Brooklyn Park resident Tristin O'Byrne, 8, has only three months of snowboarding experience, but his list of accomplishments on the slopes tells a different story.

Tristin, a third grader at Edinbrook Elementary, placed third of seven in his age group (12 and younger) at the Elm Creek Rail Jam earlier this month in Maple Grove. He was the youngest participant by two years.

He started doing tricks the first day he strapped his feet into a snowboard, and today his list of tricks numbers more than a dozen.

"He went down a small hill twice, and said, 'This is boring,' " said his mother Jennifer O'Byrne.

Tristin's tricks include a 360-degree turn that has eluded some of his friends on the G-Team based at Elm Creek Park Reserve.

The team is a Minnesota nonprofit group that allows participants to train and compete in local, regional, national and world competitions.

It is one of only a few competitive snowboarding groups for kids in the metro, O'Byrne said.

This is the G-Team's first season at the Reserve; there are about 25 members.

Most snowboarders are teenagers with several years of experience, but Tristin keeps up with them, and many have become his friends, O'Byrne said.

Tristin's interest in the sport peaked when a neighborhood teen was practicing tricks off a homemade ramp from his deck into the back yard.

"It caught my eye," he said.

Tristin's neighbor Tyler Koch, 15, says the "ramp" is a 10-foot pile of snow.

About once per week, Tyler, a sophomore at Park Center Senior High, and Tristin spend time together at Elm Creek Park Reserve - mostly practicing tricks.

"He's got a lot of energy and drive to do what he wants to," Tyler said.

Once a shy guy, O'Byrne said she has seen her son come out of his shell and become more independent since starting snowboarding.

"When he gets hurt, he sucks it up and tries again," she said. "There's a lot of pride out there. [Other kids] let you know when you crash and burn."

"It hurts when you land," Tristin said.

He explained how his legs have to be bent to absorb the shock of landing, like a car going over a bump.

Tristin gets right back up if he falls, which isn't very often because he picks up on everything really quickly, Tyler said.

"He'll do everything on the hill the older kids do," he said. "He's improved so much in one year."

Tristin said he wants to participate in the X Games and the Olympics someday.

He is looking for sponsors to attend a training camp on Mount Hood near Portland, Ore., in June. For more information, visit his blog www. snowstyling.blogspot.com or call 763-424-7017 (Jennifer).

Comment on this story at our website, www.mnsun.com.

About once per week, Tyler, a sophomore at Park Center Senior High, and Tristin spend time together at Elm Creek Park Reserve - mostly practicing tricks.

"He's got a lot of energy and drive to do what he wants to," Tyler said.

Once a shy guy, O'Byrne said she has seen her son come out of his shell and become more independent since starting snowboarding.

"When he gets hurt, he sucks it up and tries again," she said. "There's a lot of pride out there. [Other kids] let you know when you crash and burn."

"It hurts when you land," Tristin said.

He explained how his legs have to be bent to absorb the shock of landing, like a car going over a bump.

Tristin gets right back up if he falls, which isn't very often because he picks up on everything really quickly, Tyler said.

"He'll do everything on the hill the older kids do," he said. "He's improved so much in one year."

Tristin said he wants to participate in the X Games and the Olympics someday.

He is looking for sponsors to attend a training camp on Mount Hood near Portland, Ore., in June. For more information, visit his blog www. snowstyling.blogspot.com or call 763-424-7017 (Jennifer).

Comment on this story at our website, www.mnsun.com.