Rock Rapids, IA (December 2, 2014) – Ignite Christian Academy seventh grader, Kurt Hoshino, is gearing up to start his fifth season as a member of the United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA). His first event this year will take place on December 14 at Mammoth Mountain in California.
A native of Huntington Beach, California, Hoshino got his first taste of the slopes on skis at age three.
"I wanted to snowboard, but my mom said I had to wait until I was older, so I started snowboarding at age eight," Hoshino said. "Since then I've been traveling to Mammoth Mountain, which is about 300 miles away from my home, to ride."
Since joining the USASA team, Hoshino has participated in over 15 competitions per year at Mammoth Mountain. Last year he also traveled to Copper Mountain in Colorado to compete in the National Championships for the first time.
With a five and a half hour one-way commute to Mammoth Mountain, Hoshino enrolled at Ignite Christian Academy to free up his schedule for practice and competitions.
"My favorite part of being an online student is that I get a one-on-one experience with my teachers," Hoshino said. "Two things I've discovered while studying at ICA are that I can wake up a little later in the day and that it is much easier to finish my homework, even with my busy schedule."
In addition to his coaches' two-year training plan, which includes additional competitions and more difficult tricks, Hoshino said his snowboarding goals include competing in the Rev Tour and the Monster Tour events. Later this season, he will travel to Squaw Valley, the host site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, to compete in the Rev Tour.
To follow Hoshino's progress throughout the season, view his results history on the USASA website.