Jeff Moran

Hannah Cackler ‘s sunny Snow King steez.

Photo: Sargent Schutt

dropping next: twice the threat

The best part about snowboarding is simple: it’s badass. The best part about snowboarding with Hannah Cackler and Ashley Rot is that they make it even more badasser! …As long as you can keep up.

Hailing from very different parts of the U.S., their paths have serendipitously collided by way of the Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club’s (JHSC) Freeride Program. Ashley, a JH transplant from Naperville, IL, and Hannah, of Pinedale, WY, have found themselves as not only teammates, but leaders of the pack on the Jackson Hole Snowboard Team. Although their approaches may vary, their mission is shared: to shred the heck out of everything in their paths while singing and dancing and smiling and laughing.

Since joining the JHSC, they’ve each proven themselves as two of the most driven, passionate and accomplished shredders on the team, bar none. Both girls are deeply respected by teammates and coaches alike, due in no small part to their ability to know when it’s time to let loose and when it’s time to do work. If you’ve ever spent 10 minutes with Ashley and Hannah at the Village Café (RIP) on a Saturday lunch break, you could easily think snowboarding was the farthest thing from their minds. But once back on snow, their focus narrows and the progression ensues. Hannah can be found fine-tuning her pipe runs and blasting huge airs while Ashley is dialing in her slopestyle laps and perfecting her method. Which, by the way, is easily one of the most stylish of the entire JH Snowboard Team (including coaches).

Ashley and Hannah lead by example and it shows. Whether they’re standing on the top of the podium or brushing off bone rattling slams, they both have the capacity to stay focused and positive, no matter the situation. As with so many of the previous snowboarders featured on these pages of the Jackson Hole Snowboarder Magazine, both Hannah and Ashley have earned the JHSC’s esteemed title of Female Snowboarder of the Year; Hannah in 2013/14 and Ashley in 2014/15.

Both girls have super supportive parents who can be found at every event, whether home or away, braving the cold to cheer on their girls. Hannah and Ashley head into the 2015/16 season with pre-qualified spots on the USSA Revolution Tour and an almost manic obsession to push their abilities as far as they will go. I don’t mean to start anything here, but it’s only a few short months until JHSC’s next Snowboarder of the Year is chosen. Who’s it gonna be, girls? jm

Ashley Rot cranks a boardslide. Photo: Andy Lex

Jeff Moran is leader of the free(ride) world.

@jeffmoran76