Ski and Snowboard News, Deals, and Events

Ian Thorley, who honed his skills at Upper Michigan's Marquette Mountain as a youngster, has been making some moves in the world of snowboard racing.  He had three top 30 finishes on the Winter Dew Tour last season, with his best finish a 13^th at Snowbasin.  He  also was invited to compete in the last two Icer Air competitions where his best finish was fifth place. 

His mother, Frida Warra, is a snowsports journalist and keeps me posted on his accomplishments. Her 23-year-old son just won the first ever Spin Cycle Classic this summer at High Cascade Snowboarding Camp.  The private camp provides snowboarders a chance to hone their skills during the summer from June 15 to Aug.15.

The goal of the competition was to jump big off a 35-foot table and get a 900-degree around on.  The stakes were high with the winner's names being permanently engraved on the iconic Spin Cycle Classic golden washing machine; the major appliance version of the Stanley Cup of snowboarding.  Thorley tied with Heikki Sorsa in the men's division and Erin Comstock won in the women's division.  From there he was headed Down Under to New Zealand for the first Burton Open of the season.

His mother's comment, "Never did I think I'd see my son standing on a washing machine.  He rarely even gets near one."

More information. High Cascade Snowboarding; Camp Marquette Mountain