Brighton Zeuner is a professional skateboarder, sure.
But shes also just your average American teenager.
Were going to eat at CPK and watchAmerican Horror Story.
Harry How/GettyImages
Zeuner will represent Team USA in the inaugural park skateboarding competition during this summersTokyo Gameson August 4.
Think a giant empty swimming pool with peaks and valleys.
Zeuner has been skateboarding since she was six years old.
So Brandon suggested he and Brightons mother, Bridget, get their daughter a board of her own.
Soon enough, Brighton was dropping into 10-foot bowls and doing things that werent normal, Brandon toldSI.
Zeuners approach to her sport is actually to take the sport out of it.
She says she performs best when she focuses on enjoying what she does.
What makes me feel stable is just feeling like a little kid and loving skateboarding, Zeuner tells SELF.
When what you do becomes more of a job than what you love, that gets stressful.
Ive just been trying to keep it as fun as possible.
In fact, Zeuner says she didnt train much for the Olympics at all.
To prepare, she spent time skating outside at local parks with friends.
Like many of her peers, Zeuner loves skin care and streaming old TV shows late into the night.
She FaceTimes with her boyfriend, Christian, and plays Minecraft.
Most of all, she does what she can to take the pressure off.
Here, Zeuner walks SELF through her bedtime routine and how shes been preparing for the Tokyo Olympics.
Before bed, I feel like I get the most stuff done.
I like to take care of myself.
Ill tweeze my eyebrows sometimes if Im really into it.
I also have super-sensitive skin, so I always have to put lotion on my legs every night.
When youre skating, youre sweating, and I used to break out a lot.
I have a go at do it all the time.
Sometimes I just pass out, but thats what I have a go at do.
I have this prescribed spot treatment called Retin-A.
I love face masksthe one I use is Clinique.
I have a go at do my nails unsuccessfully sometimes.
I feel good when I do my face routine, take a shower, and put on my pajamas.
I always take a shower before bednever in the morning, really.
My bedroom is my favorite room.
Its my dream room.
My favorite thing in my bedroom is probably my rug because it looks like grass.
Ive had this vanity forever, and we repainted it green because thats my favorite color.
I got this little Tiffany lamp for $14 bucks and it sells for $200.
I want to be apajamas person.
I usually just wear shorts and a T-shirt.
I used to have fun, really cool, butterfly matching sets.
I usually go on FaceTime with my boyfriend.
We watch our show together, which isAmerican Horror Story.
Or Christian and I play Minecraft for hours before bed and then go to sleep.
I always sleep with the TV on.
Im a weird sleeper.
I always get scared.
I love horror stuff, but I always get freaked out.
Im such an overthinker too.
I need to get over it.
Honestly, the anxiety at night is bad sometimes because I havent competed in a year.
Right when the Games got canceled, I didnt think of contests at all.
I didnt think of skating until recently.
I was like, Oh, my God, I need to start skating again.
Knowing everyone probably feels the same makes me feel a little better.
Ive been skating a lot.
All day, I go to San Diego and just skate there with some friends.
Im putting too much energy into trying to be the best.
I think its just more fun now.
But for me, thats not really my thing.
I just attempt to have fun.
I think that makes me do the best I can.
Its really hard for me to sleep the night before a contest.
I get really nervous before I complete.
I put on music before, and it makes me feel better.
All the girls I compete with, Im friends with.
We all talk about our nerves.
My dad always says to just have fun.
It makes me feel better.
Thats how I control my nerves.
When I wear cute clothes, that makes me skate good.
My shoes are really important.
I think I overpack when I travel for competitions.
It was my cats blanket, who passed away.
We grew up together.
Weve always talked about trying to go to the Olympics together.
Shes my little travel buddy too.
Its been so long since Ive been in contest mode.
He just helps me check that everythings not that big of a deal.
You dont need a win, nothing bad is going to happen if you dont do well.
Thinking like that, weirdly, makes me do good.
Thinking, like, Its just a contest, youve done it a million times.
Who cares if you fall?
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
