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Snowboard Canada
10 Things You Didn’t Know
About Victoria Jealouse
By Sara Tollestrup
Introducing Victoria Jealouse seems superfluous. Anyone who knows anything about snowboarding or has paid any attention to the sport during the last decade knows who she is. Nevertheless, an introduction is mandatory. Victoria is one of the most talented big mountain riders on the planet. She is also one of the most respected people in snowboarding; not just because of her ability to charge steep lines, but because she is an interesting and honest human being. Read on to find out more about what makes Victoria tick.
SHE HAS A SHE-PEE
A She-Pee is a funnel-like device that makes it possible for women to pee while standing up. The She-Pee comes in handy for Victoria who is constantly sledding and riding in backcountry locales like Alaska. Victoria also likes the She-Pee for road trips "because you can always pull over in traffic, open the door and piss on the tire like guys do instead of holding it." Laugh all you want, but you secretly want to know where to buy one, so you can write your name with it like she does. The advantages are endless: not having to fully drop your pants, no wet ass, no shaking side to side or wiping with leaves and no frostbite or freezing your ass off just to pee.
COVER GIRL
Victoria was the first woman to appear on the cover of Snowboard Canada back in 1993. Decked out in a sweet headband, Victoria lays out a nice toe edge turn on the cover of the 1994 Buyer's Guide.
RECOMMENDATIONS
She has a sizable collection of books and DVDs and says she has some recommendations. The topics vary, but the books and films tend to be "educational and enlightening," she specifies. Though she likes to read and watch movies she says most of the information is in her head and heart.
HOME SWEET HOME
Victoria's home and vehicle were one in the same. She spent a lot of time traveling around and living in a camper van with her boyfriend, Guy. Until recently when...
SHE BOUGHT A SMART CAR
She drives her new little car 90% of the time, because of its fuel efficiency. She can drive her Smart car all winter long, even in the snow, and gets 3.5 liters per 100 kilometers.
STRANGER THAN FICTION
According to many people who have had the pleasure of traveling, shooting and snowboarding with Victoria, she is one of the best story tellers of all time.
SHE HAS A NATURAL FOODS STORE IN HER BOARD BAG
As a member of the Burton Global team Victoria spends most of her time traveling. She finds it hard to get "natural food and quality herbs," in many of the places she goes. Her solution -to pack the food she eats and enjoys in with her gloves and socks. She says she typically has enough food in her bag to feed herself, and her friends for up to 2 weeks.
SHE WAS A TWO PLANKER
In the 80's Victoria was a ski racer on the Canadian National Development Team. She specialized in downhill and Super-G. Then in the early 90's she found success in snowboard racing. To catch a glimpse of her amazing racing skills all you have to do is make your way to Mount Baker for the annual legendary banked slalom. From there she developed into the amazing freestyle snowboarder that she is today.
SICK-O
Victoria has one of the most horrific injury stories ever. While ski racing she broke her arm on a steep and icy pitch. She was then loaded into a metal sled on top of her friend who had to stabilize her arm. While trying to maneuver the sled down the pitch the ski patroller at the back of the sled fell and lost hold of the girls. Unable to bare the weight the rope broke and sent ski patroller number two in the opposite direction of Victoria and her friend. The two girls went barreling down the mountain headed straight for a parking lot and had no way to stop or slow down. Somehow they managed to get lodged safely in the wheel-well of a truck and were eventually taken to the hospital. From there the story gets worse and includes Victoria suffering from pneumonia, 2 arm surgeries and gangrene.
THE SKINNY ON BEING IN HER SKIN
Victoria says she has been comfortable in her own skin for quite awhile, but at one point was "affected by the media along with everyone else." Then she realized that it wasn't just her, that it was the system that leeched her power and comfort away, and knowing that has given her her power back.
