Have you ever met people, who against all odds, against all “advice” from so called “advisers”, nay-sayers, detractors, and critics just will not accept the reality others want to impose on them? Think 1980 USA Olympic hockey team, think Million Dollar Baby, think 1969 Mets, think Rocky.

Think Emiko Kiyosawa.

Haven’t heard of her? That’s because she is a relative new-comer to the Alpine World Cup Ski Scene. This Japanese technical racer’s first claim to fame came when she won the Alpine skiing women’s giant slalom gold medal at the 6th Asian Winter Games at Beidahu, Jilin cityChina in 2007. Having garnered all sorts of press for that accomplishment, she none-the-less experienced roadblocks to launching a full-on World Cup Ski career. Possible reasons were her age (24 years of age  at the time is considered quite a late start for the women’s side), ski team politics, as well as local competition crowding her out of a Japanese Ski Team slot.

Whatever the hurdles were for her sitting out most of the 08/09 season , she finally — after a lot of soul searching — decided to get in the ring and begin manifesting her dream of  a World Cup Ski career.

Today, without ski team affiliation or support, without formal arrangements with an organization, Emiko travels around Europe in her van all by her lonesome (on the opposite side of the road than what she’s used to in Japan!), tuning her own skis, racing FIS races and since the Aspen, Colorado giant slalom she’s begun weighing in with the top of the ski race food chain: the FIS Alpine World Cup Women’s Tour. That’s awesome.

It was at that Aspen race, that her underdog story captured our attention and inspired us to action, including her in the roster of Shred and Slytech ambassador racers (as you can tell, she’s rocking the Omnibot ski goggles and Brain Bucket ski race helmet). And while it’s been a rocky World Cup start (2 DNQ’s so far), it’s this girl’s determination, her fight, her tenacity and capacity to dream and reach for that dream that has inspired us to write about her and support her when not many others would.

And as if her World Cup audacity wasn’t enough, just guess what else Emiko has in her sights?

Yeah, you guessed it: Vancouver Olympics 2010. It’s a serious uphill battle for her as she tries to edge herself into qualification ahead of her fellow Japanese countrywomen. Even so, there is a slim but real shot that “this girl who thinks she can” can overcome all the odds and earn a spot on the elite stage of the Winter Olympics. Get up, that’s hot!

If you’re a shredder who is inspired by a story like hers and you let it inspire you to push your own limits, then tune into some women’s World Cup technical races (Slalom and Giant Slalom), keep your eyes peeled for this inspiring athlete and cheer her on (leave a comment here for her)! Races can be seen on TV in Europe or in the US on cable on the Universal Sports channel and http://universalsports.com for online streaming video.

Ohhh and then of course, hit the mountain and follow your own dream…

HAPPY NEW YEAR! May it be prosperous, inspiring, and full of the white stuff.

PS: we will be reviewing possible candidates for sponsorships and ambassadorships in the Spring of 2010. While everyone’s dreams are special, we’re not necessarily meant to partner up. If you feel inclined to tell us a bit about yourself for us to include in the review process in the spring, please apply here: http://www.shredoptics.com/shredders/sponsorship-application