Girl On: Ashley Battersby
May 30 2007 / Los Angeles, CA
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Ashley Battersby is knows something about skiing. That's not surprising when you grow up in a big skiing family (both parents taught skiing and all three of her brothers ski as well)., but it's a little interesting when you are in Chicago -- not exactly a skiing Mecca.
But credit her parents for seeing something special in their kids and moving the family west to Park City, where Ashley's career has flourished. Now 18, she's developed into one the top female park skiers on the slopes, and despite some tremendous injuries (broken hand, thumb, blown out knee, tio name a few), she continues to dominate. In 2007 her podium appearances include first place finishes at April's Coca Cola Rail Jam at Whister, and March's Big Bear Open. Throw in a second-place finish at the European Freeski Open in March and it's a good thing she still loves what she's doing because she's pretty darned good at it.
Now Ashley takes some time to talk with Lat34 about her career, her injuries and what it's like to room with guys on the road.
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Lat34: What's your earliest memory of skiing?
AB: Skiing at the ole' GG (Grand Geneva, WI) with the crew of 20 kids just charging the three 200 vertical foot hills. That's where I basically learned how to ski was there, on pure sheets of ice, hand built jumps, homemade welded rails and ski patrols who always liked to ruin our fun.
Lat34: Where did you grow up?
AB: In Chicago Illinois! Beautiful city, but no mountains or snow. I lived there until 2002 and then decided that my brothers and I really wanted to pursue our dream to ski professionally and Utah was the best place to do it!
Lat34: When did you first know you wanted to be a pro skier?
AB: I think ever since teachers have been asking you in school, "What do you want to be when you grow up?” and ever since then which was probably kindergarten.
Lat34: How would you describe your skiing style and what you are into?
AB: Well basically what it comes down to is I'm a steeze muffin. (Laughs) Naw, but I grew up with 3 brothers, and so I really like to rock big baggy clothes, and wrap my hair up in my helmet. One day actually I was wearing my usual get up and had a BATTERSBY jersey on and one of my brother's friends comes up to me n' goes "Yo, Ty what up dude! What did you do last night, blah blah..." and I was like "DUDE! It's Ash, man!"
I really am into rails/urban, and jumps. I love the feeling of being control in the air and jibbing on rails, but the best is the feeling of on a good not so freezing pow day, just floating on top and getting a mouth gulp of snow during a face shot -- you sorta choke on the snow. I LOVE it!
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Lat34: Who did you grow up looking up to?
AB: My brothers; they have had the biggest impact on my skiing/life. I have always looked up to all of them because they taught me all I know about skiing and constantly had their true honesty about anything and everything. They are my main influences in my choices I even make in my daily life. (Laughs) I don't think they know that.
Lat34: Did you have any female ski heroes or was it all guys?
AB: Tanner Hall. Actually I bought so much Oakley Stuff just because he wore it. There was this ad of him wearing this coal color poofy jacket and I told my mom that I had to have it, so she made me buy the $210 jacket with my own money... But on the other hand Sarah Burke was definitely one of my main female ski heroes. I remember the first time I met her/ It was at SuperPark 6 and I went up to her to introduce myself and was like, "Hey I'm Ashley!" and she’s all, "I know who you are!" My smile was a mile wide! I was so stoked that day.
Lat34: What are the girls like in the ski scene?
AB: I really respect most of the girls in the industry, they work super hard and everyone is always stoked on everyone, always cheering each other on, and just having a good time. I haven't seen too many girls flip out on each other or rip out any hair so I think its pretty good (laughs).
It’s kind of hard when you're traveling because there are only a few that actually do the sport, and when you go places you're usually rooming with boys that fart in your face, come home drunk super late and throw their boogers at you. As for the girls, we're all just in the same place, trying to progress the woman's sport of skiing together by helping each other along the way.
It’s kind of hard when you're traveling because there are only a few that actually do the sport, and when you go places you're usually rooming with boys that fart in your face, come home drunk super late and throw their boogers at you. As for the girls, we're all just in the same place, trying to progress the woman's sport of skiing together by helping each other along the way.
Lat34: What kind of tricks are you working on right now?
AB: I'm working on different grabs and really trying to coordinate that into my spins right now.
Lat34: Are there any parts to skiing that are really hard for you?
AB: Like backcountry or pipe or certain kinds of things in the park? I would definitely say the mental game. Your mind, it lays tricks on you sometimes, and for me it's usually at the worst time it could ever happen. But mind over matter, right?
I really struggle with pipe, but don't have much motivation to really progress at it much right now. I'm really trying to get the backcountry thing down, took an avalanche class and started skiing a lot big mountain this year. I really love pow skiing but it is super hard for me, I find myself stopping in the middle of my run to take a quad breather because they get worked really quick.
I really struggle with pipe, but don't have much motivation to really progress at it much right now. I'm really trying to get the backcountry thing down, took an avalanche class and started skiing a lot big mountain this year. I really love pow skiing but it is super hard for me, I find myself stopping in the middle of my run to take a quad breather because they get worked really quick.
Lat34: What is the hardest thing in general about life as a skier?
AB: Being in constant pain/soreness. I can't complain, my job is doing something I love and that is the best job ever.
Lat34: How many years do you see yourself doing this?
AB: As many years as my body will handle it. If I could choose I would love to do it forever.
Lat34: What are five things you HAVE TO HAVE when traveling?
AB: Computer, clean undies, toothbrush, knee brace, ibuprofen.
Lat34: What's on your iPod this week?
AB: Make it Rain! Lil' Wayne
Lat34: What are you most proud of doing in the last few years?
AB: Just accomplishing my dream of doing something I have always to do and being someone I have always wanted to be... a "skier". That just gets me so stoked, just doing what I love all the time.
Lat34: How do you feel and what do you hear when you are whizzing through the air?
AB: Before competitions I try to block everything out, the cameras, the "Go Ashley!" and the announcers, because that helps me really focus. Just being in my own place, my own zone. Before every comp I pray, not to win, but just so that my guardian angel is right beside me, helping me get down in one piece.
Lat34: Worst wipe out ever....where and when?
AB: Man there's been quiet a few (laughs). This year 2007 at the US Open during my second run, I didn't quite stomp my first run so the pressure was on for my second. I had landed my jumps and was going on to the rail section at the bottom. There was this flat down rail but a pretty decent gap between the 2 boxes, didn't jump enough for the gap and missed the down box by a few inches and hit my back leg (which had a previously torn ACL leg) on the front of the box and flipped over it. I landed with my legs and arms all tangled up and let out the loudest "AHHHHHHHHH" I have ever let out. My friends said you could hear it at the top of the course it was so piercing.
I was super worried because it was the worst fall I've had since my knee surgery, and overreacted and thought I might have broken my leg. Ha, turns out it was bruised up pretty badly and to this day I still have a bit of calcium build up, but, hey, better then a broken leg right?!
I was super worried because it was the worst fall I've had since my knee surgery, and overreacted and thought I might have broken my leg. Ha, turns out it was bruised up pretty badly and to this day I still have a bit of calcium build up, but, hey, better then a broken leg right?!
Lat34: Does anything about skiing scare you?
AB: I-N-J-U-R-I-E-S! Once you have one it's really hard to go back to the same mentality that you were earlier before that injury. Sometimes it's hard because it can hold you back, but you just gotta get over your fears so you can keep moving forward with your skiing and improvement.
Lat34: If you could be any other kind of athlete what would you be?
AB: I love to rollerblade, that's mostly my cross training in the summer. I would probably move back to Chicago (they have a lot of good streets there) and want to be rollerblader. I suck at surfing but you're in the sun, you get to be in a bathing suit almost all day, and its one of the most fun sports I think.
Ashley is sponsored by Scott, Volkl, Tecnica, Marker, Helly Hansen, Park City Mountain Resort, Skullcandy, Bern
--Shanti Sosienski
