Siblings take to the slopes

Suzie Harrison

They live in a world where things such as a rear-handed backside

handplant with a front-handed grab is everyday language. Not only

have they mastered the language -- they have mastered the technique.

That’s what it means to be a top snowboarder and Keegan Valaika, 14,

and his sister Bryn Valaika, 11, of Laguna Beach have continued to

prove themselves as top riders.

At the end of last month, both qualified to compete in the U.S.

Amateur Snowboard Assn. National Championships. About 1,200 riders

qualified for the nationals, which is the largest snowboarding

competition in the world.

Keegan won the Open Division Slope Style event.

“My favorite event is slope style, the rails and the jumps,” said

Keegan who has been snowboarding for about six years.

His combined status in Slope Style and Half Pipe earned him third

place overall in the Freestyle category.

“I also competed in the half-pipe,” Keegan said. “My favorite

[maneuver] is a Rodeo 720. Once you get over going upside down it all

comes pretty easily if you keep trying.”

Over the years, the snowboard association’s Open Division category

has been an area of competition for such snowboarding greats as

Olympic gold medalist, Ross Powers, silver Olympic medalist and gold

X Games winner Danny Cass, Olympic gold medalist Kelly Clark and X

Game gold medalist Sean White.

Bryn had a good day at the national competition as well.

“I got third place in Slope Style and sixth place in half-pipe,”

Bryn said. “Slope Style is my favorite, I like rails and jumps and

stuff.”

A lot of their competitors have become friends.

. When asked about learning the tricks Bryn said some are more

difficult than others.

“When you try to learn a 360 and hadn’t tried one before you keep

falling.

“What keeps me motivated is to keep trying, putting my mind to it,

knowing I will fall before I get it,” Bryn said. She has proven

herself well and said her favorite tricks are 360 Indy Grabs, 50-50

on rails and board slides on rails.

During the season, the U.S. Amateur Snowboard Assn. organizes 450

snowboard and freestyle skiing events around the country. Those who

qualify at the regional level are invited to the national

championships.