Did someone sayyyy ... shredding?!

Hello all. I apologize for the long absence. I haven't had much to talk about! Until ... now :). I began snowboarding around age 8, thanks to the coolest sisters in the world. They have taught me everything i know, on and off the snow :). Snowboarding has always just been a fun family hobby for me, until the 2009/2010 season. The first time i went this season was without my family. I had planned a nice day trip with my friend. I told my sisters how, out of habit, i would look behind me on the lift, expecting my family to be right there behind me. Just like they have been behind me my whole life. So that day, i decided to break free and just ride and ride. It was like nothing i had ever experienced. I thought to myself, "Where the heck did this come from?" It had finally hit me. I got 'the fever' as Alexis called it :). That night i went home and googled professional female snowboarders. In fact, for the next week, i was googling. Eventually, i came across a girl named Torah Bright. She is considered one of the best female snowboarders of all time. As i read her biography on Wikipedia, i found out she is a member of the church. That was all it took. Again, I thought to myself, "She is Mormon AND a girl. I totally got this!" She is officially my hero and my inspiration. A few weeks later my dad and I had to go on the Priest/Laurel snowboarding trip. While everyone was on the bunny hill, papa grant and I decided to hit up Giant Steps :). We were riding up the lift together and he says to me, "Maiyah, you need to get a helmet." Shocked at the random comment, I replied "Huh? Why?" He said "You go really fast. And your better than any girl up here. I think you should start competing." Whoa. That's when it all came out. I told him everything. And after that, i sent a mass text out to my sisters and brother. Of course, everything that came back was the support and love they've always given me. My brother Keill's reply was, "It isn't all fun all the time ... competing and practicing... you're gonna eat major shit, get knocked out, be sore like you've never experienced...but if that's worth beating everyone else and standing on a podium for you, then i say go for it. You only live once and your youth is way too short." So, after careful consideration and lots of prayers, I have come to the conclusion that I am going to start competing. Honestly, I'm not sure where or when to start, but I'm ready to do anything and everything it takes to get on that podium. Hopefully, in one piece :).