Air of optimism
As one of the most talented and telegenic members of the 2006 Olympic team, Bleiler came into the games with tremendous pressure — and an extraordinary mindset.
“Everybody wants to win, but for me, victory meant having the best run of my life,” she says. “I didn’t care if I won gold, silver, bronze, or didn’t medal at all because the most important part to me was a perfect run.” That run earned her a silver medal — not bad for a girl who didn’t strap into a snowboard till age 11.
That’s how old Bleiler was when her family moved from Toledo, Ohio, to Aspen, Colo. Though she got a relatively late start in the sport, the three-time X Games gold medalist sees her flatland roots as an advantage. “Coming from Ohio, I appreciated the mountains more,” she explains. “The kids who grew up in Aspen took it for granted.” And in 1998, when many of those kids headed off to college, Bleiler stayed home, worked in a bakery, and pursued her dream of competing in what was then the newest Olympic sport. “That was a little scary, but I am proud I chose this path,” she says.
Bleiler’s relentless positivity would be annoying if it weren’t so damn genuine, and it extends to all phases of her life, including her fitness regimen. Thanks to opposite seasons in places like New Zealand and Chile, pro boarders ride pretty much year-round, competing from November to April. But on top of that, Bleiler stays active with pursuits like surfing, mountain biking, yoga, Pilates and hiking. On top of that, throughout the summer and fall, she’s in the gym five days a week.
“I work with an amazing trainer who’s also a physical therapist,” the 28-year-old says. “Technique is very helpful for injury prevention, so we mimic certain positions I’ll be in on the mountain. If I overshoot a jump and come down front-foot heavy, I'm able to fire from muscle memory to get out of that position hastily.” As knees and shoulders are common injury spots, Bleiler does a variety of squats — single-leg, lateral, squats with rotations, squats on unstable surfaces — plus shoulder and core work, focusing on form rather than heavy weight.
This routine also aids in executing tricks. “A lot of initiation with spins and flips comes from the legs, through the hips, core, shoulders and head,” Bleiler explains. “The more you want to spin, the stronger you need to snap your body. And to have it look good, you have to be really efficient.” In other words, the 720 Crippler she’s recently mastered has its foundation in the gym, not the half-pipe. And also in the simple fact that Bleiler’s got guts. “It’s my job to push the limits and overcome fears to stay at the top,” she says.
Yet her talents aren’t limited to whirling through the air as a crowd drops its collective jaw. Of late, Bleiler’s been using her shred icon status to advocate environmental responsibility. “As professional snowboarders, we chase the snow, and we see the effects of climate change firsthand,” she says. “After the 2006 Olympics, I realized I had a platform to do something about it.”
Since then, she’s gotten involved with stopglobalwarming.org and created the Snow Angels Invitational, an all-female snowboard competition that features an environmental workshop. She’s also teamed up with her major sponsors on the design of earth-friendly products like Oakley’s 100-percent recycled/recyclable Lighter Fare and Mane Eco Jackets, and K2’s Eco Pop board, which eliminates unnecessary materials without sacrificing performance.
As a new crop of hotshot riders garners press attention, Bleiler may share the spotlight a bit in Vancouver, but her approach hasn’t changed one iota. “My goals are to enjoy the entire experience, to do the perfect run that I have in my head with style, amplitude and grace, and to inspire kids who are watching to take a chance and go down this path,” she says. Like Ligety, she also has some advice for aspiring snow sliders: “Set goals so you have something to work toward and motivate yourself. Have fun — it can become so serious in your head. And bend your knees!”
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Air of optimism
