BEND, Ore. - Instead of wintering somewhere warm, 16-year-old Waitsburg resident Amy Farley spends her winters based in Wenatchee where she competes competitively with the Mission Ridge Ski Team.

Courtesy Photo

Farley takes top stand on the podium after winning the Category 2 Giant Slalom.

Farley has been racing competitively since age 8, when she joined the Bluewood Alpine Race Team.

These days, she spends November through April, living with friends in Wenatchee while taking Walla Walla Community Courses online and hitting the slopes in between.

"I like that it's an individual sport and you always have to beat yourself before beating anyone else," Farley said.

Farley competed last weekend in the Mt. Bachelor SunCup, the third event in the NorthWest Cup Alpine Ski Race series, to qualify for the Western Region U19 Championships in Alpine Meadows, CA. Farley competed against 60 girls to place: seventh in the Cat. 1 Giant Slalom, first in the Cat. 2 Giant Slalom, sixth in Cat. 1 Downhill, fifth in Cat. 2 Downhill and second in the Cat. 3 Giant Slalom.