Betty of the Month: Melissa Riitano

Age: 20
Home mountain: Great Divide
Hometown: Helena, MT
Years riding: goin on my 8th
Sponsors: Flawless clothing
Recent results:
    Made finals at PBRJ, Mammoth 2011
    PBRJ, Keystone 2nd 2011
    Yam Jam Copper Mtn, 1st 2010
    Queens Cup, Park City 1st 2010


Photo: Tim Sorenson

What did you think of snowboarding the first time you tried it?
    I loved it minus scorping every inch down the hill haha.

Any advice for girls who are new to the park?
    Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to fall everybody does it.

Pirates or ninjas?
    Humm the age old question…. definitely ninjas!

What’s your process for learning a new trick? Working on anything now?
I’d say I think about the trick a lot the day before, then not as much when I’m actually trying it.  Kinda weird, but it gets me outta my head. I think it helps to have fun with it and not over-think it. Right now just trying out some BS 7’s - pretty dang close. 

 

What have you been up to in the off season?
    I was at Mount Hood for a good chunk of the summer living in a closet. Now I’m just back in good ol’ MT working, fishing, biking, trying to keep my sanity until the winter.


Most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you on a snowboard?
    Haha ooh boy I’ve done a ton of dumb things but I’m never really embarrassed.  Probably the funniest was when I was mobbin’ through the park right after this jump, and was just trying to pop back to goofy with a fs 180, but I didn’t really pop, so I just penguin slid all down this hill, pretty funny.

Exciting plans for next season?
    Well I’m hoping to get into some bigger contests and start hitting some hand rails, but I’m pretty bad at planning ahead so we’ll see where this winter takes me.

 

Filming or competitions?
    I really want to get into both more, but I’d say I would prefer filming.


Photo: Tim Sorenson

Who influences your snowboard style the most?
    GUMBY, that dude can move!

Most annoying thing in snowboarding?
    Getting cut off by dudes who think you can’t ride, most annoying thing ever.


Photo: Tim Sorenson

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
    Right now I’ve got my sights set on Japan, best looking pow!


Photo: Jeff Nass

Favorites:
Cereal: Maple shredded wheats!
Snowboard Shop: The ForOsix in Helena
Movie: Stepbrothers
Imaginary animal: Dragon fish
Shred tunes: Anything I can vibe to
Inspiration: Friends, nature, the ocean, just life in general

Posted by Kelly Vance on 09/14/2011