Her name is Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, but she typically signs her name as Callan C.S., because nobody can actually pronounce her name. She is a real cool girl and one of the nicest people you will ever meet; no attitude, just cool all around. I met Callan in Idaho- the day I retired after watching ladies just slay themselves on the Wu Tang at Tamarack. After too many injuries, I distinctly remember thinking in my head, “OVER IT!” I went into the tent to have some lasagna and there was Callan, just chillin with a busted up knee or shoulder – or something like that. Ever since then, despite suffering injuries that would put most athletes out for the long haul, she has been a rapidly rising star. She’s also a native Alaskan, which just makes her cooler all around. Author: Zoë Anderson

I first got into snowboarding when I was 7. I grew up in rural Alaska, 300 miles away from any chairlift and a place only accessible by boat or plane. I started out because my brother was all about it and I had to tag along with him. Out in that part of the world there aren’t movie theaters or arcades or any of those kind of conventional things, just wilderness. So snowboarding was what we did. My brother and I would spend every day of the winter hiking and snow-machining to places we could ride.

What advice would you give kids looking to compete at a higher level in this sport?

The best advice I was given was from Rosey Fletcher, the 2006 Olympic Bronze medalist in Giant Slalom. Before I headed to the Vancouver Olympics she gave me a card that said “Don’t forget: Smile! Snowboarding is fun“. That was just the right thing to say at the time. Emotions and thoughts can get pretty intense sometimes and it’s good to remember the basics and disregard the rest. I think the number one thing to success is realizing that there will most definitely be setbacks, bad seasons and hiccups and that everyone experiences those things no matter how successful. The people that continue on to the top are the people who don’t let those setbacks affect them and stop them from continuing.

What is the proudest moment in your athletic career thus far?

My proudest moment in my career was making the Olympic Team. It was after I had made the team that the breadth of the whole thing hit me and it was really the support and pride that Alaska showed me that made the whole thing so powerful. There was a send off party that my sponsors organized in Anchorage right before I left for Vancouver. I expected to just see family and friends at the event, not thinking that other people would bother to come. There were hundreds of people who came to send me off, a big portion of them Alaskan Natives and the vibe in the room was indescribable. And up until that moment, I had been so involved in my own world with getting to the Olympics and thinking race to race, that to be in this room was overwhelming. The emotion and support of Alaska made the experience so special to my bones. It wasn’t just my own accomplishment, but I felt as though all of indigenousAlaska had a piece and was going through the same emotions that I was. Totally indescribable.

What is are your daily training routine and diet like?

I’m excited for every one of them! Consistency and having a full season of riding well is what I’m looking forward to. I’m planning on doing some freeride events this year, so stoked for those!

At any race anyone can win, which is what’s awesome about snowboarding. There are so many great riders and all of them are equally as capable any given day. It’s really all about your own riding and making sure that you don’t let anyone get past you.

Alyeska Resort is still one of my favorites. Maybe it’s that you know your home mountain best and on a powder day know exactly where to go. Alyeska at Christmas time is unbeatable!

What are your favorite sports other than snowboarding?

I would love to do something in the industry… and always have snowboarding in my daily life! I work a lot with indigenous organizations promoting sports so something in that area would be rad.