Betty of the Month: Nirvana Ortanez

Diana Sciandra


Age: 19
Hometown: La Jolla, California
Home Resort: Mt. High, California
Current Resort: Mammoth Mountain, California
Sponsors: Utility Boardshop and Mt. High
Recent results:
7th Paul Mitchell Grand Prix Slopestyle, Mammoth Mountain, CA
1st Gatorade Free Flow Winter Tour Slopestyle, Bear Mountain, CA
1st Gatorade Free Flow Winter Tour Slopesyle, Mammoth, CA
6th Gatorade Free Flow Winter Tour Finals Slopestyle, Mt. Snow, VT
2nd Triple Air, Mt. High
Editorial, Ms. Superpark 6

How did you decide to start competing? Was your first competition scary?
It was the end of my 2nd season riding and my parents told me to do a rail jam for fun at our home mountain. I wanted to do it, but I was super nervous since it was my first time. It ended up being one of the best times I’d ever had and I ended up placing 3rd. It was fun to compete and it made me look forward to the next season even more because of that.

What advice do you have for girls interested in getting started competing?
No pressure. It’s all about having a good time and a little progression can even come out of it. Since I was a weekend rider, competitions were where I learned most of the things I know how to do today. If you like it keep going – you’ll meet some of the raddest people at competitions.

Pirates or Ninjas?
Hmm. I would have to say ninjas – I love cats and cats are the animal versions of ninjas.

What’s your favorite new gear this season?
One of my good friends won a pair of Dragon goggles and gave them to me! I was stoked because I needed new goggles and he super-sponsed me.

Competition or filming?
Competition is always there for me to push myself, but I really would like to put together a film part this upcoming season.

What are you most proud of this season?
I moved up to Mammoth for the season and it was life changing. Coming from a SoCal resort Mammoth was like a power playground and the parks were perfect all the time. This season I rode more power days than I had ever in my snowboarding lifetime and dropped cliffs – something I had never done before. I’m looking forward to doing that again.

Which tricks are you working on?
I’m focusing on putting a better slope run together. I also want to get into doing backcountry and hitting up some jumps out there.

What do you do when you’re not snowboarding?
When I’m not living up by a mountain, I’m hanging out with my family down at the beach. I grew up surfing and it’s still something I love. I used to compete in it before snowboarding, but now I like to go out for pure enjoyment. I also do Bikram Yoga to help out with focusing and healing of the mind as well as flexibility for all of the sports I do. My little brother has also taught me a thing or two on a bass guitar. When I’m not doing some sort of water sport in the ocean or yoga, I’m with him learning songs and jamming.


Where’s the coolest place you’ve traveled to ride? Where do you really want to go?
I’ve never been out of the country to ride for snowboarding, but I’d really like to ride in Japan sometime. I’m sure there’s crazy culture shock and everyone always tells me that it’s great out there. I’d love to experience that.

Favorites:
Lift snack: Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
TV: I’m more into the movie scene. And for that I’d say all the Disney Movies ever made.
Park Feature: down Lift Towers/Barrels & wall rides
Inspiration: Jess Kumara !

Catch Nirvana and Shred Betties Team Riders, Megan, Randa, Ashley, Erika, Madison, Claire and Paige at the Supergirl Jam in Venice Beach, Ca on August 22nd.
Check it out LIVE here: http://www.actionsportstour.com/2010/events/s3/index.html

Posted by Diana Sciandra on 08/10/2010