Gretchen Bleiler began snowboarding at age 11, and turned professional in 1996, when she was 15. She just missed qualifying for the 2002 US Winter Olympic team, but then dominated the circuit in 2003, with eight straight wins, including the Winter X Games halfpipe, the US Open, the overall Grand Prix title, the Vans Triple Crown overall title, and the World Superpipe Championship. Out with a torn ACL in the 2003-04 season, she returned in 2005 to win the Winter X Games, the Gravity Games, and the US Open. She again dominated in 2006, winning the overall Grand Prix title, the World Cup title, and four of five Grand Prix events, but she was upset at the Winter Olympics, losing out to her close friend, Hannah Teter, and winning a silver medal. Continuing to compete Bleiler was Winter X gold medalist in 2008 and was the 2008 Winter Dew Tour superpipe champion. She also designs snowboards and outerwear for Oakley and K2.
United States