April Betty of the Month: Haille Soderholm

Age: 15
Home Mountain: Breckenridge, CO
Hometown: Prior Lake, MN
Years Riding: 8
Contest Results:
2011-2012 season:
1st - Slopestyle Revolution Tour, Ostego Michigan
1st - Halfpipe Revolution Tour, Ostego Michigan
2nd - Halfpipe Revolution Tour, Northstar at Tahoe
7th - Halfpipe Mammoth Grand Prix
1st - Copper Rail Jam

Sponsors: Anon, RED, Zion Snowboards, Arielle Gold (I get hand-me-down outerwear from her…haha)

What is it like to be a snowboarder in Minnesota?
Minnesota is the home of ice and cold. It definitely toughens you up a bit coming out of Minnesota - you learn to ride in some of the worst conditions. But I now live in Colorado for the winter to train and it’s heaven compared to the good ol’ Midwest.

What is it like having your brother for a coach?
It’s a love-hate relationship having Zach as a coach. He’s always pushing me to try new tricks because he knows I have the ability to do them, even if I don’t have the confidence in myself. He knows what I’m thinking before I do most of the time when trying a trick, which makes us such a perfect match! He knows what I’m scared or worried about without me even having to say it out loud. It also helps that he’s an amazing snowboarder himself and can physically show me how the trick is done before I try it out. He often teaches me a trick exactly how he does it so I can mimic his “guy style” because, no offense, most girls aren’t exactly the best in that area. Zach and I have our share of fights on the mountain (as any siblings do), but he’s my best friend and I know he’s pushing me because he wants me to be the best and knows I can get there.



What tricks are you working on right now?
Right now I’m working on back and front 7’s on jumps and working towards front 9’s in the pipe.


What’s your process for learning a new trick, any superstitions?
I always have to have my mouth guard in when trying a new trick; safety first right?! It’s really turned into a comfort piece for me and I feel bare without it. I also have to have the cheesiest, girly, pop, pump-up music as possible on my iPod to get me psyched. For example, I have some Selena Gomez, and Ke$ha currently on my playlist.



Any super exciting plans for the summer?
Summer job - super exciting I know! Besides my work ethic, I will be at Mt. Hood for a couple weeks to train and get in some summer shredding! It’s the perfect time for trying new tricks.


What did you think of snowboarding the first time you tried it?
I hated it. My dad put me on a leash. Yes, a bright red leash on his little pet daughter. But after I got pass the whole “stopping” concept, I absolutely loved it and knew this sport was going to stick.


What was Spain like? Why where you there?
Spain was fabulous to say the least. I was there for Jr. Worlds at Sierra Nevada for both halfpipe and slopestyle. It was my first time out of the country and it was so amazing to spend it with my closest friends who also got chosen to represent the US. But Spanish class did not prepare me for Spain. No one spoke English…ever! It’s quite the challenge to get by on just hola and gracias.


Where do want your snowboarding career to take you?
It is my absolute dream goal to one day go to the X-Games and make the Olympic team. It could be a long shot, but us Minnesotans dream big!


What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you on a snowboard?
I knew this story was going to come in handy one day. Well, it wasn’t necessarily on a snowboard, it happened one day after training at Woodward at Copper. I was jumping on the tramp, just warming up in yoga pants and being silly with my teammates. I bounced off the tramp and one of the Woodward instructors yelled from across the ENTIRE gym, “Hey girl in the green shirt! Your butt’s out!” I turned around and sure enough, there’s a gaping hole in the butt of my pants. My face turned red and I started laughing hysterically as I awkwardly walked/ran past everyone staring. I hope that’s embarrassing enough? I have a picture if you would like it but I feel it might be slightly inappropriate. smile


If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
Costa Rica or somewhere on the ocean, I haven’t taken a vacation somewhere warm in years! Mmmm, sunshine!


What inspires you to give it your all every time you strap in?
I have this crazy competitive edge, where I feel I have to be the best at everything. If I see anyone, guy or girl, doing the same trick I am, I get fired up inside and tell myself, “I can do that, but better!”


Pirates or Ninjas?
Ninjas - absolutely. Who wants to get seasick?


Would you be more likely to survive a black bear chasing you down the hill while you ride deep pow through trees or a crazy hyena chasing you through the park?
I would like to say the bear, but I can picture myself catching my edge and tumbling through the pow and getting eaten. Coming from Minnesota I am GREAT at riding pow. So I would have to say the hyena, roar.


What’s the most awesome thing about snowboarding?
The crazy amazing laughs I have had on a snowboard are some of the best moments of my life. I try to go out every day with a smile on my face. I also love that feeling you get when you stomp a trick for the first time after endless falls. Something just tells you inside, it was all worth it.



What do you do when you’re not snowboarding?
Play Tetris online. Seriously! I play against people from around the world and I’m getting pretty legit. I think I’m ranked in the top 100 in the US now…I’m not a dork I swear…


Favorites:
Phone app: The imaginary App for my imaginary iPhone!
Lift snack: Goldfish
Park feature: Anything and everything!
TV Show: Pretty Little Liars ‘cause, “Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead…” - creepy but oh so good!
Movie: Harry Potter! Expecto patronum!
Inspiration: My brother


Follow Haille on her Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1592000960

 

Posted by Diana Sciandra on 04/09/2012