Australia’s hottest Snowboarding export, Torah Bright, is so cool she has her own signature board and clothing at Roxy. With a decade of riding behind her she landed yet another epic season of runs including a gold medal in the Super-Pipe at the Winter X Games and 1st Place at the US Open women’s halfpipe titles.

Torah Bright, only 22,  is continually bringing the sport of women’s snowboarding up to par with the men’s by pulling bigger tricks on the pipe and earning higher scores. Now, living in Utah she is one of the most popular international female action sports athletes.

(Pic: Torah at the Roxy Chicken Jam 2009)

Unfortunately a shoulder injury in practice kept her out of the running of claiming the mountain at the annual Roxy Chicken Jam at Mammoth this weekend (March 27-29), but something tells us she’s still all smiles.

 

We were lucky to catch Torah between comps and a trip to Morocco to ask a few questions about her life as Queen of the Halfpipe, including her hardest trick yet, best travel tips and thoughts on the sport of women's snowboarding.


EXP/G:  How does it feel to reclaim your gold medal at the Winter X games and set a record for the highest Super-Pipe score for women (falling just short of Sean White’s highest ever score by only .01 of a point)?

Torah: To reclaim the gold was amazing! And to have such an amazing score was pretty cool too. But the thing that was better than both those two, is that i was happy with how i rode.

If i win, lose or draw, i am pretty happy either way as long as i am happy with the way i rode.
 
EXP/G:  What is the biggest trick you’ve mastered so far? Most difficult?

Torah:  The Switch backside 720, is the hardest trick i have mastered. it took me forever!
 
EXP/G:  Who has been the biggest influence in your snowboarding career? Why?

Torah:  My Brother ben, has been the biggest influence in my snowboarding. We started snowboarding together, then we both went off traveling the globe doing our separate things. Then he we started ridding together and ben really thought that he could help me out. And he has, he see my ability and know what i am capable of, when i dont see it. He is the reason i have come so far with my riding.

EXP/G:  Did you dream about where you are today when you were younger?

Torah:  Not at all... i did not know it was even possible. When i was a kid i just wanted to open a flower shop!

EXP/G:  What advice do you have for girls getting started in snowboarding and hoping one day to fill your boots?

Torah:  Take every opportunity you get to ride, travel and go in any events. Be having fun and wanting to learn new things every time you are on snow. But mostly importantly, remember it's all fun so keep it FUN!

EXP/G:  Do you feel fear? How do you overcome that feeling (especially on top of a big mountain or facing the Super-Pipe)?

Torah:  When i was younger i had alot more fear. Now i am learning more about my ability on a snowboard and i feel if something will work or not. Generally when if i dont see something working i will not put myself in a position that will not work.

EXP/G:  In the world of women’s snowboarding, what are your biggest hopes for the sport?

Torah:  As snowboarding goes a little more mainstream i just hope that it is able to keep to its roots and where it came from. As for the hope of women's snowboarding, i just hope that we can all keep it within us to keep progressing our selves as ridders and ultimately the sport.

EXP/G:  Are you seeing a big difference in women’s snowboarding now, from when you started?

Torah:  Huge difference... when i started people were stoked on giant backside 360's. Now you have girls spinning all four direction doing 720's and 900's.

EXP/G:  What’s your best advice to stay fit for snowboarding?

Torah: Eat healthily, and stay strong and fit!

EXP/G:  What board are you riding now? Size?

Torah:  I ride my signature board, part of the Bright Edition.
The Eminence- 149

EXP/G:  Favorite destination around the world to ride?

Torah:  I just got back from snowboarding in Morocco, that was pretty cool. But i love to ride at Park City, utah.

EXP/G:  Best travel tip?

Torah:  always check the seat pocket in front of you before leaving the aircraft! I have left so many things in there!
 
EXP/G:  What’s your ideal day on the mountain?
a) Fresh powder and long runs
b) Hanging at the park hitting table tops and jumps
c) Getting big air in the pipe
d) all of the above
 
Torah:  A) Fresh powder and long runs!

 

 

www.ExplorerGirls.com / Courtney Crow

Images: ROXY, Mark Welsh