After an amazing year in 2003 with gold medal wins at World Championships, X Games, overall Grand Prix and including eight consecutive halfpipe wins, the unthinkable happened. During a regular practice, a season ending tear in her ACL that resulted in surgery.

“I injured myself when I was riding at my all time best,” said Bleiler, 2005 X Games superpipe gold medalist. “I knew when I did come back, I would be able to come back strong. I love to competing and I missed it.”

Bleiler returned to Aspen after three competitions where she finished in the top-five at each event and second in one event. She came to compete for her second Winter X Games gold on Jan. 29.

“Next to the Olympics, the X Games are the biggest event in snowboarding,” Bleiler said. “I worked hard for my first gold, but this year I worked hard in a different way. I had to work hard to get back what I knew I had in me, which basically took pushing myself mentally. When I won this year, it was a real feeling of satisfaction, knowing that I had won the mental battle and was back.”

With a win at Badonecchia, Italy, the 2006 Olympic halfpipe site, on Feb. 10-11 just a week after the X Games, Bleiler proved her ability to compete in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.

“I think that just having ridden the Olympic pipe has given me an advantage, but winning has just added to that,” Bleiler said. “The halfpipe was really good, it just makes me really excited to get back there.”

The recent leader in the World Cup standings after winning in Badonecchia  and winning X Games gold did not come overnight for Bleiler. A year of rehab and training has brought determination along with strength in her knee and spirit.

“I was motivated every day because I had put it in my head that I was going to become stronger than I had ever been,” Bleiler said. “I never questioned working out or going to rehab, I just did it because I knew I had too.

“At first I was doing really simple things like trying not to limp when I walked. Then I worked my way up, hiking up Buttermilk, doing squats and lunges at the gym. It was a long, slow process, but in the end I was in the best shape I had been in a long time.”

While growing up Bleiler followed in her brothers’ footsteps, wanting to be doing whatever they were doing. Her love for snowboarding developed from the many hours shared with her brothers on their boards. She then decided that this is what she wanted to do with her life.

“My brothers were snowboarders so I wanted to snowboard,” Bleiler said. “When I joined the Aspen Valley Snowboard Team and started competing, that’s when I knew I wanted to go as far in snowboarding as I possibly could.”

Just an average girl with an extraordinary talent, she loves doing everyday things and hanging out.

“I love being in Aspen,” Bleiler said.  “Out of all of the places I have traveled to in this world, I always find myself comparing everything to Aspen. I love spending time with my family and dog at home. I love traveling with my friends. I love being with my boyfriend.”

With the belief of “going after your dreams with everything you’ve got” and a mother as a role model, Bleiler credits her mother’s support for helping her go so far in her sport.

“My mom has always been my biggest role model,” Bleiler said. “She is the most amazing woman. I wouldn’t be who I am today, doing what I am doing without her.”

Bleiler has her sights set for Torino.

“I know the town, I know the halfpipe, and I have good feeling for both. My goals for next year are to make the Olympic team and the next goal is to ride in Italy like I rode this year, strong and consistent with a clear head. If I do this, I will be happy.”