Only 19 years-old, Arielle Gold is widely credited for pushing the sport of women’s snowboarding. At the age of 17, she was the youngest member of the US 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic halfpipe team. In 2013, she was the second-youngest snowboarder to win a world championship.
Just two weeks ago, Arielle took her third medal in the X Games by completing a Michalchuk, a flat-spinning backflip in which the rider turns 540 degrees, a trick seldom seen in women’s competitions. Arielle comes from a successful athletic family. Her older brother Taylor is also an Olympian snowboarder, and her father Ken Gold is a former professional moguls skier.
Before winning in the snow, Arielle competed in rodeos and horse jumping events. She hopes to be a veterinarian after her snowboarding career and has two horses, Sparky and Bugs.
We were lucky to catch Arielle fresh after winning silver in Aspen, to share her tips for peak performance:
Location: Breckenridge, CO
Favorite Exercise: Back Squats
Favorite Healthy Snack: Kale chips with cashew cheese
Favorite Way to Center: Yoga
Favorite Book: Harry Potter
Personal Motto: Be Present.
Daily Routine:
- 8AM – Breakfast
- 9AM-1PM – Training on the Mountain
- 130PM – Lunch
- 2PM – Workout, Stretching at the Gym
- 4PM – Afternoon Smoothie
- 5PM – Homework
- 7PM – Dinner
- 9PM – Bed!
What gets you out of bed every morning?
Hunger for a good breakfast!
What is your #1 wellness habit?
Eating well.
What is the best piece of health advice you’ve ever received?
Drink lots of water.
What is your favorite part about living a healthy lifestyle?
Feeling great after a healthy meal.
What’s your biggest wellness challenge? How do you address it?
Avoiding unhealthy foods, such as candy. If I get cravings I will have a piece of fruit, or a cup of tea.
Tell us about a time you were stuck in an unhealthy cycle and how you got out of it. What was the main inspiration for positive change?
My inspiration comes from my desire to be a better person and athlete. Although I go through phases of unhealthy eating, I always bring myself back by envisioning myself at peak performance, and knowing that eating healthy is just another stepping stone to get there.
If you could give one piece of health advice, what would it be?
Be kind to your body and it will be kind to you.
Arielle Gold is a Winter Olympian, Professional Snowboarder and Horse Rider. For more inspiration from Arielle, follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and check out her fundraiser Animal Rescue of the Rockies.