Through the Eyes of a Competitive Snowboarder

            Having the opportunity to grow up in Colorado has made me realize how fortunate I am to have had the privilege to live in such a great place. Being raised in the small mountain town of Steamboat Springs, I was surrounded by people with active lifestyles. Whether it was skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, or snowshoeing, all of the people I knew enjoyed some form of outdoor fun. My passion was snowboarding. For most, snowboarding brings to mind the typical recreational sport. People think of a day on the mountain having fun with your friends and family while enjoying the snow. I certainly had those days as well but for me snowboarding became more like a job, a career that I had to devote my time to. There were long hours of training both on and off the hill, waking up very early to get to the terrain park before the crowds, and traveling across country and the world for various competitions. .
             As long as I can remember I have always wanted to be a professional snowboarder. I began my competitive career at the age of six and won my first National Championship title when I was in third grade. After that win I was offered my first big sponsored from Burton Snowboards. Being sponsored helped by alleviating the expenses if new equipment and travel. Being sponsored also came with the responsibility to perform. I had to make the decision that snowboarding was something I wanted to seriously pursue and stick with. I would need to dedicate my time to training and this would entail some sacrifices. Becoming online schooled and making a move to Breckenridge, Colorado were just a couple of the sacrifices that would come along with this new territory I was diving into. There was time away from family and friends and the normal things that regular school kids get to do. I may not have had the typical high school experience, but that chapter in my life gave me the opportunity to meet many amazing people from all walks of life and experience new places.