Name: Tara Dakides

Age: 22

Born: Laguna Niguel, California

Lives: Mammoth Lakes, California

Sponsors: Sessions, Dragon, Etnies, 32 Boots, CTT Sports Braces, Active Ride Shop, Clif Bar, Test Pilot

Favorite bands: Monster Magnet, L7, Primus, Bob Marley

Favorite Places Snowboarded: Stevens Pass, Washington; Mammoth, California; and Colorado halfpipes

Snowboards with: "Jonnel Janowitz and whoever seems to be there that day."

Parties with: "The world."

Places you motocross: "Gilmore Canyon, California; Bishop, California; and Beaumont, California."

Motocrosses with: "My homegirl Jackie."

What’s up with your name?

Tara means of the earth–the land. My mom named me from the movie, Gone With The Wind. Dakides–I don’t know, but its Greek.

When I was thirteen. My mom and I learned together.

I like to write poetry, hang out with my family, chill at the beach, and do gymnastics on the sand. Right now I’m super into my moto bike. I just raced my first national at Glen Helen.

I got lapped by Dee Woods.

I don’t eat red meat.

Hopefully using the restroom.

That’s a tough one, because things always change in my life. Maybe somewhere tropical, freshening up my scuba-diving skills. Whatever I’m doing, I’m sure it will be good.

I’m the kind of person who always needs to be moving or doing something. When I stay in one place too long, anxiety kicks in. During one of my "I need to be going somewhere" attacks, a friend told me this: "When you don’t know where you’re going, stand still." It’s simple, but it helps me rest when I need to.

I was out surfing Del Mar rivermouth and saw a shark. He was about six feet in length, fascinating. I thought I’d be frightened, but instead I paddled above him for as long as I could. It’s pretty shallow there so I could see him clearly.

–Torey Piro