A slippery slope is just fine with Friess. In fact, it’s where the rising ski star feels most at home. In Friess’ first time competing at the United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association national tournament in Colorado this year, she won bronze and silver medals for jumping, grinding and ramping her way through slopestyle and rail jam events. That’s just the start of a future going from bunny hill to double black diamond.
Family Affair: Everyone in Friess’ family skis, so vacations turned into competitions revolving around the sport. Friess’ dad taught her the ropes, er, skids, when she was just a 3-year-old. Now Friess is the one in the driver’s seat. “I drove my dad to all of our competitions,” says the 17-year-old. “We would go to New York and Pennsylvania, so he’d tag along and ski when we got there.”
Board Games: With all her family support, Friess doesn’t have much need for a coach and doesn’t belong to a team. Instead, she perfects her tricks with friends at the Brandywine slopes, where she’s one of only a few girls who regularly participate in rail jam events. “Personally I wouldn’t call it practice,” Friess says. “I would say [it’s] having fun. It’s like I’m going skiing, not to practice. I love to ski so I just go do it.”
All Aboard: Friess loves the challenge of any sport involving ridiculous speeds and danger, board or not. She waterskis, barefoots (waterskiing without the skis), Rollerblades and skateboards. “Skateboarding really isn’t related to snowboarding except the fact that you’re standing sideways,” says Friess. “Skateboarding is the most difficult sport I’ve ever tried.”
Number Crunch: Friess doesn’t have much time between school, skating, her cat Tucker and ski practice, but she’s managed to be a winner off the slopes too, making the honor roll for every quarter of the 2017-18 school year. “During the winter, I go to school and normally go straight to Brandywine. But sometimes I’ll stop at home, and then I’ll ski until about 9 [p.m.]. Then I’ll go home and do my homework,” says Friess.
Girl Power: Friess hopes her success inspires more girls to do what she did — step out and compete. “Now my friends’ little sisters will go skiing with their brothers,” she says. “I feel like me encouraging them, as a girl encouraging another girl, really motivates them to keep coming out and getting better.”
Private Schools: Senior Audrey Friess Picks Up Speed On The Slopes
The Archbishop Hoban High School student competes in rail jam events.
