Whoever said "girls can't go big in the park" has never seen Ashley Battersby. The Chicago native started out as an aggressive inline skater, but transferred her skill set to skiing in time to win slopestyle at the 2008 U.S. Open.

One of the most technical rail slayers out there, Battersby has had lots of early success on the competition scene. She won the Aspen Open slopestyle in 2010 and then went on to grab her first X Games medal, a bronze in the Euro X slopestyle. In 2011 Battersby won the first stop of the Dew Tour and the AFP World Championships big air.

The 2012 season was quite a year for Battersby, as she was in podium contention all season long while also battling numerous injuries. She attempted some of the hardest tricks ever done by a woman, which culminated in her landing her first ever switch 1080 mute-grab.

In February 2013 Battersby was having the run of her life at X Games Aspen when, sadly, she injured her knee during her final trick. She has since focused all her time and energy into rehab so that she can be strong for the 2014 season. Dually talented, Battersby has kept busy with her other passions, sewing and apparel design, which can be purchased on her website.

ASHLEY SAYS
It was such a bummer to hurt my knee and not finish my season, because I was skiing so well. I have been training hard in the gym to come back strong and right where I left off. In the meantime be sure to check out my custom-made clothes on my website and watch for me next season. It’s going to be great!

FIRST TRACKS
Battersby got her start on the slopes when she was 18 months old in Grand Geneva, WI. Her parents were both ski instructors and loved the snow, a love they instilled in Battersby. She moved to Park City, UT in 2002 with her family and was competing in slopestyle that very first year. Her three brothers, Tyler, Adam and Zoo all ski, but she learned everything she knows about freeskiing from Ty and Adam. She wanted to be a ski racer just like her idol Picabo Street, but Tyler changed her mind. He noticed that, at the time, there weren't even a handful of girls in the freeskiing industry and thought it could be a nice niche for his sister. “I am very blessed to have parents and family who support me. Skiing would have never taken me this far if it wasn't for them,” says Ashley.

OFF THE SNOW
Battersby enjoys the gym and says, “I'm about 95 percent cross training. That leaves the other piece for family and other things I love to do.” A part of a very outdoorsy family, she does a lot of her training with her brothers or her mom. You’ll find Battersby at spin class, yoga or lifting weights. When she is home in the summer, she goes to the skate park and trains at the Utah Olympic Park on the trampolines and water ramps. She loves to camp, hike, bike and rock climb, but she he also loves to sew during her mellow alone time. “Recently, I started a hoodie company where each hoodie is original and made by hand. You can also design your own custom hoodie that no one else will have. I am huge on having your own style, standing out and being unique. Check them out at http://abomb.bigcartel.com/”