Sorry, I couldn't think of a more snappy headline. I wanted to get to the point.

I've been covering action sports at the magazine now for almost three years. And in that time, I've had two very cool experiences/honors. In August 2005, my first cover story, on Mat Hoffman, was the first time ESPN The Magazine put an action sports athlete on the cover.

Now, when the new issue hits newsstands today, Gretchen Bleiler becomes the first female action sports athlete to grace our cover. In 10 years, only a handful of female athletes have been featured, alone, on our cover. And only three action sports athletes. (Shaun White was the third.)

I can't think of a more deserving female athlete. Scratch that. Athlete. Period.