Algonquin teems with young expert snowboarders

It turns out Joe Stein, 17, and his brother Mike, 15, aren't the only Algonquin residents competing in this week's national snowboarding championships.

I got an e-mail Thursday from Regan Burke, whose 12-year-old granddaughter, Kirby Kelly, is also in Copper Mountain, Colo., for the USA Snowboard Association's nationals.

She's no novice to the national competition, and says this marks her fourth appearance.

Kirby practices three to four times a week during the season at the Raging Buffalo snowboard park in Algonquin -- that's also where the Stein brothers perfect their techniques.

Kirby's mom, Sherry, tells me that when her daughter isn't snowboarding or working out, she joins her brother C.J. at the Warp Skatepark in Woodstock to stay in shape when there is no snow.

C.J., 10, is an up-and-coming skateboarder in the U.S., and you can check out his fancy moves on YouTube.

Anyway, here's a selection of my interview with Kirby, who will be competing Thursday and Friday in the halfpipe and slopestyle events. Halfpipe is like riding a snow-covered skateboard ramp; slopestyle involves doing multiple tricks while riding a snowboard all the way down a slope, sort of like surfing.

By the way, Kirby wants to give a shout-out to her grandma Regan for supporting her throughout her training and competitions.

Let's wish Kirby and the Stein brothers -- and any other locals out there we don't know about -- the best of luck.

Daily Herald: How did you get into snowboarding?

Kirby: I started when I was 7, when my parents gave me for Christmas a lesson package at Raging Buffalo. The park is actually right down the street from my house.

DH: What do you like about snowboarding?

Kirby: It's just really fun and you get to meet a lot of cool people. I just got the chance to ride with Torah Bright who is a pro snowboarder for Roxy who I also ride for and I get to travel all over the world.

DH: What are your eventual goals with the sport?

Kirby: I would like to become pro, go to the Olympics and travel all over the world.

DH: How often and where do you compete?

Kirby: I compete at Raging Buffalo literally three minutes from my house … about every other weekend. I also travel and do competitions around the Midwest area, like the Chevy Revolution tour in Duluth, Minn., where I got first place in the halfpipe competition. I just got back from the Burton U.S. Open Girl's Junior Jam in Vermont, where I placed third -- which was very exciting for me.

DH: Who is there to support you in Colorado? Your mom, dad, brothers and sisters?

Kirby: I know my whole family will be supporting me but only my mom Sherry and my little baby brother John will actually be there. My dad, Joe, and my other brother, C.J., who's 10, will be at home cheering me on. And of course, my friends from the Raging Buffalo.

DH: Are you nervous about competing? If so, how do you get through it?

Kirby: I'm not really nervous because either way I know I will have fun.