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: Patrick Spence 

 

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

Always have looked up to Candide, he's a legend.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Probably try to buy a ski resort, and donate a bunch of it to climate change research and funding, I want to keep skiing for a long time and others to enjoy it after me.

Favorite chairlift and why?
The old Summit Chair at Solitude Mountain.  That thing was ricketty, very high up in places, slow, and took you to the best skiing on the mountain.
 
Breakfast of champions?

6-7 pieces of bacon and a few eggs, some caffeine for sure.

Favorite classic ski film and why?

Year Book by MSP came out in 2004, the first ski movie I owned.  Definitely fueled the fire to move out west and become a backcountry skier.

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Don't miss Patrick 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

Featured Athlete: Madison Rose Ostergren 

What makes for an ultimate day on the mountain?

Friends to shred with!

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

Marcus Caston. He is the best. But also many many other skiers and people inspire me for different reasons… their personalities, style, and the message and qualities they embody: Glen Plake, Jimmi Ryan, Angel Collinson, Wendy Fisher, and many other athletes I am surrounded by in the winter as well as athletes that I look up to that I haven’t ever met!

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

Peter Pan. I relate to Peter in many ways. I identify with him because I love his creative, adventurous, curious, and daring soul. I like that he’s a confident leader and has a pack of friends, The Lost Boys - they adventure and live in a magical world together. I think some people might think of Peter as careless, selfish or boastful, which he is in some ways, but I think when you begin to understand him more… deep down he has his own inner battles he is working through and he is trying to figure it out the best he knows how… just like the rest of us. Deep down I think he feels love and warmth and maintains his youthful energy that he spreads with his vivid imagination and passion to the people he is around.

 
What is your vision for the future of skiing?

Inclusive and creative. Open, loving, sharing.

 
Favorite classic ski film and why?

I love all ski films- it’s hard to pick a favorite!

 

 

Current favorite piece of gear?
Salomon QST 118 Skis! Perfect combination for speed and fun. They make every day on snow better than the last and truly bring out the pure joy of skiing powder!

What is your number one goal in skiing/riding right now?
I want to combine my love of backpacking with skiing and focus on traversing big mountain ranges throughout the world and skiing unknown lines and discovering new areas.

Best advice you were ever given?
Nature will reveal you, but she'll never judge you.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
My parents, music, authors like Edward Abbey and Hunter S. Thompson, and Google Earth!

What is your greatest fear?
Losing my free will.

Best moment filming with WME this year?
When we spent the day touring off Beartooth Pass skiing perfect corn, avoided getting crushed by cornices, and laughed until the sun went down! Perfect day in the mountains.

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.) Water time-dew righting the joints in the ocean or pool coupled with stretching.

Can you tell us about some of the gear you were using in your segment with WME? Fischer Motive 95, a great high performance all mountain ski. Spyder Eiger jacket and Spyder Nordwand pant. Reusch DMoney lobster mitten, Fischer Vaccum 150 race boot, POC Fornix helmet and Fovea goggle.

Other than professional athlete, what is your dream job? Adventure guide.

Most memorable moment filming with WME this year? Riding up the mountain in the shovel of the groomer.

Your idea of a perfect vacation sans skiing? Private beach full of toys to play on and off the ocean.

Mantra to live by? Grass is greenest where you water it.

Tunes to ski to? Steve Aoki