Utah

FEATURED ATHLETE: Shannan Yates

Name a person who inspires you to be a better snowboarder?

Travis Rice, amazing athlete, supports his community, and environmental advocate. Of course Barrett Christy, a pioneer in raising the bar for women's snowboarding!

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Keep it a secret.

Breakfast of champions?

Mullberry Smoothie with banana, yogurt, avocado, spinach and whatever else I decide to throw in.

Favorite chairlift and why?

Summit Chair at Solitude and the Snowbird Tram because of access to epic terrain for both.

Highlight memory from filming with WME for this year's film?

The entire week ripping around the mountain with Grete, Harrison, Pat was so much fun and we were constantly laughing and making the best of sub par weather, it was all time! (it can't always be overhead pow days...) Filming with the legend Brad Holmes, who was completely supportive and patient with the tough snow conditions we were working with. Hiking Fantasy Ridge with the athletes and crew to show them my favorite secret stashes and having amazing snow when we got to the spot!

Gear you are loving right now, on or off the ski slopes, and why?

Lib Technologies T-Rice Pro (hard charging, pow ripping ride!), TOBE outerwear Fingo Bib and Jacket (most durable women's outwear you can get!),

What is a cause you care about that you'd love to share with the Warren Miller audience?

Water Conservation (I live in a desert, we don't have an endless supply), Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

How do you think the year 2020 will shape the future of skiing?

I work in the ICUs at the University of Utah so work was a bit tough and being required to be on-call for COVID shifts cut into the season a bit, but mostly working hard to juggle being safe to not catch/spread the virus while still enjoying the resorts.

What is your vision for the future of skiing?

Teleportation.

Favorite classic ski film and why?

Better off Dead. Because it was filmed in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah and has the best one-liners. Also Ski School because Chocolate Hot Tubs

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Don't miss Shannan in our 72nd film, Winter Starts Now, dropping Fall 2021

Featured Athlete: Harrison Holley

  

What would you do if you won the lottery? 

Buy boot heaters.

Breakfast of champions? 

I usually eat eggs, bacon and toast. I am not a champion. I would ask Connery.

Favorite chairlift and why? 

The one with the shortest line. Extra points if it’s a fixed grip and doesn’t have foot rests.

Highlight memory from filming with WME for this year's film? 

Filming with WME! Childhood dreams come true. 

Gear you are loving right now, on or off the ski slopes, and why?

Hand Warmers, I think my body’s circulation system needs repair. I have been super impressed with Sego Ski Co.’s Condor 108s. They are so versatile that I use them for touring, pow days and I trust them when things get rowdy.

How do you think the year 2020 will shape the future of skiing?

It was my first season rehabbing from a major injury which proved difficult. Having to dial things back a bit when wanting to go full-send is never easy. 

What is your vision for the future of skiing?

My vision has been getting blurry lately, probably should go get my eyes checked.

Favorite classic ski film and why?

Happy Dayz, I think it opened my eyes to skiing outside of mogul comps and of course the soundtrack.

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Don't miss Harrison in our 72nd film, Winter Starts Now, dropping Fall 2021

Headshot by Neil Provo (via Instagram)

Current favorite piece of gear?
Currently, my favorite piece of gear is my fat tire bicycle because of its incredible versatility. Glaciers, beaches, trails, mountains, deserts - I can ride it everywhere!

What is your number one goal in skiing/riding right now?
I just want to keep searching for clean lines and perfect snow. I want to keep it fun and continue to explore my potential and my surroundings.

Best advice you were ever given?
Keep your fly wet.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I get inspired by life, and all of its natural processes. What an amazing time to be a human - we get to powsurf in the mountains just for fun! How cool is that?

What is your greatest fear?
The greatest fear I ever felt was during a glacier camping trip in SE Alaska in the spring of 2015. There was a brief moment during an absolutely savage, 9-day snow storm, where I thought things might go south. That feeling was soon followed by the greatest sense of accomplishment I've ever felt.

Best moment filming with WME this year?
There was one day in particular where we were riding pow above the clouds. It was a dream-like setting, from sunrise to sunset. I also packed a really good lunch that day. At Mustang Powder in BC, you go for the skiing, but you'll likely want to return for the food alone. It is amazing.

What is your number one goal in skiing/riding right now?
Have as much fun as possible while exploring new possibilities and terrain.

Current favorite piece of gear? Why?
Grassroots Powsurfer - It's one simple tool that provides a feeling unlike anything else. There are no moving parts, nothing ever to adjust or break.

Best advice you were ever given?
Follow your dreams.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Nature, surfing and skateboarding.

What is your greatest fear?
Letting life pass me by without making the most of it.

Best moment filming with WME this year?
Watching the sunrise atop a peak in British Columbia, realizing what an amazing day of riding we were about to enjoy.

What do you enjoy doing to give your body a break? (Recovery routine, healing tips, etc.) Foam roller, yoga

Can you tell us about some of the gear you were using in your segment with WME? During the WME Wasatch shoot I was skiing on my Volkl Shiro with a Marker Duke binding. The Shiro is a super versatile ski that I can trust to perform no matter what the snow is like in the backcountry. The Duke is great because it delivers the performance of an alpine binding in a touring binding platform. I tour in the backcountry so that I can ski fast and hit airs in fresh snow, and i need a setup built to handle that sort of skiing.

Other than professional athlete, what is your dream job? Orthopedic Surgeon.

Most memorable moment filming with WME this year? Skiing 'Thunderstruck' off of Cardiac Ridge was definitely the highlight of the shoot for me. This is one of the more exciting lines in the Wasatch with a knife-edge ridge and a mandatory straight line out of the bottom. I remember being surprised at how fast I was skiing out the exit. It marked the end of the good snow that shoot and capped off a great couple of weeks at home in the Wasatch.

Your idea of a perfect vacation sans skiing? Surf trip to Nicaragua.

Mantra to live by? Follow your passion.

Tunes to ski to? Alt-J

What do you enjoy doing to give your body a break? (Recovery routine, healing tips, etc.) Ice bath, massage, recovery run

Can you tell us about some of the gear you were using in your segment with WME? Patagonia clothes, Pret helmets (so lightweight and awesome and great colors), Leki poles, Nordica skis (lightweight and rip on the down), Skida headbands and neck gaiters - my fav! Elemental Herbs Sunscreen

Other than professional athlete, what is your dream job? An artist - painting

Most memorable moment filming with WME this year? Sunrise on Superior

Your idea of a perfect vacation sans skiing? Hiking, swimming, surfing, adventuring

Mantra to live by? "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." - Wayne Gretzky

Tunes to ski to? Scissors Sisters

FEATURED ATHLETE: Lexi duPont

Name a person who inspires you to be a better skier? 

Michelle Parker

 

Favorite chairlift and why?

The Stoke!!!! (In Revelstoke) Hot laps on the STOKE all day baby!!!! It provides access to my favorite terrain on earth. Nothing beats hot lapping the stoke with a sendy crew on a pow day!

 

Fictitious character you most identify with from a book, movie, etc. and why?

Cookie Monster! "Friend something better than chocolate Ice-cream... maybe friend somebody you give up last cookie for." It's as simple as that.

 

Favorite classic ski film and why?

Blizzard of Aahhh's. Greg Stump changed my life with that film. After watching It I knew I wanted to ski as much as humanly possible and maybe one day grow up to ski like Kim Reichhelm. I feel like it changed skiing and action sports film making forever.