At the age of 22, Elena Hight has collected quite the list of accomplishments. Recognized as one of the top female halfpipe riders in snowboarding, the Kauai-born, South Lake Tahoe-raised shredder has two Olympics under her belt after qualifying in 2006 and 2010. And throughout 2012, Hight was a standout competitor– finishing second at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado, behind the ever-talented Kelly Clark.

Hungry for a win, Elena scored the top spot at the 2012 Burton U.S. Open, beating out Clark and impressing all who witnessed her winning run. Her most recent feat went down this past May at Mammoth Mountain, where she became the first woman to land a double backside rodeo in the pipe. As we said, major standout with no hint of slowing down anytime soon.

Hight has recently moved down to Carlsbad, California, for the off-season and we decided that it was a perfect time to catch-up with the halfpipe slayer and get some nitty gritty details on what goes on in that brain of hers.

Top places you’ve never been to and would like to travel to.
Thailand, Bali, Argentina, Greece
Give us some guilty pleasures and/or bad habits?
TOO many guilty pleasures to even discuss…and cracking my knuckles is my never-ending bad habit
If you weren’t snowboarding, what other sport would you want to be insanely good at? Or what other sport are you insanely good at?
I would LOVE to be good at surfing. I do more of a flopping thing when on a surfboard.
Favorite food or restaurant?
Thai food.
Best part about growing up in Lake Tahoe?
The view– it will never get old
If you had to sing one song at karaoke for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pat Benatar- Heartbreaker
Riders who have inspired you throughout your snowboarding career?
Nicolas Muller, Danny Kass, Tara Dakides
Best live show you’ve ever been to?
Jay-Z at Coachella 2010
If you could give one male snowboarder a huge pow-slash to the face, who would it be?
Louie Vito
Main goals for next season?
I just want to have fun and progress this season. Taking my riding to the next level is my main goal.