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No amount of gridlock traffic can keep Bryn Valaika from making the long commute from Laguna Beach, CA to the slopes of Big Bear or the even longer haul to Mammoth Mountain for her “job” as a pro snowboarder. Bryn learned to snowboard when she was five and credits her older brother, pro rider Keegan for helping her get such a strong head start on her riding, “I chase him around the park whenever possible. I learn tons every time I ride with him.”
While she loves heading to the hills to snowboard, the beach allows her to refine her riding style thanks to skating and surfing. Living far from the mountains also helps her keep her studies up because if she had the choice she would probably take a bus to the mountain instead of school. “I love going on trips … especially when they come at the perfect time, right when I’m really burnt from sitting in a classroom listening to my teachers lecture.”
This year it seems the road has been her classroom for much of her winter and aside from photo shoots with Snowboard Canada and a how to 50-50 to front board trick-tip in the “Minor Threat” section of Snowboarder Magazine, the only thing she crammed for this spring was the slopestyle event at the 2008 US Open in Stratton Mountain, VT. The So Cal beach girl scored a coveted spot to the invite-only competition as one of the youngest riders in the field. With several amateur and regional contest victories under her belt in the 2007-08 season, Bryn’s ready to take the lead in the big leagues.
Results: 1st in Women’s Halfpipe and 3rd in Women’s Slopestyle at 2008 Burton AM Series at Bear Mountain, 1st at 2007 Peanut Butter and Rail Jam at Bear Mountain, 1st at 2007 PBRJ Championships at Mammoth Mountain, 1st in fourth session at 2007 Supergirl Jam in San Diego
Sponsors: Nike 6.0, Volcom, GNU, Active Ride Shop, Oakley
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