Everyone has different things they like in terms of board setup. The grind of the board and how it's waxed - you want to make sure that the speed of the board is right for the conditions of the halfpipe. And then there's the edges and the bevel of the edge.

Gretchen Bleiler

Every single one of us has the unique opportunity to create awareness and influence change

Gretchen Bleiler

influence unique opportunity

I'm fearful when I push myself. It's a tough thing to do, but you need to acknowledge that you have what it takes to succeed.

Gretchen Bleiler

tough succeed needs

Plant the seed, set the target, live your life.

Gretchen Bleiler

live-your-life target plant

Imagine if the mistakes we made actually helped us to just become better versions of ourselves. I believe this is what life is about, and when we look at it this way, then there is nothing to be afraid of!

Gretchen Bleiler

mistake believe way

Imagine if the whole point of this experience on planet Earth was to just open ourselves up more fully to who we really are, without filters, without masks, without any restrictions.

Gretchen Bleiler

filters imagine earth

I didn't know how I was going to get to the Olympics, and in the beginning, I didn't really care. And that was the best part, because my desire exposed me to so many different sports, and in all of them, I always dedicated my best effort because I knew that's what it was going to take to become an Olympian.

Gretchen Bleiler

best-effort desire sports

For the past fourteen years, it's been my job to push past my boundaries and do things I never thought I could do, which is why it's been such a fulfilling career.

Gretchen Bleiler

jobs past years

It took me a full year of black eyes and a bruised and battered tailbone to learn how to do a crippler in the half-pipe. It was a trick that no one else was really doing, and it was scary! But I stuck with it, and one day, it finally clicked. The crippler has been my signature trick ever since, and it's what helped me be so successful in competition.

Gretchen Bleiler

eye successful years

Imagine if you could never fail.

Gretchen Bleiler

failing imagine ifs

I've been a vegetarian, I've been a Paleo, and now I believe in the everything-in-moderation diet.

Gretchen Bleiler

moderation vegetarian believe

Eat lots of fresh vegetables, drink water, exercise often, and meditate daily.

Gretchen Bleiler

vegetables exercise water

Life is short, and if we enjoy every moment of every day, then we will be happy no matter what happens or what changes along the way.

Gretchen Bleiler

be-happy day moment life

I learned a few years ago that balance is the key to a happy and successful life, and a huge part of achieving that balance is to instill rituals into your everyday life - a nutritious balanced diet, daily exercise, time for yourself through meditation, reading, journaling, yoga, daily reflection, and setting goals.

Gretchen Bleiler

goals daily time life

It's okay to feel nervous before a competition because it means you care about doing well.

Gretchen Bleiler

feel you competition care

As long you are doing what you love and making decisions from the heart, you will be successful.

Gretchen Bleiler

you heart love long

I've learned that you have to make careful choices because everything has an impact. I've also learned that you can't please everyone in life, so please yourself and figure out what really matters.

Gretchen Bleiler

please-everyone yourself you life

The programs I do with my trainer are amazing for overall strength and have a major focus on building my core. We do a lot of unique exercises that shake up the nervous system, which builds my balance and propreception. That's really important for my sport.

Gretchen Bleiler

amazing balance focus strength

What most people don't realize is that in snowboarding, there are two different aspects: the filming side and the competition side. The filming side is when snowboarders spend the entire winter season trying to document the best, most progressive and innovative riding of the year.

Gretchen Bleiler

best competition winter people

Building up expectations, creating unrealistic time frames, feeling like our end goal is the end all, be all can all lead to frustration or anxiety. We end up feeling as though we have to power through what we want rather than enjoy the process and just let the result come as it may.

Gretchen Bleiler

feeling enjoy power time

I'm so grateful for all the experiences I've had; the life lessons I've learned along the way are just completely invaluable.

Gretchen Bleiler

life-lessons grateful life way