Hi, my name is Chris (aka Cupcake)! I am 15 years old, I live in Bend Oregon and I love to ski! I am lucky enough to am a member of the MBSEF Full Time Competition Freestyle Ski Team along with some of my best friends. As part of my training I get to ski 5 days a week and regularly compete in USSA and USASA events. I started skiing when I was 5 then joined the after-school ski program at Snow Valley, CA when I was in 1st grade. I did that for several years then I joined the Snow Summit Race Team in the 2010-2011 season. After a year of racing I decided that free-skiing is what I really want to do. Skiing has led me to events and training sessions in 6 states and helped me to make new friends all over the country. I truly love all aspects of my sport and I really enjoy sharing my ski experience with others. I hope to one day be able to open a freestyle ski program geared towards giving disadvantaged and at-risk youth the opportunity to have as many incredible experiences with skiing as I have had.
My other big passion in life is training in my family's traditional Okinawan Karate school. I started Karate when I was only 3 years old and earned my first degree black belt this past October at the age of 14. I love teaching and sharing my karate knowledge and skills with others. My martial arts training has given me invaluable experiences of leadership, effort, public speaking and performance, competition and camaraderie; all of which have helped me to become not only a trustworthy and responsible person but a top athlete as well. My karate training has taken me to competitions in over 5 states including multiple National and World competitions. Because of those experiences I have made Karate friends from all around the country. I know that without the skills I have learned in karate that I would never be able to deal with the pressures of the Freestyle Ski competition world. Also, I know that without the body awareness and conditioning, strength, coordination and flexibility I have gained from the 11 years I have trained in the martial arts, my body would not be able to withstand the stress and physical exertion I put on it when I am training for my skiing. One of the most important things that I know karate has given me is the ability to believe in myself and trust my instincts. I am not afraid to try new things or meet new people and I love being able to teach and share my skills with others. I know that without karate, my life would be very different and I am thankful everyday that I am fortunate enough to have karate training in my life and to be able to share it with others. It makes me a better person, a better athlete and a better skier.
When I'm not skiing or doing karate I can usually be found hanging out with my little brother, jumping on the trampoline or riding my skateboard. I love to go to the lake in the Summertime where we can wake-board, slalom ski and ride on the tube! I believe in being myself instead of trying to be someone else, always striving to be a good friend to my buddy's and enjoy helping people that need an extra hand. I'm a typical, all American, easy going guy looking to make the most out of every second I am blessed to have in my life!
My other big passion in life is training in my family's traditional Okinawan Karate school. I started Karate when I was only 3 years old and earned my first degree black belt this past October at the age of 14. I love teaching and sharing my karate knowledge and skills with others. My martial arts training has given me invaluable experiences of leadership, effort, public speaking and performance, competition and camaraderie; all of which have helped me to become not only a trustworthy and responsible person but a top athlete as well. My karate training has taken me to competitions in over 5 states including multiple National and World competitions. Because of those experiences I have made Karate friends from all around the country. I know that without the skills I have learned in karate that I would never be able to deal with the pressures of the Freestyle Ski competition world. Also, I know that without the body awareness and conditioning, strength, coordination and flexibility I have gained from the 11 years I have trained in the martial arts, my body would not be able to withstand the stress and physical exertion I put on it when I am training for my skiing. One of the most important things that I know karate has given me is the ability to believe in myself and trust my instincts. I am not afraid to try new things or meet new people and I love being able to teach and share my skills with others. I know that without karate, my life would be very different and I am thankful everyday that I am fortunate enough to have karate training in my life and to be able to share it with others. It makes me a better person, a better athlete and a better skier.
When I'm not skiing or doing karate I can usually be found hanging out with my little brother, jumping on the trampoline or riding my skateboard. I love to go to the lake in the Summertime where we can wake-board, slalom ski and ride on the tube! I believe in being myself instead of trying to be someone else, always striving to be a good friend to my buddy's and enjoy helping people that need an extra hand. I'm a typical, all American, easy going guy looking to make the most out of every second I am blessed to have in my life!