2015 Freeride World Tour – Shannan Yates Interview

SP: Hi Shannan, how’s your summer been!? I’m sure that new motorcycle got some love!

SY: My husband gave me a BMW Sertao 650cc for winning the Freeride World Tour and graduating nursing school! It is a big bike and so exciting to ride! We went on many adventures throughout the summer. I’ve dropped her a few times on off-road sections but am getting the hang of it.

SP: And now that winter is upon us, have you been up at the Bird quite a bit already?

SY: I have a number of days logged at Snowbird already! We need snow, but the Bird always has the best conditions this time of year and it is great for training!

SP: So you do train for the FWT? Or is ripping all over Snowbird training enough?

SY: Riding hard definitely is a big part of doing well on tour, but I also supplement with training. I love riding my road bike in the canyons, I trail run at Snowbird (I run up from the bottom and take a tram down, easy on the knees), also I train with my husband in our ghetto garage gym. He pushes me pretty hard!

SP: How many years have you been riding Snowbird now?

SY: This is the beginning of my 21st season! So if you need a tour guide, I know all the great lines!

SP: I do! How many of those years have you been competing?

SY: My first Extreme competition was at Crested Butte in 2004 for the Boarderfest, I took 3rd place and was hooked on big mountain comps!

SP: What was it like finishing school while competing last season?

SY: Juggling school and the FWT was a challenge for sure! My husband would pick me up from school or clinicals and take me straight to the airport and I would do homework while traveling, I also had to hop right back on a plane after the comp so I wouldn’t miss clinicals. I was lucky that my instructors were supportive, I was allowed to Skype into class. Winning the FWT and completing nursing school felt like a huge accomplishment, so much that I wore my wrestling belt trophy from the tour when I walked for my degree!

SP: And now you’re working a full time job! Do you think things will be a little smoother and less hectic this year, or just as crazy?

SY: I am hoping things will be smoother, with less pressure. I will still have to work between events, but I will be able to travel without worry. I am looking forward to this season!

SP: I remember you guys did a fundraising event last year to help with travel costs. Do the competitors have to pay for travel and everything out of pocket?

SY: Most of the competitors have to fund much of the travel themselves, there are some that have sponsors that pay, but it is tough to get money from sponsors right now. Luckily the FWT covers lodging, lift tickets and some meals once we get there.

SP: Are you going to be doing another fundraising event this year for the local riders? 

SY: The fundraiser last year was a huge success and we were grateful for the support! The event also helped get the word out about the tour and that we have so many strong female athletes here in SLC. There were four of us from Little Cottonwood Canyon last year, but I am the only local rider this year. I am not planning a fundraiser, but getting the word out about the tour is great benefit! The other US female snowboarder is Mary Boddington out of Crested Butte.

SP: The FWT is a really cool and unique series of contests. For those that might not know, how are riders judged and scored at each stop and throughout the season?

SY: This event is based on the athletes ability to ride a natural big mountain face. Athletes are judged on the line they choose, difficulty, fluidity, control, style, etc. Points are awarded and the points accumulate for each stop of the tour. For the final two events, there is a cut of the field to bring only the top competitors to the finals in Verbier, Switzerland.

SP: Who are you competing against in 2015? Any new comers or heavy hitters to watch out for?

SY: The top four from last season will be me, Elodie Mouthon (FRA), Estelle Ballet (SUI), Amber Schuecker (AUS), and new this year are Anouck Mouthon (FRA), Mary Celia Boddington (USA), and Anne-Flore Marxer (FRA/SUI). The female snowboarders keep raising the bar every season! It could be anyones game this year! Elodie and Anne-Flore have both won it in the past and I am always impressed with their riding! Mary charges hard and has given me a run for my money in the North Face Masters tour, also Estelle is young and fearless with great style! It is going to be an exciting season for sure!

SP: Any stop on the 2015 tour you’re most stoked about?

SY: There are two new stops this year, Andorra and Haines, AK. I am excited for both, but really hope I make the cut for the Alaska event!

SP: Excluding Snowbird because it’s obviously the greatest, what’s your favorite mountain from tours past?

SY: Revelstoke, CA is an amazing place, the terrain, the vertical, and the snow are fabulous, plus the town is classic. I also loved Fieberbrunn in Austria, I had an amazing run there in 2012, it is a really fun mountain to ride!

SP: Thanks so much for doing this! Any final words, shout-outs, thank you?

SY: You are welcome! I would like to thank my husband and my sponsors; Lib Tech, Smith Optics, Salty Peaks, Snowbird, Pow Gloves and Spacecraft for all of their great support!