ESPN’s Ramona Bruland (Joe Faraoni / ESPN Images)
Meet Ramona Bruland (above, during today’s “Car Wash” at ESPN in Bristol, Conn.), your new X games host. You’re going to like her:
Do you remember when you first watched ESPN or knew you wanted to be on TV?
I grew up in Australia deprived of ESPN, so for me I would watch shows like Getaway and The Great Outdoors and wish I was a TV host like [popular Australian TV personality] Catriona Rowntree traveling the world to exotic destinations doing adrenaline-filled activities.
It wasn’t until I moved to Colorado in 2002 and started following football and watching the X Games did I discover the world of ESPN. All those years of rolling up my sleeves, coiling cable and building rundowns have paid off. This job is a dream come true!
If you had the chance to compete in any X Games event (summer or winter), which would it be?
Ten years ago I would have given anything to compete at the X Games in the women’s half pipe event. Now I’m more than happy to be watching from the bottom, living vicariously through the talented women that shred it. Also to run the Enduro X course on my dirtbike would be epic.
But I’d probably call “Uncle” somewhere near the matrix!
What would be the ideal “action sports” day for you?
Oh, I’m salivating at the possibilities!
Okay, Winter first: an endless day of heli skiing with a massive powder kicker to launch back flips off; a few snowmobiles to play around on and a bunch of like-minded friends to push me to try new things.
Or if it was Summer: trail-riding on my CRF 250X at Peach Valley/Flat Top in Colorado with my dirt bike friends all day long before kicking back at our pimped out Toy Haulers/RV’s around a custom made communal deck with swimming pool and fire pit (currently imaginary but we’re working on it).
SPEED ROUND
Favorite action sports athlete?
Australian snowboarder Torah Bright. Gretchen Bleiler is also an amazing woman, role model and half pipe rider. I guess I love the chicks that rip!
Favorite band? continue reading…
