Thomas is... O HAI

yaaagrlz:

So I posted about a week ago about the possibility of Torah Bright bringing the double cork into her superpipe runs during the Winter X Games 14 & hopefully the Olympics. After suffering from a concussion before the X Games superpipe championship- it looks like Torah is taking a break for a minute. Will she get through it in time to show the world her double cork in the Olympics? Since Travis Rice first introduced the double cork in competition in 2006, it has become a must-have trick for medal hopefuls in the men’s level of competition. It has become a symbol of progression for men, and if Torah can successfully land the trick- it will be a HUGE movement of progression for women as well.

“Several years ago, Rice was considered one of snowboarding’s most versatile riders. He stopped competing in the halfpipe to focus on other disciplines like slopestyle and big air — two events in which he competed last week at the Winter X Games on Buttermilk Mountain — and to ride in the backcountry as the subject of snowboarding films.

“I’ve been riding powder while those guys have been doing double corks in the pipe,” Rice said.

Rice’s decision to perform in fewer disciplines came as part of a natural evolution in his career, but it also came out of necessity. And it has become a trend in snowboarding, especially during this Olympic season, when those on track to compete in halfpipe at the Games have stopped competing in other disciplines.

“Guys are just focused on riding the pipe,” Rice said. “And the level has gotten so high that going to the Olympics for halfpipe means you have to dedicate to riding pipe for a couple years.”

“(via Jake Burton Carpenter) In freestyle riding, pipe and slopestyle riding are still at the core, and spiritually connected as much as ever,” Carpenter said. “But the level of competition has gotten so incredible that riders are forced to maybe not do as well in two disciplines or do better in one. And I think that the Olympics brings a bit of a winner-take-all mentality.” (New York Times)

And Torah  has most definitely dedicated herself to riding pipe, and trying to progress in that one area to be the best she can be, although strong in both slopestyle & superpipe-  the world of snowboarding is waiting in anticipation to see what her next move will be… and to see if she will transform the level of competition for women’s riding for years to come…

omfg yes this is just what i needed to win a stupid argument with josh who said travis rice didnt have what it takes to be in the olympics when i told him travis was hella pro. i knew it! travis just didnt want to and would rather be a better rider instead of just a pipe rat! haha josh! tumblr ftw