Jen Hudak has a well-deserved reputation as the hardest working girl in the game. She has more tricks in her wheelhouse than almost anyone else, was the first female halfpipe skier to hire a coach, and is know for videotaping and breaking apart her pipe runs to make every possible aspect better. “I look up to Jen. She probably works harder than anyone to step things up,” says Athena Brownson. “It’s insane what that girl has learned and how passionate she is about progressing women’s skiing.” Insane or otherwise, Hudak’s dedication pays off. The five-time X Games medalist was also the AFP tour winner last year. She’s so driven that this winter, she moved operations from Utah to Colorado to follow her coach. She has also been one of the most vocal advocates for women’s events and the inclusion of halfpipe skiing in the Olympics. She’s been heavily involved in talks with Dew Tour and Olympic organizers, and has become known among her peers as a leader in pushing for the future of the sport. She has said the being an Olympic gold medalist is her ultimate goal. This winter, in addition to competing in the X Games, Dew Tour, FIS World Championships and more, she’s been powder skiing in Japan and producing videos for Discrete TV. But in the back of her mind she’s focused about Sochi and 2014. “I’m excited for the prospect of sitting on an airplane and telling someone what I do and having them understand that I’m a skier and not a snowboarder,” she says. -H.H.