Rail Killer: Laura Hadar
Jan 13 2007 / Vail, COLast year’s Session rail champ Laura Hadar is one tough chick. On practice day, she showed up in punk rock garb, her “step-dog” in tow. Not dissuaded by the ski patrol who didn’t think canines were allowed on hill, she eyed the course, and apparently decided she didn’t need practice. Of course, when you are a straight up rail killer like Laura, even with one of the most complex set ups ever seen in a rail competition, you can just show up for the short practice session before the finals and feel confident.
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Hadar is a 22-year-old Colorado native, bred in the Rockies, but she now resides in Salt Lake City, the unofficial rail capital of the world. In her nine years on snow, Laura had been no stranger to competitions, participating in them for the last seven years. Over the years she’s been no stranger to jumps, but jibbing rails is where she’s really excelled.
Laura didn’t repeat her victory at the Session, but she did take home some cash, $1,150 to be exact. With cash being awarded every 15 minutes to outstanding riders, she started out slow, and didn’t get recognized during the first two award sessions. But when the second half hour of competition rolled around she started getting serious. She was the first woman to tackle and conquer the double kinked handrail with a smooth 50-50, and took second place, and $1000, for those 15 minutes. We caught up with Laura to find out more.
Laura: It’s more free flowing, and you can make a comeback at any moment.
Laura: It was cool. I was just having fun, so it was rad to get recognized as the best that night, cause in the end I didn't care, I just wanted to be having fun.
Laura: It’s a sweet place. Riding there is fun. But they don't want you to mess around at the bottom of the hill, so be careful with stuff like wall hits, rope ollies, and sign taps.
Laura: Stuff covered in snow. It really is an even spread.
Lat34: Do you ride with a lot of other girls, or mostly with guys? What is the difference between riding with girls and guys?
Laura: There’s not a huge difference, just depends which girls. My crew of girls is pretty on point so we don't care if it’s just girls. But riding with guys is fun too, they are always pushing you.
Lat34: The women at the Session are still getting paid less than guys (and there are fewer of them). Do you think this is fair? Why?
Laura: Sure. We aren't competing against as many people and we aren't doing the technically variety the men are. Also, if you watch both contests, even though they schedule it lame for the girls, we don't pull near as the amount of people.
Lat34: Also, why do you think women aren’t included in the slopestyle competition?
Laura: The first year they had it they put girls in slopestyle, then all the girls complained the jumps were too big and so they ended up having to do all this extra work at the last second to please the girls. I think in the end, they just didn't want to deal with it. They know the guys aren't gonna complain about anything but safety issues and so in the progression of the contests and the jumps they just cut girls.
Lat34: Not many women have done it, so I have to ask, how does it feel to spin a 900 in the park?
Lat34: What do you like to do other than snowboarding? I’ve heard you are quite a dancer.
Laura: Dancer? No, I think your thinking of someone else. I like to dance but I wouldn't ever put it in the things I'm into besides snowboarding category. I like being outside in general, if it’s on my bike, in the woods, or at the river swimming. I love, love, love good coffee, and will travel many miles for a good cup of coffee... I like taking pictures with my Holga camera. I like hanging out with cats and dogs and I enjoy a good trip.
Lat34: What is filming like Misscheif like? Do you set goals for your video parts?
Laura: Yeah, sometimes, and other times I just go, oh lets do this, whatever happens, happens, I'm not gonna stress on it too much.
Lat34: What is the coolest thing you’ve gotten to do so far? Where is the best place you’ve been?
Laura: I just went to Mexico with my family and that was cool. It was my birthday down there, and they threw me my first surprise party and we had a cake and ice cream, and rum and soda, and it was amazing. We rented a house a block away from the beach and just chilled so hard. Best time ever!
Laura: Um... probably not having to pay for lift tickets or passes, getting to travel the world, and doing what you love for a living.
