Gross Gets the Gold: Snowboarding Team finds success in first year of existence

Jamie Gross '14 racing at Regionals.

This year, Conn welcomed a new club, the Snowboarding Team, created by Johnny Borbone ’12. Made up of roughly ten students, the team travels to competitions, and members have the choice of either straight racing or slope-style, which includes tricks. The team is part of the New Jersey Conference of USCSA.

Jamie Gross ’14, a skilled member of the team, participates in the racing parts of the competitions. She won first place at all three races in which she competed at Hunter Mountain in New York, and to top it off, she won first place at Regionals. I sat down with Gross to discuss important snowboarding matters.

How did you become interested in snowboarding? When did you begin?

I started at the age of six, so about twelve years ago. I saw it and thought it looked really fun. At first, I rented boards for the season and I got my first real board when I was twelve.

Do you do any tricks?

I don’t do tricks. I’ve tried them, but I do want to pick them up. I’m thinking of competing in the trick part next year. I can do boxes.

What are boxes?

There are boxes on some of the hills and you can ride up and off of them. I’ve only done them a couple of times.

Do you have any advice to beginner boarders?

Speed is your friend. It totally is. The slower you go, the easier it is to fall.

And a lot of people are afraid to go fast, but that’s where it gets fun. Oh, and wear a helmet!

Have you ever gotten injured while snowboarding?

I’ve injured my knee snowboarding. I want to say it was my junior or senior year of high school. I wear a knee brace now and it’s fine.

What was your best experience with boarding?

Winning Regionals is pretty exciting.

What do you think of Shaun White?

I think he’s annoying. I mean, he’s good at what he does, but I’ve heard that he’s really cocky.

Do you also ski?

I just snowboard. But I have a lot of friends who only ski.

Where’s your favorite place to snowboard?

Alpine Meadows—at my home mountain in Lake Tahoe, California.

What’s it like boarding out here?

Compared to home? Where I live, we get about five feet of snow with every snowstorm, and we have a storm like every weekend. Out here, it’s a lot icier and slushier and there’s not as much snow. But it’s still fun.

Do you have any crazy nicknames?

People call me Jaim. Wait, I have a better one—Jamala. And Jammer Bammer. I like that one the best.

Favorite food. Go.

Sushi’s pretty good.

Why sushi?

I just like it.

Should we expect to see you in the Olympics in the near future?

No, (laughs) I’m not that good.

Pirates or ninjas? I hear there’s a big debate.

I’m gonna go with pirates. I hope people stay my friend after this one.

What’s something you like to do that not many people know about?

I tap dance. I’ve done that since seventh grade.

Would you ever dance at Conn?

I would, but they don’t have tap dance here.

Favorite bands?

I really like Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Kooks and Vampire Weekend.

Any parting words?

Everyone who competed did really well this year. The team’s really fun and everyone should join!  •