Contact: Teri Elgersma, 800-682-7391

ROCK RAPIDS, Iowa, Nov. 20, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- Alpha Omega Academy alumnus Sage Kotsenburg and his younger sister Kirra, who currently is a senior at AOA, have their sights set on snowboarding at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Following in the tracks of their older brother Blaze, the snowboarding siblings from Park City, Utah, travel the world with their parents to train and compete throughout the year.

"It has definitely been a wild ride from the moment we strapped into our bindings," their mother Carol Ann Kotsenburg said. "As soon as Blaze and Sage voiced the desire to snowboard, we were 100% behind them and left our own skis behind."

Sage is a frontrunner for the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia, having earned one of three spots on the Men's 2013 U.S. Snowboarding Slopestyle Pro Team. Currently sitting in second place in both points and rankings, Sage will compete in five Olympic qualifying events this winter, beginning with the Dew Tour in mid-December.

"It has been a dream of mine to compete in the Olympics since I was just a little kid, and to have it happen when I am still at such a young age gives me hope to be able to do two of them," Sage said. "It would be one of the highlights of my entire life."

Though she's close, Kirra sits just on the edge of going pro. Though injuries have prevented her from participating in key competitions for the past few years, she has earned a discretionary spot in the Copper Mountain Grand Prix in Colorado next month. Performing well in that competition could lead to invitations to additional Olympic qualifying events.

"Having fun is really the key," Kirra said. "Being uptight is not going to help you learn. Snowboarding isn't all about competitions. It's about shredding with your friends and family and staying happy with yourself."

The flexibility to complete school work on their own time and hit the hills with friends and family when conditions are right has helped the Kotsenburg siblings pursue professional competition.

Sage, who graduated in 2011, said, "I don't think I would have graduated from public high school with all the traveling I do, so really AOA's online system helped my snowboarding career so, so much."

The Olympic qualifying events run through January 19, but Sage could potentially qualify for the 2014 games by the third week of December. He said he's doing his best to stay focused as the competitions draw near.

"I take it one competition at a time and try not to think about it," he said. "I just go ride like I always do and have a lot of fun trying to do my personal best."

About Alpha Omega Academy
Accredited by NCA CASI, Alpha Omega Academy is the K-12 online school of Alpha Omega Publications. Founded in 1977, Alpha Omega Publications is a leading provider of award-winning PreK-12 Christian curriculum, educational resources, and services to Christian schools, homeschool families, and distributors. Visit Alpha Omega Academy online here or call 800-682-7396.