Open Source Lifestyles
By Armand Whyte, OSL
Maelle Ricker, snowboard
Maelle Ricker
Maelle Ricker was born on December 2, 1978 in North Vancouver, British Columbia.
She won gold in snowboard cross at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Ricker was the first Canadian woman to win Olympic gold in her own country.
It was a comeback victory for her after falling in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
Maelle Ricker's parents called her Mighty Mouse
when she was a child.
She is a down-to-earth snowboard cross competitor, who is so successful she's lost track of how many times she's been on a World Cup podium.
I think it's 15,
she says, but you'll have to check
. The count is rising steadily. Ricker competes in the snowboard world cup standings alongsie Dutch boarder Nicolien Sauerbreij and Swiss slalom racer Fraenzi Maegert-Kohli.
Maelle, You are a Vancouver native. You know all about the region where the 2010 Winter Olympics were held. What are some of the things you liked to do when you were growing up?
Mountain biking and hiking. There are so many great trails on the North Shore mountains.
When friends visit, what do you like to do?
Maelle Ricker, snowboard cross
We love getting up into the mountains. We also like renting cruiser bikes and going around Stanley Park. That's always fun on a sunny summer day. Or even in the winter -- get on your raingear or bundle up and cruise around. You can rent bikes that have the back pedal brake so you can kick it old school like when you were a little kid.
What beautiful places do you recommend?
Anywhere you can get up into the mountains and get away from the crowds. I still really enjoy mountain biking. I love jogging in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve and Lynn Headwaters Park. There's a suspension bridge in the park and a whole network of trails. You can even go up to Lynn Peak for a nice view over the Fraser Valley.
Is the eating out good in Vancouver?
I love the food in Vancouver! There's just so much international cuisine. I have a favourite little Thai place in West Vancouver. And another that serves amazing breakfasts. That's me, food and exercise.
What about Vancouver night life?
I love the Commodore Ballroom with its old floors and really great concerts. I remember seeing Jack Johnson there with a bunch of friends. We had an amazing time! I think that place is pretty neat for a night out.
What are your favorite shopping spots?
I do spend a lot of time at Park Royal in West Vancouver. My bank's there! I like cruising around it, especially the outdoor part that's like a village.
Do you have any favorite festivals in the city
I like the Harmony Arts Festival in West Vancouver. They have live music playing and a whole bunch of different artists featured in three different parks, including the waterfront.
Please recommend something to see that might not get a lot of attention.
Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver. Depending on where you hike in the park you can get some really nice views to the city, all the way to the University of British Columbia (UBC) and westward toward Passage Island and beyond.
How do you hope visitors to the winter Olympics will experience Vancouver?
I really hope they get received well by friendly Vancouver residents. I think we have such an amazing city with lots of friendly people. I hope they're greeted with the warmth and charisma we've always had in the city.
