Ashley Thornton: The North Face Masters, Snowbird

Ashley Thornton

The North Face Masters of Snowboarding Final Stop of the Tour, Snowbird Utah

This past weekend Snowbird Utah held the final stop of TNFM 3 stop tour. Snowbird, Utah is in the heart of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Just 25 mile out of downtown Salt Lake City. I have only been to Snowbird one time before and that was last year for this same contest. I fell in love with the terrain and snow conditions this resort has. I hear that there has been little snow this year for them and wow did we hit it perfect. From the morning I showed up on inspection day and for all 3 days I was there the snow was falling and the powder was awesome.

Snowbird’s elevation at the base is 8,100 feet and at the top is 11,000 feet. The aerial tram takes you to the highest point, Hidden Peak. Snowbird’s high elevation I think helps with the low-density “dry powder” they have and why the resort is known world-wide.

Here is the famous Aerial Tram. They stuff 120 people into each tram. It travels 1.6 miles and takes 10 minutes to reach Hidden peak! If you get lucky enough to be by a window it is one amazing view!


Qualifying venue Silver Fox from the tram. Photo by Marissa Krawczak
The ladies showed off awesome riding in qualifying making it a hard call for the judges. At the end of all of it, Shannon Yates would take first for the day. Scoring the highest score of the day in the women’s and men’s field!!


One of the nicer hot tub sessions I have had to this day, at the roof top cliff lodge! Thank you Halo!


This was the hike to North Baldy for the final venue!  Shannan Yates, myself, unknown rider, Kaitlin Elliot. Photo taken by Lance Koudele


Fun hangin’ out with these two. Marissa Krawczak and Halo Wilson!


Inspecting Final venue! Taken by Abe Blair


Marissa captured this one of me slashing at the top of my final run!

Dropping Burt’s bush.


Finals day the men had to deal with quite the weather holds. I don’t think the last guy dropped until 4:30 pm. In the mean time I took this photo. Here are 2 of the Legendary Judges on the North Face Masters Tour. Tom Burt and Julie Zell with Competition Director Patrick Brennan and announcers legendary Nick Perata and Frankie Alisuag in the background!


Shannan Yates would back up her win on qualifying day with yet another fast, fluid and in control run. As always picking a great line, Shannan would take the win by over 7 points. Congrats Shannan!!


Women’s Podium


Men’s Podium
1st Sammy Luebke, 2nd Jamie Rizzuto, 3rd Brian Bozack,  4th Jacob Levine, 5th John Rodosky



Overall tour champs!! Sammy Luebke and Shannan Yates


I ended up 4th Overall for the tour!

This years North Face Masters of Snowboarding Tour was a total success. All 3 stops delivered great snow and awesome riding from everyone in the field! I had a great time competing and riding the sick venues that this contest gives me a chance to ride.

Shredbetties.com thanks Ashley Thorton and Angela Halo Wilson for competing in this contest and covering the events as media! It’s been a lot of hard work and fun, and we are grateful to the resorts for hosting us! Thank you Crystal Mountain, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, and Snowbird for hosting another year of great events! Follow http://www.shredbetties.com to see what the big mountain ladies are up to this summer, which will include some Mt. Hood shredding and The World Heli Challenge coming up in August!

Ashley Thorton would like to thank:
Everyone that supports what I am doing. family, friends my boyfriend Forrest Devore, Flow Snowboarding, Nikita Clothing, Boa Technology, Smith Optics and Helmets, Mt. Bachelor, Skjersaa’s and Shredbetties!


Angela Halo Wilson would like to thank:
VonZipper, Ride Snowboards, Nikita Outerwear, Exit Real World Snowboard Shop, Shredbetties.com, Mother Nature, Ron Panky, Ratty Sheidow, everyone at MSI and all my loving Friends and Family!
http://www.exitrealworld.com
http://www.ridesnowboards.com
http://www.vonzipper.com
http://www.nikita.com
http://www.shredbetties.com


Watch Ashley’s run, plus the other top 5 ladies here: http://www.thenorthfacemasters.com/2012/04/snowbird-ladies-top-5-runs/

Posted by Kelly Vance on 04/23