How did you start in your sport?
As long as I can remember I wanted to snowboard. I come from a family of skiers, and started skiing when I was 2 years old, but never stopped asking when I could snowboard. When I was 4 my mother gave in, and Santa brought me a little Burton Chopper for Christmas. I caught on right away, and was even allowed to take lessons in the adult classes because there were no advanced lessons for kids my age. I started competing when I was 5,

What's the hardest part of your sport?
When I first started competing, I found it hard to make friends with my competitors. But now that I've been competing for 4 years I've made a lot of friends with other riders!

Who is your biggest influence?
My biggest influence is my Mom! She's always supported me in snowboarding, and is a total "snowboard mom". She even started snowboarding when I did so we could learn together (but now I'm so much better than her she can't keep up with me!) She takes me to all my events, gets me to training, and works full time too! I also think Danny Kass is a great snowboarder, and has contributed a lot to the sport.

Any advice for new athletes ?
Don't give up, keep trying! You'll have a lot of days that you get frustrated, but if you work hard you'll succeed!

 Last magazine or book you read? - Transworld Snowboarding

Last meal you ate? - a chicken sandwich and some goldfish crackers!

Last time you traveled, where did you go?
I just got back from Windell's snowboard camp in Mt Hood Oregon! I spent a week training, and also worked on my skateboard moves. Next week I'm going to W oodward West camp for skateboard camp!

 Favorite Drink? - Root Beer

Your favorite piece of equipment?
My Burton Shaun White 127 cm Board! I've used it for boardercross, GS and Slalom all last season, and now that I'm getting taller it's the right length for hitting jumps. I hit my biggest jump on that board...64 feet! My coach couldn't believe it, and everyone on my team still talks about it.

14) What's one weird thing about you?
I'm the only competitor who's ever competed at the USASA National Championships in skiing and snowboarding in the same year! I qualified in ski halfpipe, as well as snowboard GS, slalom and boardercross. The computer system wasn't set up to handle someone competing as a skier and rider, so they had to register me as two different people and give me two different bibs!