Tuesday, March 22, 2011
ESPN face time
Here's my interview with Sasha Coben for ESPN, recapping my X Games and Dew Tour performances. We did this right before I came out to France.
EUROtrip
2 weeks ago I came to France, stoked to ski for the first time since I fractured my pelvis at Dew Tour. After looking forward to this trip all season, i was determined to heal as fast as possible and get back at it. I met Ben, Tai, and Devin in La Plagne just in time to watch my two teammates win the xgames qualifier SFR comp. I think that night set the tone for the rest of the trip, at least for Devin and Tai, who both continued to kill it at xgames and the world cup. My first day skiing was one of my favorite days this year. Being in France and those amazing mountains on a sunny perfect day was already amazing, but the feeling you get when you get to ski again after (what seems like) a long break, just really made me the happiest person in the world that day. I love skiing so much, in my mind, it really is worth any and every injury I may acquire.
A couple days later we packed up and moved to Tignes for Euro X. Getting back in the pipe wasn't the same as getting back on my skis and cruising. The first two training sessions were rough. My nerves wouldn't go away and my strength wouldn't come back. With some noticeably weaker legs, I was definitely affected by the slightly under-vert walls. Every hit required so much attention and thought. It was a weird feeling to go back to, after skiing pipe all season like it's the most amazing and mind relaxing activity. I did a lot of straight airs during those training sessions, just trying to get comfortable again. Finally I felt like it was coming back, and started spinning. On our third training day I felt better than I had all week. After one run, I decided I wasn't going to ski like a little girl. I was at Euro X, I might as well go for it. My second run was just as good, taking even more speed into every hit. It felt natural again and my legs felt strong... until maybe the 5th hit when I forgot to pop. I decked pretty hard and front flipped into the pipe, landing on my collarbone. I think that was the most pain I've ever been in. Everything hurt. They gave me an IV with morphine and took me straight to the hospital. Broke my collarbone in 4 places.
To say the least, this trip hasn't turned out as I expected. I've been a spectator instead of a competitor. I think that's the hardest part.. to have to watch you're friends do the only thing you want to do. The back to back injuries doesn't help either. I keep wishing I could have just broken everything at once and cut the healing time in half. But the trip hasn't been all bad. I'm still in France with some awesome people, seeing new things and celebrating their accomplishments. My girl Devin has had such an amazing year, and it's been so cool to see her kill it at every competition, never missing the podium. And watching Tai ski in the xgames made me so happy. He's one of the ballsiest skiers I know, and he makes an impression on everyone who watches him.
You can't give up on something you think about everyday. I couldn't live without skiing, and it's something that I plan on doing for as long as I physically can.
La Plagne
A couple days later we packed up and moved to Tignes for Euro X. Getting back in the pipe wasn't the same as getting back on my skis and cruising. The first two training sessions were rough. My nerves wouldn't go away and my strength wouldn't come back. With some noticeably weaker legs, I was definitely affected by the slightly under-vert walls. Every hit required so much attention and thought. It was a weird feeling to go back to, after skiing pipe all season like it's the most amazing and mind relaxing activity. I did a lot of straight airs during those training sessions, just trying to get comfortable again. Finally I felt like it was coming back, and started spinning. On our third training day I felt better than I had all week. After one run, I decided I wasn't going to ski like a little girl. I was at Euro X, I might as well go for it. My second run was just as good, taking even more speed into every hit. It felt natural again and my legs felt strong... until maybe the 5th hit when I forgot to pop. I decked pretty hard and front flipped into the pipe, landing on my collarbone. I think that was the most pain I've ever been in. Everything hurt. They gave me an IV with morphine and took me straight to the hospital. Broke my collarbone in 4 places.
X Games pipe, Tignes
You can't give up on something you think about everyday. I couldn't live without skiing, and it's something that I plan on doing for as long as I physically can.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
THE HYPE
I love music. I couldn't live without it. Follow this link if you want to see what I'm listening to http://hypem.com/#!/britasig
Monday, February 28, 2011
Season Recap: X Games 15
When I got my invite for the winter X Games, I was so happy just to be going that I didn't even think about the possibility of getting on the podium. As a halfpipe skier, X Games has been the highest level of competition in our sport since I've known what skiing is. So, naturally, it has always been a dream of mine to someday compete with the best in the world under the lights in Aspen's pipe.
Aspen's pipe, by the way, was the nicest pipe I've ever skied. Every lap was just so much fun that I never even thought about being nervous. I was stoked to be there and I was loving every minute of it. After qualifying for finals in 4th, I didn't think things could get much better.
My family and friends flew into Aspen the next day, just in time to watch me in finals. With two older brothers and one very excited sister, I'm pretty sure I had the loudest fans. Even with my headphones on, I could still hear them screaming at the bottom before I dropped in for every run. In finals I layed down one of the best runs of my life, and after skiing consistently all week, I was beyond stoked to walk away with the silver medal at my first ever X Games.
I think being in that mind state of living in the moment, and just knowing that I was lucky to be there, helped me ski better than I've ever skied before. I ski because it's fun, but sometimes that seems to get lost on competition days or stressful training days, so being able to take everything in and enjoy it was really nice for me. And of course, having my best friends and family there to share it with me, made it that much better.
My family and friends flew into Aspen the next day, just in time to watch me in finals. With two older brothers and one very excited sister, I'm pretty sure I had the loudest fans. Even with my headphones on, I could still hear them screaming at the bottom before I dropped in for every run. In finals I layed down one of the best runs of my life, and after skiing consistently all week, I was beyond stoked to walk away with the silver medal at my first ever X Games.
I think being in that mind state of living in the moment, and just knowing that I was lucky to be there, helped me ski better than I've ever skied before. I ski because it's fun, but sometimes that seems to get lost on competition days or stressful training days, so being able to take everything in and enjoy it was really nice for me. And of course, having my best friends and family there to share it with me, made it that much better.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Season Recap: New Zealand
A lot has happened over the last 6 months and since I have some free time right now, I'm finally going to write about it. It still amazes me how far I have come in such a short amount of time, and I couldn't be more stoked to be where I am right now.
Last summer I made a really good decision to go to New Zealand. I love traveling and I have always wanted to go there, so when I got my invite to compete at Junior World Championships down there, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. After exploring the South Island for a couple weeks I met up with the US team in Wanaka and started training for the comp. Skiing in NZ was awesome. I was so happy to be there, I didn't care if the pipe at Snowpark sucked, it was all fun. I met a lot of really rad kids and a pretty cool coach that I've been skiing with all season.
The day of the comp turned out to be the worst weather we'd had all week, with snow in the bottom of the pipe and a huge cloud engulfing the whole mountain. You could barely see 10 ft. in front of you, and although we waited several hours for the cloud to clear out, it never did. Riders were sent whenever there was a big enough break in the clouds for the judges to see your whole run, but that was at a slow pace. We ended up having to call it quits after everyone got one run in, which put me in first.
It was my first major win of my career and I was beyond stoked to be on the podium with some sick skiers like Keltie and Devin. Overall, it was an amazing trip and I was stoked to go home and start the season on a good note.
Snowpark
Cardrona's pipe on comp day
Friday, February 18, 2011
First Timer
Sooo.. I think my life has finally become exciting enough to document. This is my first blogging experience so I'm not quite sure how to tackle this. I guess I should start with introducing myself.
I am 21 years old and I balance my life between skiing and school, with a little more emphasis on the skiing part. Growing up on the beach in Carmel, California, didn't make my goal of becoming a professional skier any easier. As the youngest of 4, I think my family is pretty amazing. Even though my siblings beat me up a lot, they are my biggest fans and supporters, and I'm pretty sure I would be a huge baby without all their abuse. I blame my parents for my obsession with skiing. They are the ones who put me on skis before I turned two, and who fueled my obsession by driving me to Lake Tahoe every weekend throughout high school. I am currently a student at UC Davis, majoring in graphic design, and taking classes during the off-season.
I know I am extremely lucky to live the life I do, and I am grateful for every moment of it. I made this blog to share all my adventures with you, and I will do my best to keep it updated and interesting!
my brothers at X Games
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