Ashland High Snowboard Team

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This was the website for the AHS Snowboarding Team. As of 2014 the Ashland High Snowboard Team won four OISA state championship in seven years. The content below is from the site's archived pages and other outside sources. You can follow the OISA High School Snowboard Team, Ashland Grizzlies on Facebook to see what they are currently up to.

 

The content below is from the site's archived pages and other sources.

2013

 

Competition Information

2009-2010 Competitions are as follows:

Jan 30th IBS Competition

Feb 5th IBS Competition

Feb 6 BDX Competition

Feb 13 Slope Style

Feb 19 Slope Style

Feb 26 Half-Pipe ( Mt Shasta )

March 9-13 State Competitions

This year, due to a scheduling problem, the Huckleberry Inn ( The Huck ) could not house our team. Windell's snowboard camp to the rescue!

Windells ( http://www.windells.com ) will be our home during the State Competitions. Windells will provide lunch and dinner at the snowboard camp and a sack lunch for up on the hill. In addition, they have offered us free use of their skate park.

In addition to your toiletries and change of clothes, and snowboard gear, you will need to bring a sleeping bag. If you intend to use the skate park, you will need to bring your skateboard and helmet.

 

2012

2012 Competitions are as follows

FEBRUARY:

3rd & 4th Banked Slalom & Boarder Cross Mt Ashland 7:45 am

11th & 25th Slopestyle Mt Ashland 7:45

MARCH:

3rd 1/2 pipe Mt Shasta

13th-17th  2012 OISA State Championships @ Mt Bachelor

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Related: When my daughter rushed in to show me this news clipping from Rogue News, so excited I could barely understand what she was saying, I was putting the final touches on a birthday cake for her younger brother, Jona, possibly the biggest Batman fan in the world. "Let me put on my fashionable Batman t shirt first," I pleaded along with a request for keeping the birthday presents secret. We had purchased some glorious Batman shirts at our favorite webstore for Jona's birthday celebration and needed it to remain a surprise. But I suspect the secret was out when I noticed a knowing grin and some certain eye contact between the siblings when I mentioned how much I liked my own Batman t shirts and that I was reading up on the recommended ways to care for my shirts. I tried to turn the attention to the championship matches - it turned out that I think I ended up reading every post there was about the boys winning their 3rd OISA state championship even though I already knew the results since my kids had attended the meet at Mount Bachelor with our neighbor and his daughter. But their joy was infectious and I sat down with them as they identified each of the snownboarders in the pic. And Jona acted very surprised and pleased when his presents were opened. He's been wearing the Always Be Batman t shirt until I told him it needed washing.

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Wreath Sales

Wreath Sales are the main fundraiser for the snowboard team. Each boarder is given a wreath packet that contains receipts, sales list, picture of wreath, and instructions that include such information as due dates for returning the wreath packets, where to return, etc.

Money needs to be collected at the time of sale. No wreaths will be ordered if money is not collected ahead of time. The two payment options are cash and check.

It is very important that you correctly list customer's name, address, phone #, quantity, and method of payment at the time money is received. Waiting until later usually ends up in one of your customer's not getting his or her wreath.

Total number of wreaths as well as totals for cash and check are the responsibility of the boarder and their parent. These totals should add up before turning in your money on collection day.

Two forms are available: One for listing the wreaths sold, and the other receipts to give customer.

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2014 NEWS

Posted Mar 19, 2014

Ashland Boys Claim Another State snowboard Title

By Joe Zavala

The Ashland High boys snowboarding team overcame a host of obstacles to claim its fourth OISA state championship in seven years with a dominant performance over the weekend at Mount Bachelor.

Led by seniors Logan Kistler, Henry Krant and Hunter Williams and freshman Che Tratensek-Contor, the Grizzlies swept all three team competitions — banked slalom, slopestyle and halfpipe — to garner the most points possible, 3,000. Sandy was the runner-up with 2,100 points and defending champion West Linn placed third with 2,000.

On the girls side, Oregon City claimed first with 2,550 points, South Medford finished fourth with 1,525 and Ashland was ninth.

With Mount Ashland snowless and closed all winter the Grizz boys were forced to hit the road in order to qualify for state, traveling to Mount Hood, Hoodoo Ski Area in Sisters and Mount Bachelor in Bend. All told, said head coach Matt Faurot, the Grizzlies spent more than 50 hours on buses over the past three weeks.

But all that traveling paid off in a big way Saturday night at the Seventh Mountain Resort in Bend, where the Grizzlies, who already knew that they had placed first in Thursday's banked slalom, were named the winners in both the slopestyle and halfpipe, locking up a resounding team victory and bringing the Sato Cup back to Ashland.

"You just really feel really good for the kids when they announce their school," said Faurot, who also led the AHS boys to state titles in 2008, 2009 and 2012. "And being such a difficult year, there was a lot of uncertainty and a lot of confusion, early mornings and late nights. And this group of kids just rode their love of snowboarding to the finish line. For me, it was just a sense of gratitude for being able to work with such an amazing group of kids."

Ashland started the week with a bang Thursday in the banked slalom. Kistler finished his second run in 34.43 seconds, good enough for third place, and Williams clocked in at 34.75 for fifth. Krant finished 22nd and senior Conner Stanek 25th to round out a strong top four for the Grizzlies. That added up to 1,468 team points, just enough to outdistance second-place Sandy (1,410) and grab the early momentum.

The Grizzlies kept it going in the slopestyle competition Friday, when Tratensek-Contor led four Grizzlies who scored 64 points or more to claim another team title. Tratensek-Contor impressed the three judges well enough to garner a team-high score of 70, followed by Kistler (66), Williams (65) and Krant (64). That was enough for a solid first-place total of 265, followed by Tualatin (251) and Sandy (233).

"That was one of those events that I was mildly surprised to see us do so well," Faurot said. "With Mount Ashland being closed we had very minimal training on those large jumps. It just amazes me that these boys can pull it together in a couple days and go on their will and previous experience. They only went to Mount Bachelor a handful of times, but it doesn't seem to affect them."

Although they didn't know it, the Grizzlies' success in the slopestyle all but locked up the Sato Cup, but they made the final gap even wider with Saturday's performance in the halfpipe. Kistler led the team in the judged event with an eighth-place showing (187 points), followed by Krant (10th, 175), Williams (14th, 159) and Tratensek-Contor (18th, 152). Those 673 points easily bested second-place West Linn (613) and clinched the Grizzlies' three-for-three showing in the team events.

In the individual snowboard cross, a race down the mountain, Kistler advanced through three elimination rounds before placing third in the final.

The South Medford girls also had a successful weekend at Mount Bachelor, taking second in the slopestyle en route to their fourth-place team showing. Seniors Rachel Lightner placed fifth and Alex Tinsley sixth to lead the way.

Lightner's impressive performance capped a comeback from a spine injury she suffered at last year's state meet, according to Panthers coach Paul Spillan Jr.

"She's always worked really hard for everything that she's done," Spillan said. "She's one of the more dedicated girls that I've seen in the valley. She's fearless, really has a lot of drive. She rides with these other boys who are always putting the pedal to the medal and she doesn't want to get left behind."

2014 Championship

 

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More Background On AHSSnow.org

 

AHSSnow.org served for many years as the digital home of the Ashland High School Snowboard Team, a celebrated athletic program based in Ashland, Oregon. The website operated as both an informational hub and a historical archive, documenting the team’s competitions, schedules, fundraising initiatives, accomplishments, and culture. Although the website is now accessible primarily in archived form, it remains a rich source of information about one of the most successful public-school snowboard programs in the state of Oregon.

To understand AHSSnow.org is to understand the Ashland High Snowboard Team itself—its achievements, community support system, training challenges, and the broader snowboard culture of Southern Oregon. This article provides a detailed, multi-dimensional exploration of the website and the team behind it, including its ownership, content, events, championships, community impact, and cultural significance.

Ownership and Management

AHSSnow.org represented and was managed on behalf of the Ashland High School Snowboard Team, a student athletics group associated with Ashland High School (AHS). The website was likely maintained by a combination of team parents, volunteer organizers, and coaches. Local web-design partners helped construct the site, and it was intended primarily to provide information for students, parents, sponsors, and supporters.

Unlike commercial snowboarding brands or large athletic organizations, AHSSnow.org functioned as a grassroots, community-centered platform dedicated solely to a single high-school team. This gave the site a personal and localized voice, marked by direct communication about scheduling, travel logistics, competition updates, and funding needs.

Location and Team Context

Ashland High School is located in Ashland, Oregon, a mountain community in the southern part of the state. The region is known for its strong outdoor recreation culture, including hiking, skiing, and snowboarding. With Mount Ashland Ski Area nearby and other major mountains within driving distance, the school was ideally positioned to support winter-sports programs.

The snowboard team frequently trained and competed at locations such as:

• Mount Ashland – the nearest local mountain

• Mount Bachelor – a major destination for state competitions

• Mount Hood

• Hoodoo Ski Area

• Mount Shasta in Northern California

These locations appear throughout the archived schedules and travel notes on the website, emphasizing the team’s mobility and commitment to statewide competition.

Website Purpose and Menu Structure

AHSSnow.org contained several key content areas that served the needs of riders, parents, and coaches. Typical menu sections included:

Competition Schedule

The website listed season schedules with precise dates, times, and locations. For example:

• Banked slalom events

• Boardercross races

• Slopestyle competitions

• Half-pipe contests

• State championships
  These were usually accompanied by instructions about meeting times, transportation, and registration.

Team News

Season-by-season updates covered achievements, event results, standout athlete performances, unexpected challenges, and notable milestones such as championship titles. News posts often highlighted personal stories, athlete progress, and reflections from coaches.

Fundraising Information

One of the most important annual fundraising activities documented on the site was the team’s wreath sales program, which helped cover travel, lodging, and competition fees. The website included:

• Instructions for collecting orders

• Payment policies

• Tips for organizing customer lists

• Notes on deadlines and return procedures

Travel & Lodging Details

The site sometimes provided lodging solutions for multi-day competitions. For example:

• Windells Snowboard Camp hosted the team during one state competition year, providing meals, a skate park, and lodging.

• Other years relied on Oregon resorts or mountain-area lodges.

Celebration of Championships

Much of the site’s content highlighted Ashland’s string of state victories and individual athlete accomplishments.

Achievements and Awards

The Ashland High School Snowboard Team is widely recognized for its impressive competitive record. According to archived summaries and news accounts preserved on AHSSnow.org:

Four OISA State Championships in Seven Years

The team captured state titles in:

• 2008

• 2009

• 2012

• 2014

In 2014, the team delivered a standout performance by sweeping all three major team competitions—banked slalom, slopestyle, and half-pipe. This rare sweep contributed to a perfect score of 3,000 team points.

Notable Athlete Contributions

Across multiple championship seasons, several athletes achieved top placements in individual events. Names that appeared frequently in team updates included:

• Logan Kistler

• Henry Krant

• Hunter Williams

• Elias Opgenorth

• Will Small

• Marley Schwartz

• Brenden Barber

• Che Tratensek-Contor

These riders excelled in slalom racing, slopestyle tricks, and half-pipe runs, often placing in the top 10 statewide.

Coaching Leadership

The team’s long-time head coach, Matt Faurot, played a major role in building a culture of consistency, encouragement, and competitive excellence. His leadership was credited with guiding the team through challenging years of travel, weather complications, and limited training opportunities.

Examples of Team Challenges

The site’s archived notes reveal that the Ashland team regularly faced—and overcame—significant challenges:

Snowless Years

During some winters, Mount Ashland was closed due to lack of snow.
In one such season:

• The team traveled more than 50 hours on buses over three weeks.

• They trained at Mount Hood, Hoodoo Ski Area, and Mount Bachelor.

• Despite limited local training, they still won the state championship.

Lodging Complications

In a memorable logistical hurdle, their usual lodging (the Huckleberry Inn) was unavailable during one state competition season.
The team secured housing at Windells Snowboard Camp, which stepped in and offered food, lodging, and even free access to its skate facilities.

Training Limitations

Slopestyle training was often difficult due to the infrequency of large terrain-park features at their home mountain. Nevertheless, the team’s athletes consistently delivered high-scoring runs at state competitions.

Community Engagement and Fundraising

Because snowboarding programs involve significant travel and equipment costs, AHSSnow.org devoted considerable space to fundraising activities. The primary annual initiative was holiday wreath sales, which helped offset expenses such as:

• Travel

• Coaching

• Lodging

• Entry fees

• Gear maintenance

Each rider was responsible for tracking sales, collecting payments, and delivering customer receipts. This fostered personal responsibility and community involvement, while strengthening ties between the team and local supporters.

Local businesses, ski shops, outdoor clubs, and Ashland residents frequently contributed traffic, visibility, and financial backing for the team.

Team Culture

Beyond competition, the team emphasized skills such as:

• Responsibility

• Teamwork

• Safety

• Perseverance

• Community pride

The camaraderie among athletes extended beyond the slopes—team dinners, road-trip bonding, skate sessions, and year-end celebrations helped create a strong, family-like environment.

Parents also played central roles as drivers, chaperones, fundraisers, and equipment managers.

The team’s culture had a clear emphasis on encouraging young athletes to take risks responsibly, support each other, and develop confidence both on and off the mountain.

Website History and Longevity

AHSSnow.org operated during the team’s most successful stretch of competitive victories, from the late 2000s through the mid-2010s. The site served as:

• The primary communication tool before widespread social media adoption

• A record of competition outcomes

• A central depot for news and announcements

• A historical archive of the team’s growth and achievements

As social media platforms like Facebook became more widely used for school organizations, much of the team’s public presence gradually shifted there. Today, the team continues to share updates on social platforms rather than on the original AHSSnow.org domain.

Press & Media Coverage

The Ashland High Snowboard Team received periodic coverage in regional newspapers and local media. Reports often highlighted:

• Standout athletes

• Podium finishes

• Team leadership

• State competition outcomes

• Human-interest stories about resilience and teamwork

Coverage surrounding the 2014 championship season was especially prominent, given the team’s sweep of all judged events and the difficulties created by a snowless winter.

Audience and Users of AHSSnow.org

Typical visitors to the website included:

• Students and athletes

• Parents and family members

• Prospective team riders

• Alumni

• Local supporters and sponsors

• Opposing teams and coaches

• Members of the Oregon Interscholastic Snowboard Association (OISA)

Because the site offered event schedules, logistics, and training info, it was frequently checked during active seasons and leading up to competitions.

Cultural & Social Significance

AHSSnow.org represents more than just a sports site—it reflects an entire community’s investment in youth athletics and outdoor culture. Snowboarding holds a special place in Southern Oregon’s identity, and the Ashland High School team became a symbol of:

• Regional pride

• Commitment to outdoor adventure

• Excellence despite adversity

• Volunteerism and local involvement

The website preserved stories of young athletes learning discipline, confidence, and creativity through a non-traditional school sport. In many ways, AHSSnow.org was a digital scrapbook chronicling a golden era for Ashland’s snowboarding community.

 

AHSSnow.org stands today as a rich historical record of one of Oregon’s most accomplished high-school snowboard teams. The site documented the Ashland High School Snowboard Team’s competitions, struggles, triumphs, culture, and community connections during a highly successful period that included multiple state championships.

Its combination of competition details, training notes, fundraising guidance, athlete accomplishments, and heartfelt community stories makes it an important piece of Ashland’s local athletic history. While the site is no longer actively maintained, its archived content provides insight into a team defined by determination, teamwork, and a deep love of snowboarding.

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