Girl On: Elena Hight
Feb 28 2008 / Los Angeles, CA
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This year Hight has had a strong season including a win just a few weeks ago at Squaw Valley in the 48 Straight contest. Coming up this weekend is the Van's Tahoe Cup, where she won in '07 and took second in '05. Not surprising, considering she currently calls South Lake Tahoe home.
Lat34 caught up with Elena as she prepared to defend the Van's Cup and to see what is on tap for her through the rest of the season.
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Elena: Thank you. It's super fun being able to just be at home and it was good weather and a good pipe and just a super mellow contest. I had fun.
Lat34: How is the rest of the season looking for you at this point?
Elena: I'm super excited for the rest of the year. Last year was definitely a bit rough in every situation -- no matter what. I've already gotten some really good powder riding in this year and it's been good weather. It's definitely starting off better than last year.
The rest of the season I'm doing Van's Cup and then the US Open. I'm really having a mellow contest season. I'm taking a fun year and doing a few contests and really just riding whatever's good. The snow's been great. There's just so much of it. I have a few trips planned so hopefully it'll snow for that. I'm kind of just focusing on photos and filming for the the rest of the year.
Lat34: Do you have any films coming out this year?
Elena: Yeah, this next fall. I'm filming with Burton -- that's fun. It's really cool to ride with all the girls on the Burton team and just focus on that. I'm filming a little with Runway films as well. It's really cool to be part of an all-girl video.
It's awesome to be able to devote the majority of my season to that because I haven't been able to that before.
Lat34: What are your favorite places to travel?
Elena: My favorite places that I've been to? Definitely Japan because it's just so different there and it's really cool to go experience the culture. All the people are so friendly.
I have been to Australia the past two summers and I just love it there. It's amazing and I would love to move there or New Zealand.
Within the U.S., obviously I love Tahoe. It doesn't get much better than here. I spent a lot of time in Colorado in the beginning of the season because of Breckenridge, Keystone... They really have good parks and pipes early in the season. I go all over the place.
Lat34: Even though you've recently turned 18, do you feel any pressure about keeping up with even younger riders?Elena: I snowboard for fun and that's why I got into it and that's why I ride. As long as that keeps up I'll always be be able to find the fun in it. That's my main priority and I look at it that way instead of more as a job.
Lat34: You're looking forward to the 2010 Winter Olympics. What will you have to do to get back on the team?
Elena: There's a few contests we have to do next year. We have to do a couple of World Cups and be a part of the FIS circuit to even be eligible to try and qualify. So that's that's next year and the year of the Olympics is when the qualifiers will be.
Lat34: Was your Olympic experience your career highlight thus far?
Elena: The Olympics is what I always dreamt of doing growing up snowboarding so it's definitely the highlight of what I've done. I've been to so many amazing places and seen so many cool things because of snowboarding, but if I had to pick one moment it's being part of the Olympics and experiencing that whole competition and feeling of being there for the United States and competing for your country.
It's a pretty crazy event and I really had no idea how big it was until I was there. Staying in the athlete village, you were there with people from so many different countries and sports. It was cool to be able to go and experience that and meet a lot of different people with different backgrounds than snowboarding.
Lat34: How do you feel about the advances women's snowboarding has made and where it's going?
Elena: Women's snowboarding has made such a huge leap in just the last five years in terms of recognition and there are more girls getting into it. There are more women-specific contests and film crews and that's really awesome. The women's side of snowboarding still has more to grow and is still behind the men as far as skill and the tricks that are being thrown down. But it's that way in any sport.
Women's snowboarding is pushing it faster and at a higher level than a lot of sports and catching up with the guys a lot quicker, which is cool to see.
Snowboarding is something that once you go up and do it, you instantly get hooked. The more people who see it in contests or in the Olympics or in videos, the more they will try it. More girls will get hooked on it and keep growing the sport.
Lat34: That said, do you have any advice for any young girls wanting to do it as a career?
Elena: Don't take it too seriously. Go out and snowboard for fun and if you really love it then the doors will open.
Lat34: And now for a couple of questions I just have to ask... What's on your iPod right now?
Elena: I actually just got this new Zune -- I don't know if you've heard of it. I've been listening to that and I put a bunch of new music on it. I've listened to a lot of hip hop lately, which is a little different for me. Usually I listen to more oldies and bands like Led Zeppelin and The Cure. I love my girlie music of course, like Britney Spears and Madonna. I can't get enough of it.
Lat34: And the Oscars just were on. Did you have any favorites among the winners?
Elena: I actually missed the Oscars. I was at the airport picking a friend up. But one of my new favorite movies that I saw was "Juno." That was by far one of the best new movies I saw in a long time. "Superbad" is my newest favorite comedy.
Lat34: Time for a shout out to your sponsors!
Elena: Right now I'm riding for Burton, Volcom, Oakley, Nixon, Adio and Monster.
Elena can be reached online through her myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/elenahight.
- Greg Baerg
