ToraMania the Real Gold

February 24th, 2010

Photo: Dan Himbrechts

Words: Russell Holt

With dented confidence from a crash in the first run of the finals and the added stress of a “sore leg”, Torah was happy to drop-in first into the 22-foot deep icy halfpipe that had been crushing girls dreams all week.

Backside 360 indy, Switch Backside 720 mute, backside 540 slob, air to Fakie Japan, cab 720 indy…

Holly Crawford at the end of her finals run in the monster Olympic pipe at Cypress Mountain. IN somewhat of a miracle the pipe was ready and firing for the finals after a week-long heat wave and persisting rain during the lead up week. Photo: Dan Himbrechts

In 30 seconds Torah had changed snowboarding in Australia forever. “It means every girl in Australia is going to want to buy a snowboard,” Holly Crawford, wisely commented after the event. Holly, Australia’s “other female halfpipe competitor” had just finished 8th a great result in its own right.

But Holly nailed it – every girl in Australia will want to buy a snowboard (and etc) that’s the bottom line. The Olympics are all about taking snowboarding to the world, exposing it as a sport to the global population. Everyone inside snowboarding knows that it’s not the top level of snowboarding on the planet, although we can’t forget it is an incredible global phenomenon that provides mushy, heart-warming vibes of national and family pride.

Toramania winning the hearts and minds of a new era of snowboarders across the globe. Photo: Dan Himbrechts

Torah has already proven to the snowboarding world that she is the best female halfpipe snowboarder to ever live. (2 X-Games Gold’s, 2 US Open Titles, Global Open Titles…) This Olympic win was about motivating the world’s young females to pick up a snowboard and go ride. In this way snowboarding is the winner, and Torah is the champion for all of us.

There has been no better ambassador to carry the Olympic snowboarding flag to the general public. Our somewhat “misunderstood” “sport” or lifestyle is cast as hedonistic, selfish and lacking in good values. Torah on the other hand is a pure spirit, and un tarnished devout and angelic athlete that could never be dragged into snowboarding’s clichés by the swarming media, making her a true golden girl for snowboarding and a fresh perspective for the general public that they could actually relate to. Snowboarding in Torah is no longer seen as the tatoo’d, long haired drunk cousins you only want to see when you are partying on your 1 week-a-year holiday. Snowboarding is now officially wholesome.

Head to Head Torah the Mormon and Kelly the loud singing and clapping “praise Jesus” kind. Together they have taken over snowboarding in the name of The Lord. A positive influence and no doubt a change of face for snowboarders. Photo: Jake McBride

The judges provided more than just the winners
There was definitive statement the judges were forced to make in the Vancouver Olympics event. Were they going to reward Torah’s uber technical runs or award Kelly Clarke’s super massive “balls-out” height and huge spins? Both could be winners in their own right, and this is where subjectivity plays a huge roll in the sport.

This was a big moment in time for the judges and that had to make it clear. Their decision would set the compass for competitive female halfpipe snowboarding for the next 4 years.

Kelly Clarke – exhibit A. Massive agrressive and stylish airs. It wasn’t enough for the judges – they awarded Torah’s technical skill over this – a legendary Terje Haakonsen replica frontside air. Photo: Jake McBride

They were already on the back foot in snowboarding circles, being FIS (Federation De-international de-Ski) appointed judges, their credibility has always been in question since snowboarding first hit the Olympic slopes in Nagano and Gian Simmen of Switzerland was awarded the gold medal over some runs that would have otherwise won if the event was a regular snowboard World Tour Event.

Then again in Torino the judges seemed to severely underscore Torah Bright for her technical snowboarding, choosing instead to score higher riders with more aggressive riding style that were going higher but with less technical tricks.

This time around – for Australia, they got it right. The message has been sent Australian snowboarding has its first ever Olympic Gold Medal and young teenage girls aspiring to be the next Olympic Champion for their country will be out at their local halfpipe practising the newest technical tricks.

Relative newcomer, France’s Sophie Rodriguez was taking note of the Judges preference and styling the crap out of everything including this air to fakie tail grab. Photo: Jake McBride

Is this the end for T?
It’s been a dream run for Torah – ever since she was fought over by major surf brands Roxy and Rip Curl at the tender age of 13 after throwing some backflips in a local Perisher event. She has never looked back. “It’s been a long journey but a great one,” she said at the Olympic press conference, a statement that said it all. Torah has been and she has conquered. So now what….? Is she done? Well, as she proudly explained to the American nation on prime time NBC, with her notoriously contagious giggle and devious smile, “I’m getting married in spring, and yes life is… very good”.

Torah at the medal ceremony the following night in downtown Vancouver. Flanked by bronze medalist Kelly Clarke (left) and Silver Medalist Hannah Teter (right) Photo: Jake McBride

What all the fuss is about – a 2010 Vancouver Winter Gold Medal up close. Photo: VANOC 2010

Full Results
1 1 AUS BRIGHT Torah
2 14 USA TETER Hannah
3 12 USA CLARK Kelly
4 7 CHN LIU Jiayu
5 8 FRA RODRIGUEZ Sophie
6 26 CAN NICOLL Mercedes
7 4 CHN SUN Zhifeng
8 15 AUS CRAWFORD Holly
9 28 SUI HALLER Ursina
10 3 USA HIGHT Elena
11 6 USA BLEILER Gretchen
12 22 ESP CASTELLET Queralt
13 11 JPN NAKASHIMA Shiho
14 9 CZE PANCOCHOVA Sarka
15 30 NZL BROWN Kendall
16 10 JPN YAMAOKA Soko
17 21 SLO SADAR Cilka
18 16 CAN CONRAD Sarah
19 29 NOR WIIK Lisa
20 19 FRA THOVEX Mirabelle
21 23 NZL SINCLAIR Rebecca
22 5 NOR BUAAS Kjersti
23 13 CHN CAI Xuetong
24 27 NZL BRAY Juliane
25 25 SUI PESKO Manuela Laura
26 24 CAN TAYLOR Lauren
27 20 NOR HAUG Linn
28 17 POL LIGOCKA Paulina
29 2 JPN OKADA Rana
30 18 GBR MCKENNA Lesley