“Since the age of eight, I’ve enjoyed the intensity of competitive sports. My first national competitions, however, were not in snowboarding, but rather gymnastics…”
“…Flipping above gymnastics bars and beams, I built a foundation of skills that would soon jump-start my competitive snowboarding. Essentially, I learned to fly, and loved the feeling.
Unlike most competitive snowboarders, I’ve excelled in the sport without living in the mountains. I grew up in a small town 15 minutes from San Francisco with my three younger brothers and supportive parents. Although I have only slept there three days this year, “Home is where the heart is”!
Another important focus of my life is my academics. I work hard to maintain academic rigor in all of my subjects, even as I travel in and out of the country to all sorts of snowboarding competitions. This year, as a junior, I took the SATs early. I am preparing myself to apply to top collages and maintain a balance of my athletic goals and my pursuit to obtain an Ivy League education. I am so blessed to be able to go after everything that I love so much!”
Age: 16
Rides: Lake Tahoe, California
Stance: Goofy
Sponsors: Oakley and Burton
Words To Live By: A smile is a curve that can set a lot of things straight. (V. Borge)
Favorite Subjects: Physics, Math, and Spanish- Yes, I’m a nerd !
Interests: LIFE, fresh tracks in KT-22, surfing, chilling with friends, making Twix bars, bike rides, trampoline training, thousand piece puzzles, cooking for friends, and traveling
2008 Contest Results:
1st place Rev Tour Park City
2nd place USASA Nationals HP Open Class
5th place Jeep Tour at Squaw
6th place Killington Grand Prix
6th place Tamarack Grand Prix
6th place Calgary World Cup
FAVORITES:
Game: Balderdash
Movie: Grandma’s Boy
Author: Jodi Picoult
Holiday: St. Patrick’s Day
Meal: Breakfast
Airport: Denver
Travel Necessities: Computer, snowboard, phone, calendar, gum, friends!
What Scares You: Injuries
What inspires you: My three little brothers: James (6), Jack (10), and Kevin (14)
Favorite Day: My perfect day would consist of fresh tracks on Granite Chief all morning, perfect Northstar halfpipe in the afternoon, sushi for lunch, a fun afternoon with all my friends, and nice night at the house where I cook for the crew and enjoy some good laughs
Coolest place I’ve Been because of snowboarding: Zermatt, Switzerland. There are no cars allowed in the town so you can walk everywhere peacefully and no matter where you are you can always see the Matterhorn!
What would you be doing if you weren’t snowboarding? I’d be taking AP class, playing varsity soccer, making every high school dance, sleeping in my own bed more than 10 days a year, taking my brothers to school, and seeing my friends more often than I talk to them on the phone.
What is your first day of snowboarding that you can remember? I hated it! I fell on my butt all day long, but it had taken me 4 years to convince my parents to let me snowboard so I was too stubborn to admit it. By my second day, and my first linked turns, I was hooked.
