Just going to the Olympics would be a dream come true. I could finish last, and it would still be an amazing experience.
Over the years, I've hurt my thumb, separated my shoulder, and injured my back, but not too bad. Actually, my back was hurt pretty bad. I had to take an ambulance and was in bed for a week.
I just grew up in the States, so I feel like I identify more with the American culture.
I've flown from Aspen and then to Switzerland the next day and then off again the day after. That's the thing I love most about snowboarding, honestly - getting to travel and explore different places and meet people.
I have two aunts and three cousins in Korea as well.
My dad would load me into the car under a pile of blankets in the middle of the night so I could sleep the whole way and be on the mountain when it opened.
Being in a class with kids, meeting new people, and borrowing notes from other students - I've never done that before. I've always had to fend for myself.
My father didn't want to ski alone, so he took me up to the mountains in order to basically bribe my mom to come with him.
I don't get butterflies. I get a good feeling in my stomach before I compete. When I don't, I get worried.
I don't remember the exact moment I fell in love with snowboarding; it wasn't something cheesy like, 'Oh the wind was blowing through my hair and I just knew this sport was for me... ' I was good at it, and it's exhilarating!
I'm so used to America, used to the traffic in L.A., and I don't really feel it click with the Korean culture. But obviously, I have a Korean face, and I feel like that's just - you know, I can't walk around people like I'm, like, straight-up American. It's like, I'm Korean American. My parents are from Korea.
I think the cool thing about snowboarding is that everyone has their own style.
I freak out when I see a spider. I was doing an interview once, and there was this really big, furry spider crawling up the tripod, and I was like, 'I can't do this!'
I try not to feel pressure, because I feel like it kind of throws you off. I always try to focus on myself. But it does kind of creep into the back of my mind.
When I first started snowboarding, my dad pretty much dragged me into it. I wasn't old enough to be like, 'Oh, I wanna snowboard!' you know?
I'm a dragon.
My mom wouldn't let me dye my hair for the longest time.
I'll be really tough on myself. Someone will be like, 'Oh that's really cool' and I'll be like, 'Yeah, but there's this one flaw.'
It would be meaningful if I can get a gold medal in my parents' country.
I knew if I went home with the gold medal knowing that I could do better, I wasn't going to be very satisfied.
