Originally from Kauai, Hawaii, Elena Hight is one of the biggest names in today’s women snowboarding scene. With a mere 24 years, she’s already a two-time Olympian and owner of five X Games medals.

As a little girl, Elena moved to South Lake Tahoe in California, where she fell in love with snowboarding and traded the surf for the snow. When she was 13, Elena became the first girl to land a 900 in competition. In May 2012, while training with the U.S. Snowboard Team in Mammoth, California, she then became the first woman to land a double backside alley-oop in halfpipe and one year later she even became the first snowboarder (male and female) to land the same trick in halfpipe competition at the X Games in Aspen, Colorado. As said, she’s been at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics, has won five X Games medals and has been on some of the biggest podiums of the World Snowboard Tour.

In addition to her professional snowboarding, Elena tries to live an active and healthy lifestyle. Sports and outdoor activities have always been a priority in her life and surfing and cooking are two of her greatest passions. Needless to say she’s on track to be a gold contender at the Sochi Olympics in 2014…

Photo : Elena at the Burton European Open 2013