Steamboat Springs local and high school sophomore Arielle Gold came onto the scene hot in early 2012. At the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria, Gold erupted with silver medals in slopestyle and halfpipe. Not long after, she upgraded to gold in halfpipe at the FIS Junior World Championships in Sierra Nevada, Spain. She then closed the season with a couple fourth-place finishes in halfpipe at the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix in Mammoth and the Burton U.S. Open, competing alongside the world’s toughest competition.

It’s safe to say 2013 was a breakout year for young Arielle Gold, who took the podium at nearly every competition she entered. She might have struggled to get on the podium at the Grand Prix in Copper, but she went on to win the FIS World Snowboarding Championships the following week. After a lucky break at X Games Aspen, Gold was able to enter the competition as the first alternate. It’s a good thing she did, because she came in third behind her competitive peers…who are five to 13 years her senior. She continued along the same path, winning the Burton European Open and taking bronze at X Games Tignes to close out her exceptional season. Topping it off, her stellar results earned her a spot on the U.S. Snowboarding pro team. This rising star has quickly become a part of the next wave of female snowboarders set to take the top.

ARIELLE SAYS
This season was the best I have ever had. Going into the season I was hoping to get one podium and I ended up getting a few, so I was really happy about that. I loved every minute of my season. I hope to start out the season strong and continue to be as consistent as possible throughout.

FIRST TRACKS
First on skis with Mom and Dad at age three at Steamboat Springs, Gold looked up to her older brother Taylor, who inspired her to try snowboarding when she was seven. “Taylor made it look like so much fun,” she says.

OFF THE SNOW
Gold likes to spend time in the pasture with her horses, Sparky and Bugs. She also enjoys playing soccer and hanging out with her friends.