Bio
To say Kaya had a successful 2011 season is an understatement. She was victorious in slopestyle at the X Games, Euro X, AFP World Championships at the World Skiing Invitational and Winter Dew Tour at Snowbasin, Utah, putting her at the top of the AFP women’s slopestyle rankings for the third year in a row. Perhaps only mentioning 2011 is just another way of understating Kaya’s history of success. She has been a champion since her first competition as an inline skater at age 14.
Since the 2008 New Zealand Open, she has no less than nine first place finishes in major contests, including an undefeated record in Dew Tour slopestyle events and four consecutive X Games victories in the U.S. and Europe. Her achievements carried her to the number one spot in the AFP world slopestyle ranking for 2009, 2010 and 2011.
While Kaya is friendly, fun and goofy when out skiing with her close friends, it can take time to get past her initial cool demeanor. It’s part of her mystique in some ways. She’s quiet, serious and focused when it comes to competing because, for Kaya, competing comes first. Being social comes second.
Q & A
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When did you start skiing?
Late 2005/early 2006
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Years as a professional:
I have been professional since 2007.
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Who/what inspires you?
People who strive to be the best and push the sport to its limits.
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If you were not a pro skier you would be?
Not to sure. Maybe a sports med doctor, or a strengthening coach/physio.
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What are your favorite songs currently loaded onto your thump?
Best Rapper alive-Lil Wayne Blueprint 2-Jay-Z Comfort-Lil Wayne Allure-Jay-Z and Biggie Dirty Ice Cream-Lady Gaga Self Destruction-Lil Wayne I like it rough-Lady Gaga
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What is more important to you than skiing?
My family and friends' well being.
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Do you have any other special talents?
When I was a kid I did a lot of art, like fimo figurines and necklaces and other stuff. I like to do a lot of different things like crochet, fimo, and sew.
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To me Oakley is:
The leading brand in style and practicality in snow and lifestyle eyewear, and it is one big happy family!
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Favorite:
Bands: Weezy Films: The Usual Suspects Books: I don't have a favorite book, but I just read a great book called "Still Alice." TV shows: Grey's Anatomy, Weeds, Sopranos Drink: Home tea, Pepsi, Water
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What move/trick/goal are you working on?
In the near future, I would like to get some switch unnaty’s dialed and also work on some switch cork and flat 5’s. More long term for the season, I want to do my best in comps but also work really hard and produce a sick segment of my own.
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5 items I can't live without:
Skis, Macbook, iphone, car, visa
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If you could be someone famous, who would you be?
Rafael Nadal
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Party Animal or Mellow TV on the couch?
Depends when you catch me.
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How do you see yourself? Are you rebellious? Quiet? Weird? Why?
It depends on my mood. For the most part, when you first meet me most people would call me quiet. I’m pretty opinionated. I’m also pretty driven and when I get something in my head I go for it!
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What are the things that inspire you?
The success that athletes like Sarah Burke and Tanner Hall have had.
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What is the greatest lesson you have ever learned?
You can do anything you put your mind to if you work hard enough.
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What is the greatest thing you have taught somebody else?
Hopefully the same as above.
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What are the greatest hurdles you have had to overcome in life?
Not being able to ski for pretty much 2 years. Definitely experienced a lot of lows during that time but coming back and skiing made it all worth it.
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What are your most fond childhood memories?
Camping every year for a month at a time and skating every weekend.
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What makes you different than other girls or just unique?
I like showing off my bruises, haha! We used to have uniforms in high school and I would flaunt my big bruises from the skatepark.. oh man. Not different from the Uniquely crew at Oakley but in general the fact that I like extreme sports separates me from most girls. I’m really motivated and want to push myself to the limits.
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What are you passionate about and why?
I’m passionate about women’s skiing and feel very strongly about the respect we deserve. Makes me want to ski harder every day.
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What interests do you have other than skiing and why?
I like to chill at home with my friends. I enjoy shopping, hanging out, relaxing because my life is on the go for a big part of the year. I like to work out, trampoline and rollerblade because it’s fun (at least the last two) and keeps me in shape for skiing.
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Favorite must-have beauty products
Aveda shampoo and conditioner, Clinique mascara when I wear mascara, Chapstick
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What are your travel essentials:
Cosmetics/hygiene products, computer, ipod, a good book, blanket from home, visa (if all is lost at least you’ve got the plastic!)
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What book are you reading right now?
Real Estate Investment for Dummies (lol) and The Brethren
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Favorite place to vacation:
Hot hot places!
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You never leave the house without...
My phone! Though I have done it before and it can be quite refreshing.
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Who would you play in a movie?
Scarlet Johansen obviously….!
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Secret celebrity crush:
Rafael Nadal
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What do you dislike about yourself?
Quietness/shyness because sometimes comes off as arrogance, I hate that. Sometimes I’m too hard on myself when I don’t succeed in what I wanted to do.
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What words or phrase do you most overuse?
Dude, ummm, stoked!
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What is the quality you most like in the opposite sex?
Determination, motivation
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What do you most value in your friends?
Unconditional love, honesty
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