Small Town Girl... Big Time Dreams!
I figure I should introduce myself to you readers who want to know a
lil more about the girl behind the skiing...
My name is Angeli VanLaanen, a small town girl, born and raised in Bellingham, WA.
I did however live one year of my life in Green Bay, WI. Fourth Grade, my mom, brother and I moved to support my grandmother through her battle with Breast Cancer. But that's a whole story in it's self... inspiring woman my Grandmere (french for grandma)!
So, what I'm getting at is... I am a NW Girl through and through! I love the rain and the fresh smell of ocean air. I love to travel and see the world but my heart remains in the Pacific Northwest.
I have one Big Brother, Cachaulo VanLaanen. He is my best friend! That's him above on the left and me on the right.
Through the years we've had so much fun. As my mom always says "smart kids don't get bored"... and we didn't. To give an example of a typical pastime:
We have always been obsessed with flying. I must have been in kindergarten and Cachaulo in 2nd grade. We decided that to get the optimum amount of Halloween candy that year, we needed to fly around the neighborhoods. After gathering supplies that consisted of cardboard, tape and paper bags, my brother made me a flying suite. Two sturdy wings and a protective paper bag outfit. It was beautifully crafted (ps. my brother is now a mechanical engineer). I then climbed up a tree (we climbed everything) and would have jumped if my mom didn't catch us. I truly thought I could fly. And I guess that has never left me.
Through my childhood I did every sport/activity you can think of. Soccer, Skiing, Ballet, Aikedo, Ice Skating, Swimming, Diving, Baseball, Basketball, Track and Field, Yoga, Acting in Theatre Productions, Performing With The Kids Circus, Art, Choir, Backpacking, Cliff Jumping, Fort Building, Gardening, Sewing and Remaking my Clothing, Airbrushing, Tie Dying, Movie Making (Claymation and magic shows), and the list is getting too long but there is much more.
My mother Allain VanLaanen is a woman of many talents. She is an amazing artist, teacher, mountaineer, botanist, agriculturist, single mom, musician, song writer, and the most kind and generous person I know. She is so strong, vibrant and full of life. With a mom like that, no wonder I was inspired to live life to the fullest.
As I got older, the main passions in my life became Ballet, Ice Skating and Skiing. First to go was Ballet. I spent too much time on my toes and putting my feet into ice skates or ski boots had become too painful. I continued dancing with a hip hop group through high school, but hung up my point shoes. Then came ice skating. My figure skating competitions fell on weekends and cut into my precious ski time. So then it was just me and SKIING!
There has always been something about flying down the slope, wind in my hair, rosy nose, with powder flying in my face! Can't beat that feeling!
In high school my brother went to Whistler, BC in the summer and of course I tagged along. This is when we discovered "New School Skiing." We had always jumped off anything and everything at Mt. Baker. But "table tops" and "halfpipes"... this was news to us.
That summer I fell in love with this new and challenging type of skiing. Of course we did, we were actually flying now!
:)
My brother being 2 years older then me, attended college at CU Boulder when I was still in school back home in Bellingham. I would go to visit him on my breaks and ski park at Breckenridge. This is where it all began.
I knew this was the spot for me, and moving to Breckenridge after graduating is just what I did!
From living in Colorado, I got plugged into the ski competition scene and decided to attend the US Freeskiing Open at Vail Resort. An unfortunate fall in slopestyle, broke my hand in finals. I had been planning a trip to Vegas the week following the US Open with my brother to attend the SIA trade show. I didn't let my pre-surgery hand stop me... so there I was, broken hand in sling, computer bag with DVD promo video, resume, business card packets for all the ski companies I was looking to represent. I walked out of the trade show with two sponsors. My ski career had begun.
I have finished my associates degree in Arts and Science. With two years in, I have settled on studying sports medicine and plan to go back to school in the next few years. At the moment I am completely focused on my skiing and pushing myself to that highest level.
I ski for the love of it! Always have and always will. I am forever grateful to the friends, family and sponsors that believed in this Big Dream of mine. Without your support I would not be where I am at now.
Angeli's Resume:
Sponsors:
Red Bull, Atomic, Breckenridge Mountain, Oakley, Ecitcarp Clothing.
Results:
1st VT Open Halfpipe 2005 & 2006
2nd VT Open Slopestyle 2005
1st VT Open Quarterpipe 2006
3rd US Open Halfpipe 2007
1st NZ Open Halfpipe 2007
2nd NZ Open Slopestyle 2007
Xgames Woman's Superpipe 2007, 2008
2nd NA Open Halfpipe 2008
Movie appearances:
Uniquely, Oakley
44 Day, Kris Ostness
Editorial:
Powder Girl, Powder Magazine Nov. 2008
Page Shot (pg. 70), Freeskier Magazine Nov. 2008
Ask A Pro, Freeskier Magazine Nov. 2008
Profile, Freeskier Magazine Dec. 2008
