Isabella Acosta Barna

Won Gold at Junior Olympics and Named to World Championship Team

2010-02-17T16:51:00.000-08:00

Last weekend U.S. Fencing held the Junior Olympics in Memphis, Tennessee. I competed in my last competition as a (U17) Cadet (I'll age out for next season), a Junior (U20) and Junior Team event (4 epeists from Northwest Fencing Center).

I won the gold in the Junior event!! Thanks to my coaches, Sebastian Dos Santos and Michael Marx. I couldn't have done it with your support and advice.

Also, as a member of the Junior Team made up of four Northwest Fencing Center women, Helen Joley, Mary Tung, Laney Caldwell and me, we won the Gold in the Junior National Team Event.

AND - My World Cup and National finishes made it possible for me to be one of 3 women nationally to make the U.S. Cadet Women's Epee Fencing team and will compete in the Cadet World Championships this April.

This has been a really exciting fencing season. Thanks to everyone who's offered support for me this season.

Someone I don't know posted the videos of our bout. Here are the links to all of them (not just the 3rd period at the top of my blog):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy55w_NNavk&feature=related Period 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPnZ_d1td_o Period 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj0qfzcHuIU&feature=related Period 3

All-American Academic Award

2010-02-09T11:26:00.000-08:00

Traveling and keeping up with school has been a big learning experience for me this year as my travel schedule increased a lot when I started competing in World Cups. I just earned the designation of US Fencing All-American First Team for my academic achievements. First Team members must carry a GPA of 3.85 - 4.00, so I'm working really hard to keep up with everything.

This award will be announced at the U.S. Fencing Junior Olympics this weekend (Feb. 12th - 15th) in Memphis, Tennessee. I'll be competing in the Junior Olympics in both Cadet and Junior age-groups.

Last week I was in Sweden with my dad at the Cadet and Junior World Cup. Here's a picture of all of us who competed.

San Jose - NAC North American Cup, Women's Epee Fencing

2010-01-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

We just got back from San Jose, CA where I competed in Junior, Div I and a team event at the NAC-D. It was a lot of fun and my results were good, so I earned national points. I got 22 in Div I (over 20 age group) and 30th in the Junior age group. Top 32 earn points.

I'm catching up on my schoolwork. School is the hardest thing to keep up with when I travel, but I'm figuring it out. Here's a photo of my parents with me at the NAC.

Athletes and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation

2010-01-11T16:41:00.000-08:00

My local newspaper, The Bend Bulletin, listed me in their local 2009 Sports Headliners list of athletes that live in or are from Bend, Oregon. That is a real honor. Getting recognition allows me to promote my favorite cause, The Alliance for a Healthier Generation Empower Me2 Be social movement to stop childhood obesity.

Being an athlete, I pay attention to the food I eat. I don't focus on the calories. Mostly I focus on how many grams of protein I'm eating, and eating enough fruits and vegetables. I eat treats like ice cream and candy, but because I'm so active, and I'm careful to eat my healthy food first, it's ok.

So check out EmpowerMe2Be.org and join the fight against childhood obesity.

Won the Gold at the Cadet World Cup in Grenoble, France

2009-12-17T17:00:00.000-08:00

(Double click on slideshow to enlarge and easily read subtitles)

I just got back from my trip to Pittsburgh, then France. I was gone for almost two weeks. It was the most intense trip I've ever had and my best personal result.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me and encouraged me along the way. Thanks to Maureen Griffen for the strip coaching. It made all the difference.

Here are the final top 8 winners of the Women's Epee, Cadet World Cup in Grenoble, France.

1 BARNA Isabella USA
2 KOHEL Stephanie GER
3 JACOB Louise FRA
3 PLACHTA Florina GER
5 DUFF Jana SUI
6 PIESCH Hannah GER
7 STECH Abigail GER
8 BRUNNER

North American Cup "C", Pittsburgh, PN

2009-12-17T11:49:00.000-08:00

(Double click on slideshow to enlarge and easily read subtitles)

December is a month with 2 big fencing competitions for me: the NAC "C" in Pittsburgh and the Cadet World Cup in Grenoble France.

The NAC "C" was for DIV 1 which is 2 age groups higher than mine (Cadet). So a good finish in this NAC really helped my national points standing. I finished 18th at this event, the highest Cadet finish.

When I compete, it's really important that I have the best nutrition I can. I always travel with protein bars so that I can get enough protein with each meal.

Thanks to everyone for your support.

North American Cup in Pittsburgh

2009-12-01T19:52:00.000-08:00

This week I'm heading to Pittsburgh for a NAC North American Cup event. I'll compete there then head to France for the Cadet Women's Eppe Competition as well as some training in France. My mom or dad travels with me.

Sometimes people think that traveling while fencing means I see a lot of places. Traveling for fencing is like a business trip. Sometimes I get a few hours here and there to get out and see things (usually within walking distance of where I'm fencing). Mostly, I stay at the fencing venues and enjoy the competition. I do get to know alot of kids I never would have met otherwise.

Each event I compete in gives me an opportunity to earn points. The top 32 competitors both nationally and internationally earn points with a 32 or better finish. In fencing the awards on the podium start at 8th place.

My goal is to move from 4th nationally to 2nd or 3rd so that I can fence at the World Championship. To do that, I compete at each NAC and at at least 3 of the World Events. This week will be my 2nd NAC and 2nd World Event of the season.

Cadet Women's Epee World Cup - Heidenheim, Germany

2009-11-29T10:36:00.000-08:00

(Double click on slideshow to see it large with captions)
My mom put together a slide show of my first World Cup Competition which was in Heindenheim, Germany last week. I finished at 22, earning my first International points (which also contribute to my national ranking). I'm 4th so far this season and my goal is to be 2nd or 3rd so that I can qualify for the World Championships.

It was really fun and I'm really glad I got to experience it. Thanks everyone for your support.

Bend Bulletin Interview - Epee Fencing, Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Painting

2009-11-17T08:08:00.000-08:00

The local newspaper, the Bend Bulletin printed this today.

Fight to the Top - A talented fencer from Bend is on her way to World Cup events this week, by Katie Brauns (Sports section D, pages 1 and 3) READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE

In some respects, Isabella Barna is an ordinary teenager: She doesn’t love every school subject, she enjoys time with her friends, and she likes skateboarding and being outside. But in other respects, she is extraordinary beyond her 16 years.

In sports, Barna is an elite-level fencer, an accomplished nordic skier, and a stand-up paddle boarder. She is a 4.0 student at Summit High School, where she is a sophomore. She is also an artist, a talented painter. She serves as an athlete model for a Portland-based talent agency. And she is an activist for an organization devoted to combating childhood obesity.

Barna learned discipline as a child through tae kwon do — in which she earned a black belt — and other organized athletics.

“When you first start fencing you’re just kind of fighting and it’s just like any other form of martial arts,” notes Barna, her voice softy and steady. “Then you realize just how indepth you can go with it, just mentally and in terms of strategizing. So I liked it to begin with and I grew to like it even more.”

(Epee fencing, the style of sword fighting that Barna competes in, is the only fencing discipline that considers the entire body a valid target area. The Eppe sword, compared with the foil and sabre , is the heaviest of the three modern fencing weapons.)

A young woman of considerable drive, Barna aims to one day compete in fencing in the Olympics.

“She is not missing anything,” notes Michael Marx, a former Olympian who coaches Barna at Northwest Fencing Center in Portland. “She is a coach’s dream. She is smart and has amazing work ethic. ... Physically she is very gifted. If I was to design my perfect student, it probably would be her.”

Barna has qualified to compete in the Epee World Cup fencing events this season starting this week.

A chance to compete in the World Cup events is a step in the right direction toward one of Barna’s biggest goals: to make the U.S. world team.

On Wednesday, Barna and her mother, Cristina Acosta, will travel to Germany for the first World Cup of the year. Following the competition, Barna will compete in two more World Cup events, one in France and one in Sweden, with a few more North American Cups scattered in between. Just last week, Barna traveled to Kansas and competed in the North American Cup. There, she earned a silver medal in the Cadet Epee (U16 girls category) and placed seventh in a field of 144 in the Junior Women’s Epee (U20).

“She is likely to make the world team,” says Marx. “She has a really good shot at it. ... And I think, ‘Wait a minute. You don’t make the world team from Bend.”

Marx explains that most successful fencers at Barna’s level are living in an environment where fencing is popular. In Bend, fencing has a very small following, according to Marx, yet that does not hold Barna back.

In order for her to make the world team, she must rank in the top three fencers in the nation in her age group. Her final rank will be determined after she competes in the three world events and four national tournaments. She is currently ranked fourth in the nation in the U16 Cadet Epee category, according to the USA Fencing Web site (http://usfencing.org).

“Her second year of fencing she got a medal at nationals,” says Randall Barna, Isabella’s proud father. “In the 12-and-under age group she was already nationally ranked.”

Marx believes not only that Isabella Barna has a shot at the U.S. world team, but also that the Olympics “absolutely” could be on her horizon.

Throughout her life, Barna has had a way of setting goals — and then achieving them.

For example, she spent years working toward qualifying for the Junior Olympics in nordic skiing. And in 2008, she made it.

Barna says she wanted to prove to herself that she could compete at the Junior Olympic level in nordic skiing before she devoted most of her extracurricular time to fencing. While she will still compete for the Summit High cross-country ski team when she can, she is no longer competing at the elite level as she was with the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation.

“It was just kind of my goal to make it to a certain place (in skiing) before I quit,” she says. “I do that with everything. I set a goal and then I don’t stop until I meet a certain goal.”

“Anyone who is successful,” says Marx, “is someone who expects a lot from themselves. And she does. She still seems to be able to do everything. I still don’t get it.”

Now that the competitive fencing season is in full swing, Barna will try to find balance between her schoolwork and her commitment to fencing. In December, she says, she expects to be in school for only five days — largely because of travel to fencing competitions.

Fencing is year-round sport, and it includes rigorous training through the summer months.

“I just think it would be really amazing to travel around the world and fence,” says Barna, adding that she sees fencing as a possible ticket to a college scholarship.

Aiming high, Barna’s college favorites have included the likes of Stanford and Duke.

Barna is positively an overachiever.

She paints colorful, appealing works of art and has pieces up for sale on her blog (http://isabellabarna.blogspot.com/) to raise money for her fencing training and travel. As a youth advisory board member of the American Heart Association’s Alliance for a Healthier Generation she speaks before hundreds to try to motivate youngsters to make healthy diet and fitness choices. And through the alliance, she was commissioned to create artwork for greeting cards as a fundraiser for the organization.

“All the kids who are on the board, they’re supposed to be role models,” says Barna. “And they talk to other kids and give them inspiration to be healthy.”

Barna reaches with everything she does. And her parents say they have guided her in no particular direction.

“As a parent of this kind of athlete, performing at this level, you realize that they have to be really motivated internally,” says Cristina Acosta. “Her self-discipline surprises me. It’s actually an inspiration for me.”

“I don’t really remember exactly every failure and victory that I have had in this whole process,” notes Barna. “I just am, where I am.”

“She doesn’t just fence,” says Marx, her coach, who goes on to recite the long list of his star pupil’s other activities and accomplishments.

“You would never know, talking to her, that she is so gifted,” he says. “You would never know.”

Barna learned discipline as a child through tae kwon do — in which she earned a black belt — and other organized athletics.

“When you first start fencing you’re just kind of fighting and it’s just like any other form of martial arts,” notes Barna, her voice soft and steady. “Then you realize just how in-depth you can go with it, just mentally and in terms of strategizing. So I liked it to begin with and I grew to like it even more.”

(Epee fencing, the style of sword fighting in which Barna competes, is the only fencing discipline that considers the entire body a valid target area. The epee sword, compared with the foil and saber, is the heaviest of the three modern fencing weapons.)

A young woman of considerable drive, Barna aims to one day compete in fencing in the Olympics.

Barna has qualified to compete in the Epee World Cup fencing events this season starting this week.

A chance to compete in the World Cup events is a step in the right direction toward one of Barna’s biggest goals: to make the U.S. world team.

“She is likely to make the world team,” says Marx. “She has a really good shot at it. ... And I think, ‘Wait a minute. You don’t make the world team from Bend.’ ”

“Her second year of fencing she got a medal at nationals,” says Randall Barna, Isabella’s proud father. “In the 12-and-under age group she was already nationally ranked.”

Marx believes not only that Isabella Barna has a shot at the U.S. world team, but also that the Olympics “absolutely” could be on her horizon.

Throughout her life, Barna has had a way of setting goals — and then achieving them.

For example, she spent years working toward qualifying for the Junior Olympics in nordic skiing. And in 2008, she made it.

“It was just kind of my goal to make it to a certain place (in skiing) before I quit,” she says. “I do that with everything. I set a goal and then I don’t stop until I meet a certain goal.”

“Anyone who is successful,” says Marx, “is someone who expects a lot from themselves. And she does. She still seems to be able to do everything. I still don’t get it.”

Fencing is a year-round sport, and it includes rigorous training through the summer months.

“I just think it would be really amazing to travel around the world and fence,” says Barna, adding that she sees fencing as a possible ticket to a college scholarship.

Aiming high, Barna’s college favorites have included the likes of Stanford and Duke.

Barna is positively an overachiever.

“All the kids who are on the board, they’re supposed to be role models,” says Barna. “And they talk to other kids and give them inspiration to be healthy.”

Barna reaches with everything she does. And her parents say they have guided her in no particular direction.

“I don’t really remember exactly every failure and victory that I have had in this whole process,” notes Barna. “I just am, where I am.”

“She doesn’t just fence,” says Marx, her coach, who goes on to recite the long list of his star pupil’s other activities and accomplishments.

“You would never know, talking to her, that she is so gifted,” he says. “You would never know.”

Katie Brauns can be reached at kbrauns@bendbulletin.com.
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Won 2 Fencing Medals at the North American Cup B

2009-11-09T12:36:00.000-08:00

Last week I attended my first National fencing event of the season. It was the North American Cup NAC-B in Kansas. I competed in my age group, Cadet and Junior Women's Epee.

I'm really excited that I did really well. I won a Silver (Second Place) in Cadet (under 17) and 7th place in Junior (under 20). Thanks to my coaches for all of your help.

Washington County Youth Summit in Portland, Ore. for Empower Me 2 B Campaign

2009-10-27T08:52:00.000-07:00

The Washington County Commission on Children & Families hosted their 5th Annual Youth Summit last Thursday, and invited me to give a speech to 350 middle and high school kids.

I talked to the kids about how I stay active. It was the same speech I made at the School Based Health Care Teacher Conference in Salem two weeks before, except that I added a slide show of me doing fun things so my presentation would be more appealing for kids.

The Alliance sent out cards for the kids so they would know about the www.EmpowerMe2B.org website. I put the teacher materials at the entrance sign near the door and my mom put cards on all of the kid's tables.

Sunny Ross was the Program Specialist for www.co.washington.or.us/HHS/CCF and was my contact person for the Washington County Commission on Children and Families. She was one of the Youth Summit organizers.

Alex Molden is a former pro football player who was introduced with me and then gave his speech before mine. Alex works for Nike as a Sports Performance Specialist. He also has his own sports training program for kids and adults, All Star Performance Athletics www.aspa-sport.com. He has 5 kids of his own and you can tell that he likes motivating kids and adults. He loves gator ball and was encouraging everyone to Google it and learn how to play it. Here's a link I found about Gator Ball for kid's groups.

Everyone who was part of this Youth Summit conference was part of the movement to stop childhood obesity. The materials the Alliance sent me to hand out are really helpful for teachers and kids. Here's the link again if you want more information on easy ways to be healthy.
www.EmpowerMe2B.org

Having Some Fun in the Surf

2009-10-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Pacific City on the Oregon Coast is a really fun place to surf. My family loves to camp, so we take our trailer to Cape Kiwanda for the weekend sometimes and surf. My dad and mom usually go out on their Stand Up boards. I like to play on my Lopez board.

The water temperature is usually in the low to mid 50's in September. The air was about the same this trip. That's why I'm wearing a wetsuit. Even though it's cold, it's really fun.

I got some good waves, but my friend only got a picture of me in the reforms. I was teaching my mom to use a regular longboard, so I was hanging out in the reforms while she was learning.

Learning Through Movement with Dr. Derrick Mears

2009-10-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Heart Institute of the Cascades and Clear One Foundation put on a talk by Mr. Derrick Mears. I attended the event so that I could pass out EmpowerMe2B.org sign-up cards and network with the adults who came to the speech.

I was able to hand out about 100 cards and talked with some influential people that are working hard locally and nationally to get kids to develop healthy habits like movement and nutrition.

Here's something about the people I met:

Dr. Derrick Mears:
He has spent 20 years as a teacher and researcher in education. He's Assistant Professor of Teacher Education at Western Washington University. And he's author numerous articles on the relationship between physical education and lifetime physical activity including the relationship between physical activity and academic achievement, educational technology and national policy statements relating to physical education and physical activity. You can read more about Dr. Derrick Mears at www.derrick-mears.pbworks.com

Judy Shasek with ExerLearning:
ExerLearning is about getting kids to move more in the classroom without making teachers have to do more. Here's what Judy's card said: Using powerful connections between technology, student empowerment and fitness, this prgram is geared to enhance what busy teachers can do. Here's a video for more info - ExerLearning
We will document our program via video and data collection in hopes of obtaining $1 million in technology innovation, community wellness and 21st century learning grants. Learn more here
For ideas, comments, and questions Footgaming@gmail.com

Kate Wells, Director of Community Outreach & Communications for The Heart Institute of the Cascades
Kate is in the picture with me. She helps me locally to meet and network with other adults who might benefit from knowing about The Alliance for a Healthier Generation and their EmpowerMe2B.org program.

School Based Health Care Conference in Salem, Oregon

2009-10-14T07:52:00.001-07:00

Last week I met Anne from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation along with Marecela in Salem for the School Based Health Care Conference in Salem, Oregon. They helped me practice and prepare for the speech I was to give to the teachers and attendees at the conference. School Based Health Care is when there is a health clinic for kids that is in the school. Even Elementary Schools can have one. They help kids stay healthy. The program is really growing in Oregon because my state covers all kid's with health insurance if they don't have any of their own. I spoke about putting movement and exercise into the kid's day and encouraged educators to encourage kids to move as it's good for their body and brain. Here's a copy of my speech:
______________________________________________________________

Good morning. My name is Isabella Acosta Barna. I attend Summit High School in Bend, and I’m a Youth Advisory Board Member for The Alliance for a Healthier Generation. I’m also a nationally ranked epee fencer and in my free time I like to ski, surf and skateboard.

When I was little I had so much physical energy that I had to sit on a ball at the table when I ate or did my homework to help me concentrate. My parents even put up swings to help me relax at the end of the day. Since that time I have been very physically active and it is an important part of my everyday life. I know when I don’t have the opportunity to release physical energy during the day I have a difficult time focusing in the classroom and doing my homework. Having the opportunity to engage in physical activity throughout the day has helped me do well in school, feel better about myself, and be as healthy as I can be.

Along with physical activity I have always grown up with a thorough understanding of nutrition. Starting when I was about five years old my parents went on a complete rampage of the pantry, throwing out any food items with either partially hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup. As you can imagine, to a five year old the loss of oreos and cheetos was quite devastating. Soon after that most of my free time was spent walking to my neighbor’s house where they would let me eat all of the OreosI wanted.

But that didn’t last long because through our influence many of our friends also decided to change their diets.

Along with diet I’ve learned that exercise can’t be left out of a healthy life. Nutrition and movement are the keys to being healthy for life, whether movement means bouncing on a ball while at the table, playing or training for a sport. The head and the body are attached, physical education is also mental education.

I don’t think PE should be considered something extra or something that is less important than math or reading. Physical activity has been such an important part of my education, that I believe other kids, if given the opportunity, could improve their quality of their lives though daily physical activity and nutritional knowledge that they will use the rest of their life.

Sadly, most kids in Oregon don’t have the resources that they need to get educated about the importance of activity and nutrition, that would help them get better grades, gain self-confidence, and be as healthy as they can be.

This is why it is so important to give the schools the resources to develop PE classes that offer enough opportunities for exercise and physical activity and that also teach kids how to stay healthy throughout their whole lives.

If you are a teacher or educator who doesn’t have any more money to work with, you can get some good ideas to incorporate movement and nutrition into kid’s lives at the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s EmpowerMe2B.org website. Kid’s can join the website and make a commitment to a healthy life. The website has tools for kids and teachers.

I really hope that you will incorporate the messages of physical health into your lesson plans and activities so that we can all help raise a healthier generation. I know that along with parents and peers, teachers are one of the most important influences in a child’s life. I’m glad you’ve decided to help my generation live the best life possible. Thank you.

Go Healthy Month - St. Charles Hospital Healthy Hometown Event

2009-10-08T06:01:00.000-07:00

Go Healthy Month is about 5 weeks of September and October. Go Healthy Month is a time of the year that we make a special effort to connect to people to share our EmpowerMe2B.org message that kid's can make a difference in their own lives as well as others by being healthy.

Two ways to be healthy are:

add more movement in your life
choose good nutrition every time you have a choice about what you eat.

St. Charles Hospital in Bend, Oregon where I live had a health fair called Healthy Hometown in September. I went to the fair and passed out Alliance cards. Mostly though, I introduced myself to the adults in our area that run programs that include kids. I told them about the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and offered my time to them to share the message of the Alliance and their EmpowerMe2B.org site with tools for kids and teachers.

Greeting Cards Fundraising for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation

2009-07-23T18:41:00.000-07:00

We had our annual Youth Advisory Board for The Alliance (now the Empower Me 2 Be organization) meeting last week at the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, AK last week. It was great. Our goal is to stop childhood obesity by 2014.

My mom took these photos of the greeting cards that The Alliance for a Healthier Generation made out of my paintings. A portion of each sale goes to support The Alliance.

2009 Summer Nationals

2009-07-13T18:13:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Fencing Summer Nationals were in Grapevine, Texas this year. I just got back from a week of competition and I'm happy with my results. I competed in both the individual events and the Junior Women's Eppe Team event.

My results from this past year's national competitions earned me a place as the youngest team member on the Northwest Fencing Center's Junior Women's Epee team. Junior team members are all under age twenty.

Each team includes three fencers and an alternate. There were a total of seventeen teams nationally that competed against each other at the U.S. Fencing Summer Nationals, the final event for the 2008/2009 fencing season. We won the Gold Medal!

In individual fencing events, I earned a medal with a 6th place win (medals are for the top eight finishers) in my age group Cadet - Under age 17 in the Cadet Women's Epee event.

Thanks to all of my coaches and teammates.

Here are some photos of me and my team from Northwest Fencing Center.

Top: L to R - Phoebee Caldwell, Helen Jolley, Coach Sebastian DeSantos, Coach Michael Marx, Emily D'Angostino, me

Middle: us with the gold medals

Bottom: me on the podium for Cadet Women's Epee

Surfing on the Oregon Coast

2009-06-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I went surfing on the Oregon Coast with my family. We like to camp at Pacific City at the RV park. It's a fun place with a lot going on. Cars can drive on the beach and often get stuck in the sand. A headland on the north side has tide pools at the bottom and a big sand dune that we climb at least once a day. There are a lot of big logs in the sand that you can sit on and watch the waves and the people.

This trip we saw three Orca Whales swimming in the distance by Haystack Rock. Every time they porpoised I could see their big fin standing straight up.

It was a great trip and the official beginning of my summer now that school is out. Here's a photo of me going out on my surfboard and my dad in the distance doing stand up paddle boarding in front of Haystack Rock.

2009-06-03T09:49:00.000-07:00

I went on a 35 mile downriver stand up paddle boarding trip with my parents and a group last weekend on the Deschutes River. It was the longest any of us had continuously paddled. Not counting a few short breaks, we were on the water for over 9 hours. I'm glad I did it, but I don't know if I'll do the same trip again. We had to sit some of the time because we got tired of standing.

The day was really warm and the mosquitoes didn't bother us. We stopped for ice cream at about the 30 mile mark. I like being fit enough to do these kind of adventures. We were the first group to continuously Stand up paddle board this 35 mile section of the Deschutes River in Oregon. Here is a photo of me carrying my SUP board around the Tetherow Log Jam. It was a short walk of a few hundred yards.

Sports Unlimited

2009-05-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

I've learned that achieving my goals opens up a new set of experiences. Because I have Olympic and World Event dreams, my training and related event trips get really expensive. I'm selling my paintings and doing as many extra things as I can to help my parents support the level of competition.

Along with looking for sponsorship, Dina Boswell, a friend of my parents suggested I try sports modeling. Dina's son, Ian is a cyclist and also does sports modeling. So, I went through the process of applying to the talent agency Ian is with. Sports Unlimited specializes in athlete / lifestyle models, which means that they employ real-life athletes. Athlete models can't be unusually thin because they need to be accomplished in their sports as well as have muscle tone.

When I was competing at the Nordic Cross Country Skiing Junior Olympics in Truckee, California, my mom met Daphne Hougard, a photographer who specializes in athlete modeling. She's worked on many national and international jobs, and photographed for the clothing catalog Title Nine for eight years. Daphne was working in the Pacific Northwest this month, so she fit us into her trip and photographed me and put together my modeling portfolio.

The photos Daphne took of me are really great. I've never done these kinds of photos and Daphne made the experience really fun. The staff at Sports Unlimited liked the photos and I now have a modeling contract with Sports Unlimited! I'm really excited about this opportunity to be a sports model. With the money I make, I plan to compete on the World Cup level in fencing.

Daphne Hougard Photography daphne@daphnehougard.com 415.302.0733

www.daphnehougard.com/dudegirl_clothing
www.daphnehougard.com/aventura
www.daphnehougard.com/hearts

Thanks to Dina Boswell for doing my initial photos.

Sports and Academics are a Balancing Act

2009-05-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Balancing my interests with my academics can be challenging. The time of the year that my training peaks is during the school year, so I often am exercising / training for 3 - 5 hours per day. Add in weekends away for ski races and fencing competitions and there is even less time in my schedule.

This year was my first year of high school, so it's been hard learning to balance everything and reach my goals in sports and academics. My teachers have really helped me and my coaches try to provide study time in between training times.

I'm happy that I did well this year in both my sports and school work. MBSEF Mount Bachelor Ski Education Foundation gave me four awards for the 2008-2009 season: Nordic Most Inspirational; Nordic Best Race Results: The Presidents Award of Academic Achievement (to the MBSEF traveling athlete or high school age who had achieved the highest GPA for the second & third terms, a 4.0) and the Emil Nordeen Award (given to the J2 or older Nordic athlete for demonstrated dedication to the sport, race results and GPA).

Thank you to my coaches and teachers for a great year. Thank you MBSEF and my MBSEF Nordic coach, Dan Simoneau for your support.

Fencing Clinic

2009-05-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

My coach from the Northwest Fencing Center in Portland, Oregon is Michael Marx. He's a five-time Olympian in Eppe and Foil fencing. Michael and another coach, Carlos Bruno, visited my hometown of Bend, Oregon, to teach a fencing clinic last weekend.

It was a great clinic. He and Carlos taught it at our local fencing club, the High Desert Fencing Club. Afterwards we had a potluck party at our house for all of the kids and adults that were involved. It was really fun.

The local Fox KOHD-TV station news guy, Keith Bleyer came by and interviewed the coaches and some of the kids. Here's a link to that video.

PHOTO: My dad, me and the Kruegers

2009-04-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Since my nordic ski race season is over I went downhill skiing this weekend at Mt. Bachelor. It was really warm today and the entire top of the mountain was open. The skiing was really good at the top and slushy at the bottom.

My friend Judy Shasek took this picture of me with the Cascade mountains in the background.

Channel One Played My Video

2009-04-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

I got my video, on Channel One last Thursday!

Channel One is the TV channel that broadcasts to middle teenagers in public schools across the country. It's a news/information program that plays for about 10 minutes daily. You Tell It, the place where I upload my videos for The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, is part of Channel One.

They probably edited my original video (I don't know, because my school doesn't have Channel One). Here's the link to my original video, The Calories in Your Snack!

Great Nordeen Nordic Ski Race

2009-04-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

I finished my ski season with a fun race called the Great Nordeen. It's a nordic race open to everyone of all abilities, and is referred to as a "citizen's race". The race was in Bend, Oregon, and hosted by MBSEF Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation as a fundraiser for them. It was perfect weather and a fun course.

There was a 15k and 30k course. I raced the 15k and won top woman and 3rd overall (including the men).

Since my official race season was over, the pressure was off of me and the race was a lot of fun. My favorite part about the Great Nordeen race is that it is mostly downhill. And I like the mug I won along with my medal.

Junior Olympics Cross Country Skiing 2009

2009-04-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

Last Summer I set the goal for myself to compete in two Junior Olympics this year. Even though Fencing is an Olympic summer sport and Nordic Skiing is an Olympic winter sport, the Junior Olympics for both sports was only a month apart.

It was a really hard thing to do, but I'm proud of myself for making my goal. I've been training all year towards this goal. Every day I trained between 2 to 5 hours with only Monday off. The Fencing Junior Olympics 2009 were in Albuquerque, NM in February.

I competed in the 2009 Nordic Skiing Junior Olympics March 6 - 14th at the Auburn Ski Training Center near Truckee, California. I qualified for the PNSA Pacific Northwest Ski Association JO team by completing 5 JOQ Junior Olympic Qualifying races with a top 8% finish.

The Auburn Ski Training Center where the JO event was held is over 7,000 ft in altitude, which made skiing harder for those of us who train at lower altitudes. I stayed in a cabin with the other PNSA team girls. It snowed over 7 feet the day before. There was so much snow that the berms on the side of the street were 10 feet tall. It was really fun.

My results were fine. I completed the 3 individual races: skate, classic and sprint and finished high enough to be on the A team for the Relay which was the 4th race. I was middle of the pack nationally and am third on the PNSA team in my age group, which is J2.

It was hard to keep up with my school work, so I had to take a few weeks to catch up. I just stopped ski training, but continue with my fencing training. My next goal is to compete in the U.S. Fencing NAC in Portland, Oregon with a good enough finish to put me in a good position at the U.S. Fencing Nationals in Texas this July.

2009-03-02T11:10:00.000-08:00

The High School Reunion Race at Mt. Bachelor, Bend, Oregon this past weekend was a good opportunity for me to get in some speed training. This is my last week of training with my MBSEF coach, Dan Simoneau, before I go to Tahoe as a member of the PNSA Pacific Northwest Ski Assn. team.

Tosch Roy, another MBSEF racer, also made the PNSA team.

Photos: Top to Bottom - Me, Dan Simoneau, Tosch Roy

I Made the PNSA Pacific Northwest SKi Assn. Ski Team for Junior Olympics!

2009-02-23T15:43:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I raced Nordic Skate in the Mt. Bachelor JOQ (Junior Olympic Qualifying) race in Bend, Oregon, and got a silver medal for second place. I was happy with my result because it meant I made the Junior Olympic Pacific Northwest (PNSA) nordic ski team. To go to the Junior Olympics, I had to be in the top 8% of five JOQ races.

My goal at the beginning of the year was to compete in two Junior Olympic competitions, and with this win, I'm getting ready for my second Junior Olympics. This year the JO competition is in Truckee, California this March. (I competed in the Fencing Junior Olympics last weekend).

There are Cross Country Ski Assns. all over the country that have been having their qualifying races this season. All of the top skiers from around the country will be meeting at the JOs.

Here's a photo of me with Tosh Roy (on the right), also on the MBSEF Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation team member, at the race awards banquet.

Fencing Junior Olympics 09 in Albuquerque

2009-02-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I was in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the U.S.F.A. Fencing Junior Olympics. I competed in two events, the Women's Epee Junior and Cadet competitions. I was happy to see my fellow Alliance for a Healthier Generation YAB board member, Wendi Oppenheim. She was competing in Women's Foil.

To participate in the Junior Olympics, I qualified for both Cadet (under 17 age group - I'm 15) and Junior (under 20 age group). I earned a 10th place finish in both events, so I earned national points, even though I missed the medal rounds by one bout. I was able to raise my national ranking with these results. Currently, I'm nationally ranked at 10th in Cadet and 17th in Junior.

Albuquerque is a really fun town to visit. I traveled with my parents and we took the Rail Runner train to Santa Fe for dinner after the competition.

Nordic Skiing Junior Olympic Qualifiers - Methow, Washington

2009-02-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

To earn a spot as a competitor in the Nordic Skiing Junior Olympics (they'll be in Tahoe/Truckee this year), a racer has to be in the top 8% of athletes in at least 5 Junior Olympic Qualifying races (JOQs).

Last weekend at the JOQs in the Methow Valley in Washington state, I medaled in 2 races, bringing my qualifying races to a total of 4 so far. (There are 2 more JOQ races to do.) I earned a Bronze (3rd) in J2 Women's Skate race (a series of races), and a Silver (2nd) in the J2 Women's Classic race.

My last 2 qualifying finishes were at the JOQs at Mt. Spokane, Washington last month when I earned a 5th and a Bronze (3rd).

I've been really busy this season as I'm training for both the Junior Olympics in Women's Epee Fencing (I already earned my spot there) as well as qualifying for the Junior Olympics in Nordic Skiing.

All of this exercise and training means that I have to be very careful about getting enough protein. I can't just stuff down a lot of random food because I'm active. My mom is constantly telling me how many grams of protein are in my food so that I can meet my target of 100 grams of protein a day.

Food for Thought Video - The Calories in Your Snack

2009-02-04T06:53:00.000-08:00

Part of the volunteer work I do for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation is to create videos about health, focusing on nutrition and exercise. I really like the creative part of making videos. The Alliance has an arrangement with Channel One's You Tell It website to post the videos there.

You Tell It doesn't have a way for me to embed the video on my blog, so you have to go to this link to see it. It's 3 minutes long and I titled it, "Food for Thought - The Calories in Your Snack." I talk about how many apples equal different kinds of food and also how much exercise you have to do, like dancing, skateboarding and shoveling snow. I also demonstrated a science experiment and burned a cracker and a cheeto to demonstrate the calorie content.

Buy My Paintings to Help Me with Training

2009-01-28T17:07:00.000-08:00

I've been an artist my whole life. When I was a baby, I went with my mom to her art studio everyday. Now I'm selling my original paintings to help support my training. If you'd like to buy a painting, you can call my dad, Randall Barna at his office 541-389-4547.

These paintings are each $300.00. I only sell prints of the sold images. Prints are $185.00.
Click here to see a SLIDESHOW of my Paintings. OR, look on the upper right side of my blog for the slideshow.

Fencing: North America Cup in Louisville, KY

2009-01-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

This has been a really busy couple of months for me with my sports and school. Last week I competed in the NAC "D", the 4th North American Cup (put on by USFencing.org) of the season (2008/2009) in Louisville, Kentucky. I won 23rd out of 158 women in the Women's Division I Epee. This is the first time I've entered a national Division I event, so I was very proud of my result. To qualify for a Div I event a epee fencer has to be minimum age of 13 and be rated C, B or A. I'm 15 years old and have a A rating, so I was able to enter this competition.

Anyone who earns a top 32 finish gets national points. I earned national points with my finish being 23rd, so I'm really excited. I was really lucky to get to see my fellow YAB Youth Advisory Board member, Sarah, from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Here's a photo of me with Sarah at the Convention Center in Louisville, KY, where the U.S. Fencing NAC was held.

Footgaming -- My Friend Judy's Invention

2009-01-22T13:38:00.000-08:00

Judy Shasek and her husband, Ed, go SUP surfing with me and my parents. Judy invented and is marketing a stand-on mouse pad so that you can play video games like Bejeweled while standing on the pad. She named it FootGaming. It's a cool invention that encourages kids (and parents too) to be active. Especially when they are stuck indoors and need something to do that's fun.

I helped her with this video along with my mom (who plays the Mom) and my friend Keenan who plays my brother. It was really fun. Here's the commercial. (The quality is actually better than this, but this is the link for now.)

Fencing: North America Cup in St. Louis

2009-01-15T10:42:00.000-08:00

This Fall I turned 15 and aged up to the Cadet age group in Women's Eppe Fencing. There are about 4 or 5 big competitions I go to each Fencing season called North America Cups (NACs). Most of the fencers are from the United States, but some are from Canada and Mexico. The NACs are in different cities around the country each year.

Last November I competed in my first NAC of the season in St. Louis. Sometimes I travel with my mom and sometimes with my dad. I stay in shape for competitions by exercising 6 days a week. Because I'm so active I have to be careful how I eat and be sure to get enough protein.

Sometimes balancing my diet is pretty crazy. My mom and I were reading labels and realized that the Kozy Shack pudding had more protein than the hotdogs (and a LOT less fat).

Photos: In the fencing photo I'm on the right.

Nordic Skiing Junior Olympic Qualifiers

2009-01-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I went to Spokane, Washington, with MBSEF Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation to compete in the Junior Olympic Qualifier at Mt. Spokane. I competed in the Nordic Skate and Classic Races for my age group, J2. I won a Bronze medal (3rd Place) in the Women's J-2 Skate Race. Here's a picture my mom took of me crossing the finish line in the Nordic Skate Race, and another picture of my coach, Dan Simoneau waxing my skis.

I'm really busy right now with my sports schedule. I make sure to eat well and get enough rest so that I'm not tired for training and competition.

Go Outside and Play

2008-10-16T07:59:00.000-07:00

Going outside and playing doesn't feel like exercise, it feels like fun. My parents have always asked me to go outside and play since I was little. It's more fun to play when you have toys like skateboards and balls and other stuff.

Here's a list of some of the things my parents put in the garage that I share with my friends:

Sidewalk Chalk
Scooter
Stilts
Bike
Hula Hoops
Skateboard
Balls

My friend Judy Shasek took this video of my friends Amy and Keenan and me, then I edited it into this movie. Judy has developed a product called the Foot Power Pad which is a computer mouse pad that you can stand on, so you'll get more exercise at your desk.

You can sign up for the Go Healthy Challenge and get out and play -- it's good.

Kids Need P.E. in Schools

2008-10-10T06:35:00.000-07:00

There is not enough funding for Physical Education classes in most schools. It's very hard for most kids to concentrate on their studies when they aren't able to take time each day to play hard and exercise.

September was Go Healthy Month. I was asked by the Oregon Chapter of the American Heart Association to give testimony to the Oregon State Legislature Ways and Means Committee to encourage them to include P.E. funding in the education budget. This is a very important issue, because 1 out of every 3 kids nationwide is either overweight or obese. Those numbers mean that my generation may be the first generation in America to die earlier than our parents because of lifestyle diseases related to poor nutrition.

I went to Salem, Oregon to the State Capitol Building and gave my testimony Sept. 18th. It was very interesting to see how politicians and other interested people get together to make decisions that effect the lives of everyone in our state. I liked being there and everyone was very nice.

When it was time for me to give my testimony I sat with Jerome Kersey, a former NBA Portland Trailblazers Basketball star and now an ambassador for the Portland Trailblazers and Peter Courtney, President of the Oregon State Senate. Afterward, Kimberly Melton from The Oregonian interviewed me regarding my testimony.

You can join the Go Healthy Challenge at this website: www.IGoHugo.org
Former Trail Blazer says Oregon schools need more money for physical education

by Kimberly Melton, The Oregonian, Thursday September 18, 2008, 4:40 PM

SALEM- Former Portland Trail Blazers star Jerome Kersey was among a diverse lineup of people who called today for the state to spend more money on physical education in Oregon schools.  "My daughter has had significant life experiences through sports and physical education," Kersey told the Joint Ways and Means Committee. "At the same time, we are raising the academic standards, we should also be raising the physical education standards. Kids should also have equal and consistent access to physical education."
During the 2007 legislative session, Sen. Peter Courtney led the effort to establish a bill that sets new standards for the amount of physical education students receive during the week.
By 2017, districts are required to offer 150 minutes per week of physical education instruction for elementary students and 225 minutes per week for middle school students.  In addition to new standards, the bill includes a grant program and a survey of Oregon schools that will take place this fall.
The grant program -- totaling $860,000 -- gave money to more than 35 schools. Many said school districts need more money to meet the new PE standards, which go into effect in 2017.  Mary VanderWeele, Beaverton School Board vice chair, told the committee her district would need more than 60 new PE teachers and nearly $4 million to meet these new requirements.
Courtney said he will be fighting for more money for the grant program during the upcoming legislative session. He said the efforts can help prevent the growing amount of money that the state is spending on obesity-related medical costs.
In 2003, that number was more than $781 million.

Isabela Acosta Barna, a 14-year-old Summit High School student in Bend, said physical education shouldn't be seen as an "extra."  "Most kids in our state don't have the access and opportunity for physical education and activity that would help them get better grades, gain self-confidence, and be as healthy as they can be," she said.

Kim Melton; kimmelton@news.oregonian.com

Making Art for The Alliance

2008-09-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

I've been making art since I was a baby. My mom's an artist and she would take me to the studio with her, so I was always making things. Now I like to paint using spray cans.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation asked me to make some paintings about playing/exercise and nutrition to use on the Healthier Generation website. They sent me a color palette to use and I bought spray paint in those colors. My mom took me to a art canvas factory and we bought stretched canvases to work on.

Here's a photo of me working. I always wear a respirator so that the paint fumes don't hurt my lungs. I use plants, found objects and stencils that I hand cut for my paintings.

Here are the 4 oil paintings that I finished for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The original paintings are for sale for $300.00 each. All of the paintings are 18" x 24" on stretched canvas and wired on the back. "Spring Swing" is 20" x 24". The names for the paintings are in order of top to bottom:
1. A New Wave 2.Crossover 3. Is This a Leap Year? 4. Spring Swing

I use the money from the sale of my art to pay for my sports training. If you want to buy a painting, call my dad, Randall Barna at his work: 541-389-4547.

Schools Need More P.E.

2008-09-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

I think P.E. (Physical Education) is very important for kid's bodies and minds. I am a Freshman at Summit High School in Bend, Oregon. I'm going to testify to the legislature at the State Capitol tomorrow to encourage funding P.E. programs in Oregon Schools. I'll be testifying on behalf of the American Heart Association and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

P.E is very important to me, because it helps me to concentrate my mind. When I was little I had so much physical energy that I had to sit on a ball at the table when I ate or did my homework to help me concentrate. My parents put up swings so to help me relax at the end of the day.

The Physical Education program we have in Oregon needs help. Often my PE teachers are overwhelmed by all of the kids or equipment and facilities are stretched too thin for the activities. PE should teach kids how to stay healthy throughout their whole lives.

Six Tips for Kids to Eat Healthy

2008-09-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

Here's an article I wrote for Go Healthy Month. The American Heart Association in Oregon used this as a press release.

Did you know that one out of every three of us kids is overweight or obese? Sadly, Kids today are unhealthier than ever before. One out of every three of us kids is overweight or obese. This means a gloomy future for the health of our generation. There is no direct source to blame for the epidemic of obesity, but rather, a combination of food choices, lack of athleticsphysical activity, more electronic screen time and other things contribute to the problem. Researchers are worried that our generation may be the first generation to not outlive our parents.

With the new school year, I encourage you to make the decision to be healthy. Here are some tips to get you started so that you can be part of the movement for a healthier generation:

• Eat protein like milk, eggs or chicken with every meal. You won’t get as hungry or tired later.
• Never eat chips or cookies straight from the package.
• Never eat while watching TV.
• For treats have fruit popsicles, sorbet and low-fat frozen yogurt instead of ice cream and cookies.
• Instead of shakes or soda choose water, juice or milk.
• Order something other than fries for a side dish at a restaurant. Large fries can be at least 500 calories a serving.

Tips like these are some of the things I do to stay healthy and feel good. When I don’t eat right and drink enough water I can feel the effects that it has on my body. I feel lazy, and I get queasy or dizzy when I do something active and I haven’t eaten well. Because I like to do a lot of sports both competitive and just for fun, I like it when I have lots of energy to play and do sports and keep up with my homework.

For more information on how you can go healthy, visit www.igohugo.org.

Go Healthy Month Begins Today

2008-09-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

As a kick off to Go Healthy Month for the Alliance For a Healthier Generation this September, here is a movie that will help you make some healthy choices when shopping at the grocery store.

Go Healthy Month is a month devoted towards health and wellness for kids of all ages. Stay on the lookout for different Go Healthy activities in your area, on the web, and on TV.

This month I challenge you to take the Go Healthy Challenge as a start to making September the the beginning of a healthier you!

Thanks to the Food 4 Less grocery store in Bend, Oregon for letting me film my video.

Book Review: Eat This Not That For Kids

2008-08-25T17:20:00.000-07:00

I'm sure many of you have heard of the book Eat This Not That by David Zinczenko. In the book different meals from popular restaurants and fast food chains are compared to see how many calories and fat they have so that it's easy for you to make healthy choices when eating. Now David Zinczenko has written a new book called Eat This Not That For Kids. This book is a great help in making healthy choices that are easy and still taste good. Also, the book has lots of pictures so it's very fast and easy to read and understand.

The book includes sections that make it easier to make healthy choices at restaurants, at home and, at school. Eat This Not That For Kids also includes some fun activities that will keep you and your family active.

I highly recommend this book to help you stay healthy and still eat the food you like.

Go Play Outside: Longboarding

2008-08-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

Here's a movie of me on my street showing a great way to be active and still have fun.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation encourages exercising through fun activities. When I'm not training, instead of watching TV I play around on my long board.

My Dog Hates Tomato Juice

2008-08-21T16:43:00.000-07:00

This week my dog got sprayed by a skunk and I had to give her a bath in tomato juice to get the smell out. I hate tomato juice and now, so does my dog Chelsea.

But, there are many other ways I can get the nutritional benefits of tomatoes. Because I don't like to eat tomatoes plain my favorite way to eat them is in salsa, here's a great recipe from my mom.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation encourages kids to eat vegetables and fruits, but that doesn't mean you have to eat stuff you hate. Find your own creative ways to incorporate healthy food in your day. Eating salsa is one of the ways I eat healthy.

Playing with Friends=Exercise

2008-08-19T09:42:00.000-07:00

Often when kids my age go hang out together they do stuff like go shopping or see a movie. If you go outside and do something active with your friends it's also great exercise.

Isabella Barna and Josephine Adamski on a Stand Up Paddle Board at Elk Lake.

Cole Ortega and Gunnar Oliphant Standup Paddle together

I Hate PB & J But Michael Phelps Loves It

2008-08-17T10:19:00.000-07:00

Being athletic, it very important I eat right so that my muscles don't deteriorate. When you constantly train hard it's best to eat before you get hungry and drink before you get thirsty. But this is not to be misinterpreted, if you are not a person with a hard training plan this doesn't mean you can sit down and eat whatever you want. By a training plan I mean an hour and a half or more of focused exercise five to six days a week.

It's important to eat well and drink enough water, because during a work out if you run out of fuel from food your body will start to take energy from your muscles which will then start to deteriorate. During long workouts and hard races this will often happen and your body needs to recover. The best thing to have is something with a balance of carbs, fat and a little bit of protein. Many Olympic swimmers and Olympic athletes (like Michael Phelps) eat peanut butter and jelly for recovery but, if you are like me and really don't like PB & J, I recommend something like chocolate milk.

My mom puts little boxes of organic chocolate milk in the freezer, so by the time I drink it in the summer when I'm working out, it usually is thawed out but still cold.

What I do: Fencing

2008-08-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

I compete in fencing at the national level and I love doing it. I am a member of the United States Fencing Association USFA. I compete in Cadet (16 and under) and Junior (under 20) age groups. I fence epee, which is a certain type of sword.

Recently I just got back from U.S. Fencing Summer Nationals and won Third in the Junior age group. I got a Bronze medal. This was a great way to finish off my fencing season and I'm very proud of myself.

The picture on the right is of a National Fencing event.

The other picture is of me in a bout with Courtney Hurley in the semi-finals at the U.S. Fencing Summer Nationals, this July in San Jose.
For results click here.

Thanks to Heather's Dad for the photo of the bout.

What I do: Surfing/Standup paddling

2008-08-07T15:49:00.000-07:00

I started surfing when I was five years old (with the help of my dad) and have been doing it ever since. About two years ago my dad got into standup paddling, and that has been the family obsession ever since. My parents started started a business called StandupPaddleBend where they sell standup paddle boards and accessories. Since I live in central Oregon, there is no ocean close by so I paddle on the Deschutes river and the nearby Cascade lakes. Frequently, I take trips to the Oregon coast to catch some waves. Standup paddling and surfing are great exercise and an awesome full body workout.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation supports the Kids Movement and having fun while exercising.

Alliance Meeting for Youth Board in Kansas City

2008-07-25T14:29:00.000-07:00

Twenty kids around the country were chosen to be on the Youth Advisory board for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation is an alliance between the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association. The goal of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation is to encourage kids to exercise and eat healthy. This is so important because in America, one in every three kids is overweight or obese. This means that this generation may be the first generation to not outlive their parents.

Being a member of the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation means that the Youth Advisory Board plays a large part in a thing called The Kids' Movement, which encourages kids to engage and educate themselves and others to be healthy.

I'm really excited to be on the inaugural Youth Advisory Board for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. My whole life I've been very active in sports. I've grown up knowing the importance of healthy food and how it affects my body. I believe that kids can learn to help themselves so that they can be healthy.