DOMinating

Dominique Vallée first strapped on a snowboard on a -30 degree day at Mt. Tremblant when she was 15. Until then she’d been skiing most of her life and racing for four years. After her first run, she says she “officially became a snowboarder and was hooked”. Three years later, Vallée made the Canadian National Snowboard Team and began making a name for herself. The 23 year-old Whistler-based rider is one of the most promising talents in women’s snowboarding today. In 2004 she placed 2nd in pipe at the Canadian Nationals, won the overall festival at the Spin Symposium and placed third in BX at the Grand Prix at Mammoth.

She recently finished seventh in pipe at the World Cup competition in Bardonecchia , Italy on February 11th. Dominique also signed with Elan Snowboards this season, joining the likes of Nate Sheehan, Martin Gallant and Stine Brun Kjeldaas and rounding out an impressive team of riders. “Dominique is truly a rider who has no limitations”, says Brian Brand, Elan’s Division Manager. “She’s been killing it in big air and slopestyle this season even though her roots be a little more about pipe and BX. She’s also working the backcountry a bit and filming whenever possible. We’re very stoked to have Dom on board.”

Dominique caught up with us from a hotel room in Japan...

First of all, congratulations on your World Cup result.

Dominique Vallée: I’m very happy. It’s the toughest meet I’ve competed in so far in my career. All the top athletes in the world were present and they all went with their best moves. Seventh place is a good result but I know I can do better.

So Dom, what have you been up to?

Dominique Vallée: Just chasing winter!

Whistler’s having a pretty bleak season, how have you been coping?

Dominique Vallée: It’s pretty sad. First I tried to tuff out the ice and cold which wasn’t at all normal for Whistler, we all thought that the snow was bound to be just around the corner, but then it came… crazy amounts of rain right during the World Championships. We haven’t had much snow since, so I left for Quebec, and then Europe.

How does it feel to be onboard with Elan?

Dominique Vallée: It’s awesome, I’m so happy, but everything is still very new for me. I’m really excited about the Elan Team in general, especially guys like Martin Gallant from home and Neil Connelly that I ride lots with in Whistler.