The Tahoe World caught up with North Tahoe / Squaw Valley ripper Michelle Parker via e-mail while she was taking a break from her endless winter in Maui to learn about her new sponsorships, being a rookie on the pro skiing circuit, women in a male dominated industry and generally living a rock star lifestyle..... or is it?

Tahoe World: Tell me a bit about what you’ve been up to as far as skiing goes in the last year. Any good competition results?

Michelle Parker: Last year was the busiest year that I’ve ever had. It started out in Mammoth, getting my ski legs back and prepping myself for the competitions in January. I competed in the US Open and X Games. The Open went well, I placed 3rd in the slopestyle. I then went to Utah to film in early February and also to compete in the Queen’s Cup. My team placed second in that event, which was an amazing event, tons of fun. I stayed in Utah filming for the remainder of the month and then hit the road with my Orage team.

We traveled all over Europe and Japan for a month. I ended my Euro trip in Sweden for the Jon Olsson Invitational, headed home for a few days, then went straight up to Whistler for the Word Ski and Snowboard Festival. I placed second in the slopestyle there. Went back to Tahoe and hit up Mammoth again to judge the Orage Masters. I was back up in Whistler for the summer, coaching at High North Ski Camp and commuting from there to Hood testing skis with the K2 Alliance team. I then went to Quebec to use the water ramp facility and followed that up with a month in New Zealand. I just got back from NZ about a couple of weeks ago and am now enjoying a bit of summer in Maui. The year was hectic, but it was basically a transition year for me and I learned a ton about what I want out of a season.

TW: You’ve popped up in the new K2 marketing campaign, the western theme. What’s up with that? Are there any other sweet sponsorship deals you have going?

MP: K2 is unlike any other ski company, in that they are a tight-knit group of guys (and one girl) who have a great outlook on our sport. They go over the top with advertisements and portraying their athletes to the public. Basically, because they are an American company, they chose the Western theme. Last year they did a spoof on Animal House. I just got back to Maui from a shoot in LA for the following year’s theme. I can’t let you in on what it is, but it was hilarious to shoot and, again, they spent a lot of time and effort in to making it crazy and over the top. Other than K2, I’m currently riding for Orage, Anon, RED, Squaw Valley, Freestyle watches, Da Kine, Skullcandy, Technica, and Marker. They are all amazing companies and have been nothing but supportive and helpful to build my career.

TW: How about films, are we going to see you in any films this year?

MP: I filmed with Poor Boyz and Filthy Rich Productions last year. Check out Ski Porn and Cold Blooded.

TW: What do you have on tap for the coming season?

MP: I’ll start my season off with the San Francisco Icer Air event on the 3-5th of November. Following that, I’ll be skiing at Squaw for most of the season. Filming around Tahoe as much as I can, as well as Canada and Austria. Competing in the same competitions as last year. Going on tour with the Orage Grass Roots Competitions. We’ll be stopping at a lot of different mountains in North America looking for young new talent and riding with the kids. I’ll be filming with Poor Boyz for the most part and just following the snow.

TW: At 19 years old, you are a fresh young face in skiing. What’s it like being the new kid on the block?

MP: At first I was a bit star struck to be skiing and meeting most of the people that plaster the walls in my room at home, but now they’re just people to me that share a common thread. It’s been exciting, interesting, but nothing short of good times. Everyone’s super nice. I feel like no matter where I am, the ski community is a second family. It’s good to have good friends on the road with you, keeps you from getting home sick.

TW: On that same note, you are youth in the female skiing world, how have female skiers progressed in the industry in the last year or so?

MP: My first competition was the US Open three years ago. Since then, every year I’ve been back, and every year the number of female competitors has doubled. The Queen’s Cup, a competition that I mentioned earlier, was put on last year in Park City, Utah. It was the first all women’s competition. A good friend of mine, Anna De Masi, put it on. We had no idea if there was going to be very many girls interested or how it would go over. In the end, there were a total of 67 girls competing. We actually had to cap the entries because we weren’t prepared for so many girls. Being at that event was a huge eye opener for a lot of people. The sport is continuously growing. At the WSI last year I met Kaya Turski. She came from a solid roller blading background and had hardly skied prior to the 2006 season, when she came into the scene and won just about every competition that she entered. It triggered a huge inspiration for me and I’m sure a lot of other girls as well. It’s inspiring to see girls ripping around the mountain on twin tips.

TW: How do you see female rippers progressing even more in the industry?

MP: As the interest in the sport grows, so will the number of people, the number of girls, and the industry as a whole. It’s going to become more competitive and therefore push the females harder and harder every year.

TW: As a young and attractive girl in the skiing industry, do you find women and sex being used as marketing, or has the badass (and often equal to men) athletic ability of a lot of the female rippers out there (including you) removed girls from that type of role?

MP: This is one of the most frequently asked questions that I get and in knowing that, I think it’s pretty apparent that a lot of girls are used as marketing tools. I’ve noticed it in all sports and I don’t think that it will stop, unfortunately. Companies use athletes to sell products, that’s the bottom line. To consumers, attractiveness is attractive. If a girl rips, then she’ll get hooked up, but companies like having poster girls too. I guess that’s the only way to put it.

TW: Where can local Tahoe fans catch a glimpse of Michelle Parker this season?

MP: I’ll be shredding at Squaw all year!!!

TW: Any local comps to note?

MP: If I’m around and there is a competition, I’ll be there.

TW: What’s your favorite Tahoe run or area for freeskiing?

MP: I grew up in Squaw and can’t think of any other mountains that I would rather ski at. I can find something fun on every run, but KT and Granite Chief are some of my more frequently skied areas.

TW: What is the best thing about being Michelle Parker?

MP: I’ve got endless support from my family. They are awesome and encouraging. I wouldn’t be doing what I am without them.

TW: Now that you’re big time, are you living the rock star lifestyle?

MP: Big time huh? That’s a funny term I’ve never considered until now. A lot of people don’t look at what I do and think that it’s hard work. I think they may stereotype it as being a rock star lifestyle, but it’s a lot of hard work. I’m not saying that I would trade it for anything, but you won’t find me in any tabloids or on MTV any time soon. I’ve never sipped Crystal, walked around in a lavish robe on my balcony, or owned a cat-sized dog that I take everywhere with the same outfit as me. I’d rather continue living with my parents while I’m home in Tahoe and leave the rest for Paris and Lindsey to fight about.

TW: If so, how is that treating you?

MP: I ordered a movie at a hotel once...that was kind of fun.

TW: If not, what’s your lifestyle like, and how is it treating you?

MP: Basically, I love to ski. I have support from sponsors to do that so I try to please them as much as possible while enjoying life all the same. I wake up in the morning, check the weather, gear up for the day, get to the mountain, stretch, meet up with the filmer and one or two other riders, hike, sled or catch the lift to the spot, scope the snow conditions, maybe build a jump or chose a line, ski, fall, ski, fall, ski, fall, stretch, rest and eat. I come home later, read a book, catch up on all the emails that have been piling up, make some phone calls, stretch, ice, stretch, think about the next day, check the weather again and then sleep. I’m enjoying life and having fun. It’s been good, hectic at times, a learning process, but nothing short of laughs, smiles, and good times.

TW: What is the coolest thing you’ve done in the last year?

MP: Traveling to Japan was an incredible experience. Their culture was so unique to us. It intrigued me and easily is one of my favorite places to be.

TW: What is the worst thing that’s happened to you in the last year?

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