A snowboarding prodigy in his own right, Greg Bretz was on a board at age five and began competing at 10. The young shredder shook up the scene during the 2008 season with podium finishes and wins on both the World Cup and Grand Prix circuits, earning him his spot with the U.S. Snowboarding squad.

Knowing his capabilities, Bretz took some serious strides in 2010, including considerable success at the Grand Prix. Thanks to solid top-10 finishes on the three-stop U.S. tour, the then 20-year-old Bretz qualified for a spot on the 2010 Olympic Team, where he notched a 12th in Vancouver.

Although Bretz battled nagging injuries in 2012, he still managed to podium at both the Copper and Mammoth U.S. Grand Prix events. In 2013 Bretz knocked on the podium door despite tough competition at the Grand Prix and X Games. Given his ability to steadily progress, Bretz will be a heavy contender to punch a second Olympic ticket when Sochi rolls around in 2014.

GREG SAYS
The past season had its challenges and the runs people threw down were at a new level, but this is what will help me going into the Olympic year. I'm really excited for next year and have been training hard and pushing myself on and off the hill. 

FIRST TRACKS 
Bretz remembers being frustrated a lot when he took his first turns at June Mountain, CA at the age of five. But the first snowboard he got from his father, who worked lift maintenance at Mammoth Mountain, seemed to fit him better than a pair of skis ever could, so he stuck with it.

OFF THE SNOW
In the summer Bretz can be found skateboarding, playing around with his friends and hanging out with his parents.