, I progressed quickly. I went on to become the youngest barefooter in the Central Region Club to achieve my “minute badge” at 8 years old—an Australian milestone that shows you can barefoot longline for a full minute, which is required to compete. Then at 9 years old, I earned my backwards longline badge as well.
Favorite thing about the WBC . . .
The location, the setup, the people, the training… we truly live and breathe barefooting here.
Personally, I’ve loved every year of training I’ve been able to experience—it’s something really special. There’s nothing quite like being surrounded by some of the best barefooters in the world. When I first arrived, having that level of coaching and talent around me pushed my skiing to a whole new level.
One of my favorite parts, though, is getting to share it with others—meeting people from all over, teaching beginners, and helping skiers train for tournaments. It’s more than just a place to ski, it’s where I’ve built lifelong friendships and memories I’ll always cherish.
