Your Age: 21

Your Location (where do you ride mostly): Gainesville, FL

Weapon(s) of choice: Remember Collective Merika or Jet Tomahawk

What’s an average day for you like? Wake up. Go to class. Go to work. Skate. Jam with my band. Study. Sleep. Repeat.

What is the most difficult part of your activity/sports for a beginner? The easiest? The most difficult part of downhill longboarding is getting over the fear of falling and crashing out at high speeds. Inevitably, someone new to the sport will take bad lines or have bad form for a slide and eat it. The best things anyone can do are wear pads/a helmet, practice, and have confidence!

What is the best and worst thing about being female in your sport? Best Thing: the community learns who you are pretty fast! Worst Thing: ... I dunno. I don't think there's anything bad about it!

What would you like to see change in your sport to make it better for you and other female athletes? Honestly, this sport is sketchy. I don't blame women for not competing. However, I think that if those that ran events would guarantee a women's division then more ladies would be willing to come out and shred.

Besides your ability and style factor as an athlete, how would you describe your personal style? Pretty goofy! I always make it a point to stay positive and have as much fun as possible!

What are your favorite brands/designers for your sports apparel and for stepping out? I love Vans for assorted apparel. Everything they make is so comfy!

Let’s hear your thoughts on how important looking good is to feeling good. “Being” your personal best? Looking good is somewhat important: confidence, again, is very much a key in downhill. However, feeling SAFE and comfortable is really where it's at. Ultimately, if a shirt/pair of pants protects you from road rash as a result of a fall at 40+mph, you're golden.

How dangerous do you really think it is compared to what people do in their regular activities? Downhill longboarding is dangerous. No joke. You face constant lurking variables that can seriously injure or kill you. Skate smart. Skate within your limits. Helmets save lives.

I bet in your experience you have seen some crazy crashes. Describe one.I have seen a lot nasty crashes... I don't think it would be fair to describe only one!

What is your favorite trick? I'm not particularly techy. I love throwing heelside pendis... But toesides are fun too.

What usually gets people hooked on your activity/sport? The thrill of the speed and the places it takes you.

Do you own any other toys? Nah, not really. Just a ton of boards, wheels!, and musical equipment.

What gets you pumped up for the day? Knowing that I'm going to get up and live the dream of being able to skate freely and have fun!

What are three things you could not live without? Music, downhill, and the ocean.

What are your expectations for this activity/sport? A lot of crashing, but a lot of satisfaction at the end of the day!

Who have been your biggest supporters in getting you to where you are now? My friends and fellow shredders in the community and my father (who taught me to skate).

Who’s your favorite rider/shooter (photo/video)? Rider: Emily Pross. Filmers: Matthew McKeon and Justin Malpica

What do you do in your spare time when you’re not riding/shooting/competing? Playing guitar/drums, writing/recording music, and listening to records.

How about in the off season to stay in shape?One of the additional joys of longboarding: there really isn't an off season.

What is your biggest goal to accomplish this/next season? Make some podiums and continue to have way too much fun.

What do you do to prep for a competition? I usually listen to some thrashy music (The Thermals, The Replacements, Cheatahs, Baroness, etc.) and get a few Red Bulls in my system.

What competitions and other awards have you won? (Semi-)Official awards: 1st place in women's at Tunnel Freeride and 3rd place in women's at Magic City Mayhem

What’s your favorite “way” to ride? Fast and hard (just think of the Bash & Pop song).

Favorite conditions? Fresh black top, wide lanes, and low traffic.

Where would be your biggest dream place to ride and why? GMR in CA and Paradise in NC.

What song(s) do you listen to while riding that puts you in the zone? I can't really listen to anything while doing downhill because I'm usually trying not to die; however, I do jam out to certain albums before a sesh like Celebration Rock (Japandroids), F**ckin A (The Thermals), Cop and Speeder (Heatmiser), What Went Down (Foals), and Stink (The Replacements).

What turned you on to your sport? Being able to travel to/see new places, meet skaters around the world, and SKATE!

Any new tricks you’re working on? Right now, I'm trying to master the toeside predrift.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done in your sport? Survived a nasty crash that landed me in the ER.

What other extreme/action sports are you into? Skimboarding

If extreme/action sports didn’t exist, what would you be doing with all the free time you’d have? Playing guitar, probably!

What’s your favorite board/bike/sled to ride and why? The Remember Collective Merika or the Jet Tomahawk. Try 'em out and you'll understand why.

What’s the trick to riding features and not killing yourself? Taking it slow and skating within your limits.

How would you describe your riding style? A little kooky! Overall, I hug my board and stay low. When I can't out-push competitors, I have to let my weight and inertia help me out.

What would you say is your signature trick? Heelside pendi.

Favorite drink of choice to refresh yourself after a long day of riding/shooting? Tons of water and beer.

What do you want to be when you "grow up"? A semi-professional downhill racer.

Any of your own web pages or social media buttons you want links to? Instagram: @ann_r_key_23, Facebook: Ann R. Key