Girl On: Gretchen Bleiler
Jan 25 2008 / Los Angeles, CAJanuary 2008 Update: We first caught up with Gretchen Bleiler last year before the X Games where she ended up winning silver. Her career has grown since, with a win at the Chevy Grand Prix this season and a huge cover story on ESPN the magazine in advance of this year's X Games, which have just begun. This Olympic medalist has become the face of the X Games for many people. See what she told us last year and keep up with this year's X Games on Lat34.
A nice girl from Aspen who loves to go big and isn't afraid to take it all off
The only thing that’s changed about Gretchen since she won is the Olympic silver medal in Turin is she bought a nicer car—a black Lexus SUV that’s so new it doesn’t even have license plates yet. Otherwise, she’s the same old G. She still finds time to do stuff like roll into the local cable studios in Aspen to do an interview on “The Local’s Show” even if she is still in her snowboard boots because she rushed to the studios straight from the hill. She said it was her first powder day of the year—so not only did she agree to make an appearance on little ol’ Aspen Grassroots TV, she actually showed up even though there was a foot of fresh snow on the ground.
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It’s good to see the 25 year old Aspen homegirl still has her priorities straight, despite the media attention, sexy magazine spreads, celebrity friends, ESPY awards and multiple appearances on national talk shows. Her life has changed, but she hasn’t. She’s still the girl next door with her blond hair and flushed cheeks and wide smile who is never too busy or distracted to say hello. She doesn’t really want to talk about baring her bare behind in the JANE magazine spread or posing for the cover of FHM in body paint. Instead, she’s already talking about the 2010 Olympics and readily admits there’s nothing she hates more than not winning, except maybe some of the hype that comes with all that exposure, so to speak. It’s clear that Gretchen is not about fame. She’s all about snowboarding.
We caught up with Gretchen before her favorite event of the year—the X Games—where she always holds the sweet home court advantage. Here’s what Aspen’s little snowboard darling had to say about life after the Olympics.
Lat34: Let’s talk about the Olympics. Everyone always says the Opening Ceremonies are their favorite part.
GB: It was definitely amazing walking out there with all the athletes from the United States and being a part of that, in those outfits—those berets! Why do they have Americans dressed in berets? Shouldn’t that be France? [laughs] But the thing was we had practice right after that and so we were supposed to leave early. We only walked halfway around the stadium and then exited where this van picked us up. But then we ended up getting stuck there because of all the traffic so we totally could have stayed.
Lat34: I’ve heard you have to go through all kinds of security and have to wear clothes they issue you and al this stuff the whole time. Is that true?
GB: Totally. It’s weird. The crazy thing was the American team had super tight security and other teams didn’t have that. They were really worried about terrorists and stuff like that. It sucks that we’re definitely not the most popular country in the world.
Lat34: So was it surreal? Were you able to sort of be present and enjoy it or was it a total blur?
GB: I was totally present and soaked in every minute of it but it was surreal in some ways too. The awards ceremony was the most amazing part. It was hard to believe I was standing there with this Olympic medal around my neck. Now that was surreal.
Lat34: Only it was the wrong color. Are you bummed about that?
GB: I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. I’m going to make my comeback though. I’m hoping to be there in 2010 so I can win that thing. I’m competitive but I think it’s a good thing because it’s what drives me to keep going. I’m not used to not winning. I don’t like it. Now I have a focus, I have a goal.
Lat34: To set the record straight.
GB: Yep, to set the record straight.
Lat34: So what’s it like dealing with all the attention that comes with being an Olympic gold medalist?
GB: It's been a really exciting time and the exposure is great for me and my sponsors. Sometimes it's hard being in the spotlight because people are keeping a close eye on you and looking for reasons to talk about you. But overall it's a great thing and I hope to be able to share some of my life experiences and the things I care about like the fight against global warming. I've recently started working with Laurie David's organization stopglobalwarming.org and hope to leverage my exposure to spread the word about how each of us can make a difference in helping protect the environment.
Lat34: Wow, you sound so mature. So I guess that means you haven’t turned into a diva?
GB: Yeah, where’s my Evian water for this interview? [laughs]. Come on. Look at me. I’m sitting here in my snowboard boots.
Lat34: True. How was the mountain today?
GB: It was awesome! It was my first real powder day of the season and I couldn’t get enough.
Lat34: So I know you did a lot of national television appearances. What was that like? Was it scary?
GB: No, it’s totally fun and I really enjoy doing them. I have appeared on the Today Show, Access Hollywood, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, GMA, Inside Edition, Cold Pizza, ESPN Hotlist and others.
Lat34: Let’s talk about your background. Did you grow up in Aspen?
GB: I grew up in Ohio until I was 10 and then we moved to Aspen so I’ve been here 15 years.
Lat34: Tell me about your journey into pro snowboarding.
GB: I started snowboarding a year after I moved to Aspen when I was 11. I went to Aspen Country Day where we had half days off on Wednesdays to go up on the hill so I took a lesson with some friends and loved it immediately. Until I was a sophomore in high school I just free rode and then I joined the Aspen Valley Snowboard Team and loved it. I’m a pretty competitive person so it was right up my alley.
Lat34: Did you start riding pipe then?
GB: That first year I did everything, slopestyle, halfpipe and racing just on my soft boots.
I made it to Nationals. That’s when I decided I loved competing and wanted to go as far as I could with it. The year I graduated high school, I joined the U.S. Snowboard Team and spent the whole year traveling and competing.
Lat34: I know your journey to the Olympics has been a long one. Didn’t you miss out on Park City by like one spot or something?
GB: There were five Grand Prix Olympic qualifiers. Tricia and I ended up tying.
We had to go through a triple tiebreaker. It was super stressful and crazy, but in the end I think it was a good experience. I was bummed I didn’t get to go, but at the same time I was so relived it was over because it was over because it was a lot of pressure. But then that night it kind of sunk in that I wasn’t going and I was bummed, but that’s what gave me the determination to push through for making it to the Olympics in 2006.
Lat34: The X Games: What is your main focus, what can we expect to see from you this weekend?
GB: Just want to go out and have fun and do my best and not let the pressure get to me
But I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to win. I’m really competitive. I’ll be the first to admit that. Like I said, I don’t like not winning, especially in front of my family and friends. I love being at home in Aspen, though. That always makes it really special no matter what happens.
Lat34: Yeah, what’s it like having the X Games in your hometown?
GB: Its awesome to compete at home but at the same time there’s a lot of pressure. It’s good because I have so many supporters. It’s awesome to have whole town with you, but there’s pressure too because I want to do well. There’s always lots of media stuff to do—it seems like everyone and their mother is calling me right now who I haven’t heard from in awhile. It’s always crazy when I come home because I have so many people I want to see.
Lat34: Why did you choose Aspen over other popular pro spots? It doesn’t seem like there are many snowboarders here.
GB: I grew up here and this is the place that I love the most. I’ve traveled all over the place but Aspen will always be my home. It’s beautiful and there is so much to do in the town restaurants art galleries, there’s so much culture here for a mountain town. Other mountain towns are nice, but something’s always missing. Aspen seems to have it all.
Lat34: You have a place down in So Cal, too, right?
GB: Yeah, I go down there and surf whenever I can. It’s just so nice to be at the beach and enjoy the warm weather when you’re in snow almost all year round. It keeps me sane and I love to surf. Surfing’s a lot harder than snowboarding. I don’t ever think I’ll feel like I’m that good at it. But it’s also low impact and so good for my body. It makes me feel strong, especially in my upper body, which I don’t use enough.
Lat34: Speaking of your body, how did the JANE photoshoot come about and how did you feel about the photos?
GB: JANE approached me about supporting the Clothes Off Our Back charity along with some other amazing women. I generally don't like doing things like this, but it's for a great cause and I hope our involvement helped raise a lot of money for children's charities.
Lat34: Uh-huh. Is that really all you’re going to say about that? Baby, you got back. I mean that took some serious courage—your butt was totally showing.
GB: Well it was for a good cause, right?
Lat34: Yeah, I remember posing for the cover of FHM in body paint the year before kind of freaked you out.
GB: Totally. I was terrified, but in the end it was great exposure for me and for the sport. They did a big party for us at the X Games, which was really fun. I just don’t think of myself that way, so it’s weird. I’m supposed to be a snowboarder, not a sex symbol.
Lat34: Well, if you got it, flaunt it I always say. I thought it was tasteful enough. It really did look like a bathing suit.
GB: It’s all good in the end.
Lat34: So what can we expect to see from you at the X Games?
GB: I’m just going to go out there and stay focused and do my best, but let’s just say I like the color gold much better than silver.
Want more Gretchen? Check out her blog on WCSN...
Gretchen Bleiler at the '06 Chevrolet Grand Prix
