Home Town: Redwood City, CA
Current Residence: Berkeley, CA

According to Woodside coach, Isabelle Parker, Ali (Alicen Divita) is one of those dream vaulters. Not only does she have an incredible work ethic, she is “one of those people who helps the club maintain a philosophy of keeping the sport fun, progressing in a safe manner and in a atmosphere of caring and support."

As National Women’s Champion, Divita has demonstrated that she knows how to do exactly that: work hard, have fun and do what is necessary to grace the highest podium. At the USEF/AVA 2009 National Championship, she rose above her fellow competitors Mary McCormick by 0.089 points and Megan Benjamin by 0.220 in the overall standings to earn the top prize. Divita believes that it’s the challenges that makes one a better vaulter and credits Parker for being the catalyst. “She really devotes her life to making me a vaulter ... and a better person.”

Starting at 4:30 in the morning with 3-hour crew practices, she also trains with an Olympic decathlete hopeful, practices ‘hot’ yoga, runs, lift weights and dances in addition to vaulting three days per week and designing her own major at UC Berkeley — this according to the AVA newsletter Vaulting World. It seems from that schedule that her time on the horse would almost be restful!

Now, in January 2010, Divita is in Germany, working with superstar Gero Meyer before vaulting by invitation at a Masters Class at CVI** Leipzig. More than 58,000 visitors came to PARTNER PFERD in 2009 - the highest number of visitors for any equestrian sports show in Central Germany. Alicen is following in the footsteps of Mary McCormick, who won the event in 2009. Definitely good practice in preparing to be on the US contingent roster for this year’s WEG.