• Sponsors

  GNU, Volcom, Oakley, Flux Bindngs, Mimi's Cookie Bar, Active Rideshop

• Goofy or Regular

  Regular

• Stance Width

  20"ish

• Home Mountain

  Mammoth Mountain, CA

• Favorite Spot

  Too many to choose from. Anywhere my friends are having a good time!

Bryn Valaika spent last season filming for Peepshow.  She put her pickle to the test across the country, riding everything from concrete to pow.  Bryn is always fun to travel with...  She's just at home roughing it with a bunch of dirtbags as she is glamming it up on the party circuit or training with the jocks.  Bryn is true Gnu and she rips!

Basics: Bryn Valaika, 18 (until sunday!), Gemini?

Gnu: Where's home? Where was it before? Bryn: Boulder, CO (during the school year) and Laguna Beach, CA for the summer time! Livin' the life. Used to be Laguna Beach, CA 24/7.

Gnu: If you had an unlimited travel budget, where would you go? Bryn: A bunch of tropical vacations, and then I also want to go to Africa to work in an orphanage soon. Hopefully I can make that happen!

Gnu: Do make a living off snowboarding? How do you pay the bills? Bryn: Currently a student. Lucked out and got a bit of a scholarship for academics which was sweet. Helped out a ton on bills. I work a bit for my dad during the summer months. He's an investment property salesman. He owns his own business, so I basically just do the bitch work there. Trying to learn the ropes.

Gnu: What does Gnu mean to you? Bryn: Gnu means family to me. With Gnu you know you have a lifelong relationship with those you work with as well as the brand as a whole, or at least it's the feeling I get. They are awesome and super supportive with any ideas I throw at them!

Gnu: Have you tried the Backdoor yet? Bryn: Yup.

Gnu: Hobbies outside of snowboarding? Bryn: I like to run. Currently in training for the Nike women's marathon in October with my mom. And then I also love going to the beach and just being outdoors camping, hiking, etc.

Gnu: What gets you out of bed in the morning? What inspires you? Bryn: My family. Everyone in my family is so inspirational, from my mom constantly training for her next marathon, as well as cooking amazing meals, taking care of "my" dog, my dad who works full time and still manages to charge in every aspect of his life (recently getting staples in a shin as proof of going maybe a little to gnarly), and then my brother who managed to go to college, buy a house, and start a clothing and a production company. They all have their own accomplishments and make me want to be able to work to achieve as great things as they do! I love them.

Gnu: Currently listening to? Bryn: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.

Gnu: Currently looking at? Bryn: My emails, sociology text book, and my homework.

Gnu: Whats next? Bryn: Going to Hood hopefully soon, and then completing my online classes in time for fall semester to start in August!

Gnu: Thanks? Bryn: Thanks to all my sponsors and my friends and family. You guys all are the best and I love y'all!